Feb. 19

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dn the

dailynebraskan.com

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2013 volume 112, issue 104

Inside Coverage

A familiar face Men’s basketball feeds on former player’s praise

10

Expose yourself Democrats

A second chance Studio owner finds new way to make music

steve lathrop state senator from omaha maybe

New meters will be solar-powered, programmable

a

chuck hassebrook

Executive Director, Center for Rural Affairs maybe

On last leg, time to compete

9

annette dubas State Senator from fullerton maybe

facebook.com/ dailynebraskan

slew of announcements, including Fremont Sen. Charlie Janssen’s plans to run for governor, shook up the 2014 gubernatorial race

Monday. Janssen joins an open crowd of Nebraskan politicos vying for the Governor’s Mansion. Speaking at Midland University in his hometown of Fremont, Janssen said his time in the Nebraska Legislature inspired him to run for governor. “Basically for the last five years serving as a state senator, I’ve had the opportunity to not only travel the state, but to meet with thousands of Nebraskans from across the state and get a chance to share their visions and share their ideas that they have,” he said. “More and more I thought that we had the same ideas, so as I kind of grew into that, I realized that this would be something I would be interested in.” Janssen, a 42-year-old Republican, has been known for his strong opposition to undocumented immigration. He has sponsored bills that would limit access to prenatal care for children born of undocumented immigrants. “I think people really are kind of getting a little bit fed up with people sacrificing on their core principles, especially the core conservative principles,” Janssen said during his press conference. “All too often, people get down to Lincoln, and they forget the core principles and the reasons they were sent down there.” Last year, he sponsored the Illegal Immigration Enforcement Act, which would allow police to check if a person is in a country legally if they had reasonable suspicion. The

bill died in committee. He also introduced a voter ID bill last legislative session, but the bill did not pass. This session, he reintroduced it as LB381. It would require people to show a driver’s license or state-issued ID before they vote. Janssen has also been supportive of lowering governmental regulations on businesses and has been a strong advocate for gun rights. He introduced a bill this legislative session attempting to nullify possible federal gun restrictions that may occur following the shootings in Newtown, Conn. “I looked at this campaign as not just about me; it’s about all the people in Nebraska, and we need to work together,” Janssen said. Janssen joins a Republican field that has been in constant flux. Until early February, former Lt. Gov. Rick Sheehy was considered a shoo-in for the position. On Feb. 2, an investigation by the Omaha World-Herald found Sheehy had made 2,300 phone calls to four women who were not his wife. He resigned and exited the public eye that same day. Sheehy’s replacement, Lt. Gov. Lavon Heidemann, was recruited under the assumption he would not seek Heineman’s seat. The governor stressed this point during his search. Before Sheehy, former Speaker of the Legislature Mike Flood was considered a possible candidate, but he dropped out of the race because his wife was diagnosed with breast cancer. Nebraska University Regent Tim Clare announced Monday he was dropping out of the race.

governor: see page 2

Johanns will not seek 2nd term DANIEL WHEATON DN

@dailyneb

races

Republicans

rick sheehy

former lieutenant governer out

story by Daniel Wheaton | art by Ian Tredway

2 Swimming and diving proves itself in Big Ten

off to the

5

Race for governor heats up as Janssen announces plans, Clare drops out

5 A ‘smarter’ way to park downtown?

The punk polka genre’s Bolzen Beer Band performs at the Bourbon Theatre Friday during Lincoln’s eighth annual Lincoln Exposed festival.

mike johanns’ political career

• 1983-1987 Lancaster County Board U.S. Sen. Mike Johanns made po• 1989-1991 Lincoln City Council litical waves Monday announcing he won’t seek re-election in 2016. • 1991-1998 Mayor of Lincoln Johanns and his wife released • 1999-2005 Governor of Nebraska a statement saying they wished • 2005-2007 Secretary of Agriculture to have a break in their political careers. • 2009-2014 Senator of Nebraska “Between the two of us, we have been on the ballot for primary and general elections 16 times, and we have served in Senate also lost Massachusetts my dream job,” Heineman said. eight offices,” Johanns said in the Sen. John Kerry to the president’s “But, obviously, I have to look at statement. “It is time to close this cabinet. it.” chapter of our lives.” John Hibbing, political sciJohanns’ sudden move Although indicating they shocked many politicians in Lin- ence professor at the University of were done for the immediate fuNebraska-Lincoln, said he believes coln. ture, the couple did Immediately after Heineman will run for the vacant not rule out future Senate seat. his announcement, campaigns for politi“He’s done being governor in Gov. Dave Heinecal office. 2014,” Hibbing said. “The timing is man’s name was sug“With everything gested as a possible awfully nice for him.” in life, there is a time If Heineman were to throw candidate. He cannot and a season,” he seek reelection for his his hat in the ring, Hibbing said, it said. “At the end of current post because could discourage other Republithis term, we will of term limits. Heine- cans from running against him in have been in public man told the Omaha the primary. If he chooses not to, service over 32 years.” World-Herald he was the primary could be very open. Johanns has been “He’s a political creature,” he going to take a few known as a soft-sposaid, “for better or for worse.” days before he made johanns ken voice in the SenIn the late afternoon, Rep. an announcement. ate. He took part in the He held a brief Jeff Fortenberry, who currently bipartisan “Gang of press conference Mon- represents Nebraska’s 1st ConEight” discussions that attempted day afternoon to explain his in- gressional District, said he would to solve budget and deficit issues. consider a Senate run. tentions. The Republican joins five oth“I don’t think I’ve ever indier senators heading for exits. The cated that being in the Senate is johanns: see page 3

charlie janssen

State Senator from fremont In

mike flood

Former Speaker of the Legislature out

tim clare nu regent out

Innocents Society to host debate for ASUN elections Revive Party, Engage Party and Sense for ASUN will participate in series of debates Conor Dunn DN The Innocents Society of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln is hosting the first debate of the Association of Students of the University of Nebraska 2013 elections Tuesday at 7 p.m. in the Nebraska Union Crib. “We think it will be a good introduction from a non-biased source,” said Innocents Society member Ross Jensen, a senior finance and agribusiness major. The debate is the first in a series of four and is expected to last about an hour, Jensen said. Students will vote on March 6. Three parties are running for the ASUN executive positions this year: Revive Party, Engage Party and Sense for ASUN.

A third party running for ASUN brings extra value and energy to the election process, said ASUN President Eric Kamler, who expects this election season’s debates to be more competitive. “The key word is intense,” said Kamler, a senior agricultural economics major. Three Innocents Society members will moderate the debate. Moderators will ask each party’s executive committee members to explain how they plan to accomplish their platforms, Jensen said. “It’ll be more like an expression of that party’s idea rather than one party countering the other party’s ideas,” Jensen said. “It’s an opportunity for them to speak about their ideas rather than debate how one idea is better than the other.” Revive Party’s executive candidates are presidential candidate Zach Stull, a junior busi-

debate: see page 3


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