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Candidates agree on water, ask voters to look at backgrounds
McCOOK, Nebraska -- The trio of District 44 candidates vying for the state Senate seat to be vacated by Sen. Mark Christensen met at the Bieroc Cafe, Tuesday evening, as part of a forum coordinated by the South Platte United Chambers of Commerce.
Although much of the discussion focused on water, arguably the hottest topic in Southwest Nebraska, the candidates expressed little disagreement in that area and instead advised voters to look to their backgrounds to find the right man for the job.
Candidates Dennis Berry of McCook, Steve Stroup of Benkelman and Dan Hughes of Venango all acknowledged the seriousness of the water issue and the need for a cooperative effort to improve the situation.
Berry said water issues facing Nebraska are dramatic and there was too much diversity between what each Natural Resource District was receiving in water allocations, as well as between ground and surface water users.
"If we don't have drastic change in the way we are allocating water, it will be taken out of our hands and decided by the folks in Lincoln," said Berry.
Steve Stroup said the water situation is complex and Nebraskans needed to ask themselves, "is what we are doing today, better or worse than 10 years ago? If we can't answer that, we need to find out," said Stroup.
Stroup said Hereford, Texas, experienced a significant population loss and lost several key employers in a matter of a few years because of a water shortage. He cautioned that areas of Nebraska could be facing a similar crisis.
Dan Hughes said augmentation projects put in place in recent years were a short-term solution to a long-term problem.
"We have to use less water. If we didn't have the irrigation system we do, this drought would have really been a disaster," said Hughes. Hughes said the focus needed to be put on making changes that allowed the state to become sustainable in regards to water. Hughes said augmentation projects would buy us time, but everyone would need to learn how to use less water and the long-term answer likely existed in technology.
None of the candidates believed a solution to the water dispute resided within updating the 71-year-old water compact with Kansas and Colorado.
"The state signed the compact and the state has dodged its responsibility," said Berry, adding that Nebraska has been unable to get surface and water irrigators to agree on a solution and attempting to bring Kansas and Colorado back to the negotiating table would be even less fruitful.
"We need to solve it. It is not going to be solved by Lincoln unless the solution is a shut-off," said Berry.
Stroup said farming practices have changed since the compact was signed and crops used more water.
"We don't have the votes to override the east," said Stroup, adding that he was concerned about having Eastern Nebraska legislators dictate inches to the west during water short years.
"Are we headed that way? I don't know," said Stroup.
"Kansas is not going to negotiate," said Hughes, adding that he wasn't convinced Kansas needed the water and believed they may just be after money. Hughes said there was a lot of water in Nebraska and estimated we had only used 1 percent of the Ogallala Aquifer, compared to 50 percent of the aquifer in the Texas case. Hughes said Nebraska had access to a lot more water and needed to focus on improvements in management practices and technology.
All three candidates pledged their support for efforts to compensate Republican River Valley irrigators, who experienced losses as a result of recent state water conservation actions.
Stroup said he didn't believe it was right to have others pay an occupation tax for water and not be able to use it.
"I think we have to do something to compensate. To ask someone else to suffer, I can't subscribe to that and would work towards supporting something," said Stroup.
Hughes said he too would work very hard to ensure farmers were compensated for their loss.
Berry echoed Hughes' comments, and said he would absolutely support some form of compensation, the details of which would need to be looked at.
"When this area was settled, they were more interested in helping each other. It seems we have gotten away from that. Right now, for some, it is about wanting more and wanting it now. They don't care about others. We need to return to the values of our forefathers when they settled this area," said Berry.
Berry said although there may not be a lot of difference on policy amongst the candidates, "it comes down to who's been there, done that. I have a proven record. The best way to tell where someones going, look at where they have been," said Berry.
Berry said he had proven leadership ability, pointing out McCook has not had a property tax levy increase since 2001, despite a 31 percent increase in cost of living during that time. Berry said several major improvement projects were also accomplished during his tenure as Mayor, such as a new multi-million dollar public safety center, "with no increases in taxes."
Berry has been on the McCook City Council since 1994 and served as Mayor since 2004. He submitted his resignation as principle of McCook Junior High, directly related to his campaign for a state senator seat.
Berry said he would lean on his nearly 40 years' experience in the education system and work to improve what he indicated was an imbalance in state aid to schools.
"Nebraska is ranked 42 in the nation in state support for education. Who makes up the rest? All of us taxpayers," said Berry.
Berry said his preference of standing committees to serve on would be Natural Resources and Education.
Hughes said voters had a tough choice ahead of them and said experience was a big factor in legislators ability to make an impact once they got to Lincoln. Hughes described himself as a farmer and businessman from the Venango area and touted his background in the wheat industry. Hughes is chairman of the U.S. Wheat Associates Board of Directors, as well as a board member of the Nebraska Wheat Board.
Hughes said when you can put 38 farmers in a room and get them to come out speaking with one voice, "you have some skill."
Hughes said his role on the U.S. Wheat Board had provided him opportunities to visit foreign countries and enhanced his appreciation for what we have here at home.
Hughes said items such as an open political process, religious freedom, clean air and water, were among those he had come to appreciate more after his travels abroad. Hughes said the experience contributed to his desire to go to Lincoln as a legislator and represent the values we cherish, as well as to make certain "we keep the freedoms we have."
Hughes said his preference of standing committees to serve on would be Natural Resources and Appropriations. Hughes said his background was in ag and he also understood how important appropriations was in the process of setting policy on how the state spends money, as well as the amount we pay in taxes.
Stroup said he came from five generations of agriculture and his own farming experience had a rocky beginning. Stroup said in 1979 Russia invaded Afghanistan and the resulting grain embargo caused the market to crash.
"My first experience in farming was a loss. We survived that," said Stroup indicating his fight for public office would not be easily discouraged.
Stroup said the 44th district needed a voice, one capable of carrying school funding and other issues to Lincoln. Stroup said he would be that voice and could relate to the water issues facing Western Nebraska.
"If we lose our water we could be facing 30 to 50 percent depopulation in two years, according to some economists," said Stroup.
Stroup said his passion for office stemmed from a 30 year desire and an ember for service that was flaming. He touted his business experience, including budgeting, payroll and employee issues, and benefits derived from participating in the Nebraska LEAD Program.
Stroup said his preference of standing committees to serve on would be Natural Resources and Agriculture.
Of the three candidates, two will advance from the May Primary to the General Election in November. Sen. Mark Christensen is completing his second term and is unable to run due to term limits.
District 38 candidate John Kuehn of Heartwell also attended the candidate forum. Kuehn is running unopposed for the senate seat occupied by Sen. Tom Carlson. Carlson is running for governor and term limited out as a senator.
Kuehn said this year would represent the single largest turnover of power the Nebraska legislation has ever experienced, with 17 new senators incoming, as well as new governor.
Kuehn said Nebraska needed a comprehensive plan, pertaining to a long term solution to it's water issues, which represented an overall policy and recognized "we are all going to have a give a little."
Kuehn said we were still understanding the hydrological link between surface and ground water and the challenge for new legislators would be recognizing they were not just dealing with local issues anymore, but those that impacted other parts of the state as well.
Kuehn said his preference of standing committees to serve on would be Natural Resources and Transportation and Telecommunications.