daily nebraskan
Wednesday, may 3, 1978
78
n
Gubernatorial candidates
page 8
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Each of the candidates were asked two ques
tions. The first question gubernatorial candidates
answered is "What do you feel is the main issue of
the campaign?" The second question asked is "What
do you want to do about the University of Nebraska
budget?"
The candidates for Nebraska representatives were
asked what they feel the main issue of the campaign
is. They also were asked how they feel about the na
tional tax credit bill.
Vance Rogers
Gerald Whelan
Election stories by
L. Kent Wolgamott
Robert Phares
Robert Phares, republi
can, 37, North Platte, presi
dent of an insurance agency,
Kearney State College.
Former mayor of North
Platte.
Taxes are now the main
issues of the Phares campa
ign, according to John
Kingsbury, Phares' campa
ign manager. The emphasis
on taxes represents a shift
from agriculture as the most
important issue -a shift
primarily because of econ
omic issue, Kingsbury said
He said Phares has proposed limiting state taxes to
increases in personal income.
Kingsbury said Phares basically is "pro education". He
said Phares believes there is a need for greater coordina
tion between the institutions of higher learning in Nebra
ska and a need to increase agricultural research.
Phares is concerned with quality in the classroom and
feels the university administration may be a little "over
weight," Kingsbury said.
Robert Hansen
Robert Hansen, a democratic candidate for governor,
has said he does not expect to win and was not inter
viewed. Hansen, 44, is a businessman from Grand Island.
Richard Hendrik
Richard Hendrick, a republican candidate for governor,
has said he does not expect to win and was not inter
viewed. Hendrick, 50, is a locomotive engineer from
Waverly.
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Vance Rogers, republican,
60, Lincoln, Hamline Uni
versity. Attended Gustavus
Adolphus College, Garrett
Graduate School of Theolo
gy, Northwestern Universi
ty, former president of Ne
braska Wesleyan University.
"There is no doubt about
it. It's related to money
which is related to inflation
which results in higher
taxes. The primary concern
in Nebraska is a fiscal con
cern, centered around the
high property taxes everyone is paying. Most of the
ingredients to a first class tax revolt are there.
"If there isn't some reduction, there will be a problem.
I think there will be a tax revolution like in California. In
California, the people are going to vote on a proposal to
limit property taxes to one percent of market value. If
it passes-and it is speculated it will-it's projected that
two out of every three school teachers would be laid off.
"It would be catastrophic. We could have something
like that if we don't start cutting back on local and state
spending.
"I am a believer and supporter in quality education.
I'm going to be supportive of the university program
which emphasizes one, the classroom teacher and the
learning process; two, research; and three, service.
Stan Juelfs
Stan Juelfs, republican,
49, Kimball, oil production
and exploration, insurance
banking, farm and ranch
management. Attended Ne
braska Wesleyan University.
"The major issue in the
latter part of the campaign
has been taxes. We have pro
posed a freeze on property
taxes and have been the
only candidate to do so. We
have said there will be a tax
payers revolt if nothing is
done, and you are starting
to see this in the attempt to get the spending lid on the
November ballot.
"Their (the university's) proposed budget of $107
million makes up about 20 percent of the total state
budget, making them the biggest consumer of state tax
dollars. We have to think about efficiency and dollar-wise
spending at the university. The governor does not have
much control in this area because the State Supreme
Court has ruled that the regents control the university
spending. But the governor should work closely with the
president of the university and the regents to get dollar
wise spending."
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1 Mil'
IV - 7
Gerald T. Whelan, demc-
crat, 52, Lincoln, lieutenant
governor, University of Ne
braska, Creighton Univer
sity, University of Colorado.
Former president of the
state'school board, Hastings
city attorney.
"The candidate is the
major issue in a campaign
for executive office -some
thing that is much different
than a campaign for legisla
tive office.
"His experience, chara
cter, training, what makes him up, what you can antici
pate from him in dealing with the Legislature, administra
tive department head and in legislation. That is what dist
inguishes a good governor from a poor one.
"We are entering a period of readjustment for the uni
versity. They have had good years at the hands of the
Legislature. They have received a budget increase of 300
percent of what it was when Exon took office. I'm not
sure that rate of increase can continue, expecially with the
stabilizing student population.
"It would not be inappropriate to take a look at some
of the teaching loads and need for extensive research in
some departments. The teaching staff needs to be as
productive as possible. Students have a right to demand
high productivity."
Charles Thone
Charles Thone, 54.
Lincoln, congressman, at
torney, former Republican
State Chairman, former
member Nebraska Supreme
Court Judicial Nomination
Commission .
Thone feels the most im
portant issue in Nebraska is
agriculture, according to
Dave Doytch, a Thone cam
paign aide.
Since two-thirds of Neb
raska wheat, one half of
Nebraska soybeans and one
third of feed grains are exported, Thone believes the key
to aiding Nebraska's agricultural economy is increasing
exports, according to Doytch.
As governor, Thone would personally lead sales teams
to other nations to open up new markets for Nebraska
products, Doytch said.
Thone favors the Areas of Excellence program at the
university and would concentrate more on it, Doytch said.
Thone believes the university is the "first and last
hope" for Nebraska, and although he-intends to be a
"watchdog" on the state budget he does not want to "sac
rifice the university," Doytch said.
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1st district
Bruce Hamilton
H. Bruce Hamilton, democrat, 35, Lincoln, attorney,
University of Nebraska, Lancaster County Commissioner,
delegate to 1972 and 1976 Democratic National Conven
tions, member of region 5 Human Services board, South
east Nebraska Health Systems Agency.
"In the Democratic primary, the most important is
sue of all is which of the three candidates is electable and
can succeed in November and, most important, which
will be most effective in Congress.
"In the First District, the most important issue is
the ill health of the agricultural economy together with
inflation fueled by the government living beyond our
means.
"I support the president in his call in the past for com
plete tax reform, so I would not favor adding mumbo
jumbo tax credits. People who don't need help would be
receiving the credits. I would certainly oppose it at below
college level as an erosion of the public education system."
Loran Schmit
Loran Schmit, republican, 48, Bellwood, farmer, busi
nessman, helicopter pilot. University of Nebraska, state
senator.
"The main issue is the same one we've been discussing
for years, the state of the economy. Inflation is at a very
high rate and is climbing, and will continue to climb given
the policies of the Carter administration. The economy
related to agriculture is a very vital issue.
'Generally, I've favored those (tuition tax credits).
Fd have to look at the specific plan, but generally they are
a good investment."
Doug Bereuter
Douglas Bereuter, 38, Utica, Economic and urban
developer. State senator. University of Nebraska, Harvard
University. Former director Nebraska Department of Eco
nomic Development.
"There are a couple of issues which deserve equal con
sideration, nationwide -inflation and in the First District,
the price of farm commodities and their effects on the
state's economy."
Hess Dyas
Hess Dyas, democrat, 41, Lincoln, small businessman.
Nebraska Wesleyan University. Former chairman Nebras
ka Democratic Party. Democratic Midwest Conference.
"I feel inflation is the major issue, a double major is
sure with the depressed farm prices."
"I am opposed to the tuition tax credit. It further en
cui.ibers an already overburdened tax system. By taking a
shotgun approach it creates another loophole. 1 would
tavor assistance in the form of grants and loans. '
Allen O'Donnell
Allen O'Donnell. democrat. 46. Wayne, teacher. Cali
fornia State College, University of Southern California,
former Democratic National Committeeman.
Within the district, it is the plight of the family farmer
and nationally, it is inflation.
"I would definitely support tax credits for higher edu
cation - they are needed badly and will provide relief for
the middle class "
2nd district
John Cavanaugh
John J. Cavanau?' democrat, 32, Omaha, congress
man, attorney. Regis College, Creighton University,
former Nebraska state senator.
Cavanaugh is emphasizing his public record in his re
election campaign, according to Tom Fogarty.
Cavanaugh is co-sponsor of a tuition tax credit bill in
committee in the House of Representatives.
John McCourt
John C. McCourt, democrat, 53, Omaha, salesman, Omaha
University. McCourt was unavailable for comment.
Hal Daub
Hal Daub, republican, 37, Omaha, vice president,
general counsel for Standard Chemical Livestock I ced
Company. Washington University. University of Nebraska,
former Douglas County Republican Chairman.
"No doubt about it. it's inflation and the confusing
leadership of Carter and the Democratic majority "
"I'm leaning toward the tax credit option. We all ra
taxes and the tax deduction would only benefit the very
wealthy. The credit itself is helpful enough to the family,
but not enough to impact the separation of church and
state and undermine our system of public education.
Sharon Toney
Sharon Toney. republican. 30. Omaha homemaker.
University of Nebraska-Omaha, former vice chairman
Douglas County Young Republicans
Toney was unavailable for comment.