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Haigler-area 'ranch kid' kicks off run for governor
McCOOK, Nebraska -- A Nebraska senator whose roots run deep in agriculture -- particularly that of the ranch country of far Southwest Nebraska -- stopped in McCook this morning on a 20-city, 1,250-mile tour to announce his campaign for the Republican nomination for governor.
Beau McCoy, now of Elkhorn and a representative of western Douglas County in the Nebraska Legislature, says his agricultural and small business backgrounds will provide him the insight necessary to focus on what Nebraska needs -- lower taxes, controlled government spending, keeping and creating good-paying jobs and providing high-quality education opportunities.
"These things I can do as the next governor ... these are the things the next governor has to do," McCoy said during a press conference at the Heritage Hills Golf Course club house.
Beau McCoy calls himself "a four-generation ranch kid," having grown up in the original sod ranch house on his family's cattle ranch west of Haigler, just across the Colorado border. He and his brothers went to college on the proceeds of their custom haying business.
After graduating from Northeast Community College in Norfolk, McCoy said, he recognized opportunities to grow a construction business in Omaha. He met his wife-to-be, Shauna, of Omaha, his first week in Omaha; his parents, John and Tracy, retired from the ranch; and Beau's brothers migrated to eastern Nebraska. A cousin continues to operate the family ranch.
McCoy, his brothers and his brother-in-law own and operate McCoy Roofing and Siding. Beau and Shauna have four children, Audrey, Ryan, Nora and Tess, all under 10 years old. Beau has been a member of the Nebraska Legislature since 2008.
McCoy says he will focus "first and foremost" on cutting taxes. "Gov. (Dave) Heineman does a great job," McCoy said. "He's made great strides, and there's more to do." He feels that cutting taxes goes hand-in-hand with controlling state spending. "It's tough to cut taxes if you don't have a handle on government spending," he said.
He also feels that Nebraska needs to concentrate on providing high-quality education, "not only K-12, but also higher education," and keeping and creating good-paying jobs, both of which will help keep young adults in Nebraska.
McCoy admits that water issues of Southwest Nebraska may not be foremost in the minds of residents and legislators of eastern Nebraska, but, he said, concerns over the management of the state's water resources are not going to go away.
Water is a state issue, McCoy said. The Republican River Compact, written in 1943 to divvy up the Republican River's water among Nebraska, Colorado and Kansas, "was not written between Colorado, Kansas and the Republican River Valley," he said. "It was written by Colorado, Kansas and Nebraska. It's a state issue."
McCoy said he wants irrigators, farmers and ranchers of Southwest Nebraska to know that "the next governor understands ... they're not going to be left all alone out here. They're not far from my mind."
"So goes agriculture in the state, so goes the state," McCoy said.
McCoy turns again to his roots growing up on a ranch. While he knows that agriculture "is a huge part of the state's economy," he also recognizes that agriculture is "more than an industry. It's a way of life. We embrace that as a state."
McCoy describes Nebraska residents as "a no-nonsense, common-sense, self-reliant people. We're not flashy and showy. That's what Nebraskans expect of their governor."
McCoy said he and his wife have the same concerns as their fellow Nebraskans. "We're main street Nebraska," he said. "We want the best opportunities and best education for our kids. In our own small business, we have created jobs and we pay
taxes. And we worry about what new tax or regulation the government will force on us next."
As governor, McCoy is determined to represent all of the state -- that part of Nebraska west of Grand Island is not "Outstate Nebraska," he says emphatically. "It's Greater Nebraska."
It's the quality of life in Nebraska that he's determined to preserve. "That's what we love about Nebraska -- the quality of life,"
McCoy left Omaha Tuesday, stopping in Lincoln and at Husker Harvest Days in Grand Island. Today's itinerary includes, after McCook, North Platte, Sidney and Scottsbluff.
Thursday visits will be in Alliance, Chadron, Valentine and O'Neill. Friday the 13th, McCoy stops in Norfolk, Wayne, South Sioux City and West Point.
For more information on Beau McCoy and his campaign, go to beauforgovernor.com