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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 10, 1998)
tunity. “We want to make it possi ble for you to stay in the state,” Nelson said. “We’re not going to put up a fence around the state, we’re not going to chain you to the state, but what we ; ought to be doing is make sure we have sufficient incentives ; to keep young people in ■ Nebraska, particularly those who are among the best and ' brightest of Nebraska.” Seducing the buck Brain gain efforts dove tailed with Nelson’s other eco nomic development initia tives. Nelson said he sought to both build existing Nebraska industry and attract new busi nesses from other states, with the goal of increasing the number of jobs in the state. “Obviously you want as many new companies as you can to move to the state, but not at the expense of having companies already here expand,” he said. By visiting Asian and Latin American nations 12 times in the past eight years, Nelson has sought to build contacts between state busi ness leaders and foreign deal maxers. By tripling the amount of Nebraska exports - including items as diverse as agricultural pro jects and high-tech manufactured goods - new jobs have been created and those jobs typically pay more than non-export jobs, Nelson said. Maxine Moul, director of the Department of Economic Development, said the foreign trade trips have created new opportunities for trade and paved the way for future expansion of inter national trade. “Certainly these trade missions have been high-profile, but because they’re high-profile they certainly have raised the awareness of busi ness of the importance of international trade,” she said. The other side of economic development under the Nelson administration has been trying to attract new businesses to Nebraska. Though Nebraska failed to lure giants such as computer manufacturer Micron Technology Inc. and Mercedes-Benz, Nelson said tax incentive pro grams for existing Nebraska businesses have encouraged business growth. After bolstering incentives, Nebraska did succeed in wooing one major corporation last Matt Miller/DN GOV. BEN NELSON speaks to the Legislature in his final State of the State address Jan. 12. In his speech, Nelson touted the state’s flourishing economy but charged state sena tors to drive down taxes. year, resulting in a Caterpillar manufacturing plant in Omaha. Life-or-death choices When Nelson took office in 1991, the state had not executed a death row inmate since Charles Starkweather in 1959. During Nelson’s eight years as governor, three prisoners have gone to the electric chair, and a fourth execution is scheduled for early January. As one of three members of the state’s Pardons Board, Nelson has the power to stop a planned execution. He said that situation posed difficult moral conflicts. Nelson said he was lobbied heavily by oppo nents of capital punishment, who said he should use his power to prevent what they said was an unjust practice. But as governor, Nelson said he knew his responsibility was to uphold state law, regardless of his personal feelings. “You’re faced with the ultimate decision,” he said. “There is some comfort in knowing that you have to follow the law. Now the disquieting side is that you know that there’s a life involved, friends involved, family involved, victims involved; there is, in fact, the person - the condemned.” He who cared NELSON SITS ON Santa Claus’ lap and asks Santa to bring all Nebraskans a happy holi day season during Sunday night’s farewell dinner. rrr: ‘ “He has done well,” he said. “He can walk away with his head high. About the only stain on his career was his stunning defeat at the hands of Chuck Hagel.” Nelson said he jumped into the 1996 Senate I Robak ready for new duties ■ The lieutenant governor plans to spend time with her family and begin a job with the University of Nebraska. By Todd Anderson Senior staff writer At a recent dinner and dance trib ute for Gov. Ben Nelson, Lt. Gov. Kim Robak and her oldest daughter attempted to make their way to the dance floor. Stopped several times by a deluge of people ready to shake hands with the state’s No. 2 leader, it took the mother-daughter team some time to find a moment alone. After finally arriving on the floor in front of the band, frustrated 10 year-old Katherine was relieved she finally had Robak all to herself. “Mom, you’ve been lieutenant governor long enough,' she said. “It's time for you to be Mom.” That type of advice not only guides Robak as she leaves office in January, but also stayed with her before the 1998 gubernatorial elec tion primary. Though some Nebraska Democrats counted on Robak to be the top candidate for governor in the November 1998 election, Robak stepped back to let someone else fill those shoes. “ "I just was not willing to give up that time with my kids." Robak said. Robak, a native of Columbus and daughter of state Sen. Jennie Robak, started out as Gov. Nelson’s legal counsel and chief of staff following his election m 1991. In 1993 she moved to the office of lieutenant governor to replace Maxine Moul, who became the direc tor of the Department of Economic Development. “I decided it was an opportunity I couldn't pass up,” Robak said. In 1994, Robak was elected along with Nelson in a landslide victory. The duties of the lieutenant gover nor are not numerous: preside over the Legislature, act as governor when the governor is absent or the position is vacant and perform duties designated by the governor. Speaker of the Legislature Doug Kristensen said Robak demonstrated patience and level-headedness while watching over the legislative process. “She knew the rules very well and had a blind-justice approach,” Knstensen said. “She was very patient, and she always maintained a cool head no matter how hot the battle.” However, Kristensen said profes sionalism was not what made her pos sibly the most well-known lieutenant governor, but rather her help in solv ing statewide and national problems. Robak said it was really Nelson’s assignments that gave her an active role in the legislative process and in the state. Since 1992, Robak has worked with teams that developed improve ment plans for health care and private insurance, and she was a member of a commission focused on developing and integrating information technolo gy in the state. But Robak said her favorite part of the job has been traveling across the state and meeting people. The low pomt of her involvement with the past administration came during Nelson’s 1996 bid for a U.S. Senate seat. Nelson opponents pointed out that if Nelson were sent to Washington, Nebraska would remain with Robak as governor for two years. “I became an issue,” Robak said. “And it was a difficult position to be in because it wasn’t my race. “I didn't want to defend myself and nsk the Senate race for (Nelson),” sne saia. Robak said she does not regret passing up a run for governor in 1998 and is not certain about running in future elections. She said she is excited to join the University of Nebraska central administration in January as vice president for external affairs and cor porate secretary to the NU Board of Regents. Kristensen said the Legislature will remember Robak as a person who viewed her position as more than just a job. “I really think (Robak) enjoyed being the lieutenant governor, and I think it’s because she cares,” he said. “Kim loved what she did and had a perspective of where it all fit in.” rscuiasKa puinicai observers say Nelson’s suc cess lies in his hard work, dedication and commitment to citizens’ well-being. Wesely said Nelson’s consistent aggressiveness and down-to-earth character made him a leader compara ble to former President Dwight D. Eisenhower. “When I think of Gov. Nelson, I think solid,” he said. Landis said Nelson was a strong leader who had charis ma. “He’s been a fine gover nor, and he will have a record second to none,” he said. “He allows himself to be self-dep recating, and he was a good sport, which gave him a human side and an approach ability that was unique.” Bob bittig, a political sci ence professor at UNL, said Nelson was similar to most post-World War II Nebraska governors in that his primary role was as a caretaker more than an innovator. Nelson’s successful implementation of a state lot tery to help fund education and his supervision of the reorganization of the state’s health and human services system were significant, he said. For the most part, howev er, Nelson will be remem bered more for his day-to-day management of state govern ment than for reinventing it, Sittig said. IdLC UCLdU^C lie WdlllCU IU llldlKC <X dUUlU iui uie 10th Amendment, which limits the scope of the federal government’s powers. Nelson wanted to see more power devolved to the states - a mes sage he could use again in a future senatorial bid. Nelson said he takes some comfort in know ing many Nebraskans voted for Hagel because they were happy with Nelson’s performance as governor and wanted to keep him in Nebraska. “The most important thing is that I never wanted not to finish out my term,” he said. “You might say I got distracted by the Senate, and that’s undoubtedly true, but the distraction was not because I didn’t like what 1 was doing here.” Though a chance at a Senate seat slipped through Nelson’s hands in 1996, the Democratic governor has not ruled out another bid in 2000. The seat could come open if Sen. Bob Kerrey decides to run for president, a likely scenario. Nelson won’t even rule out running as a Republican. hvery time i say 1 aon t Know, 1 irritate ootn Democrats and Republicans,” Nelson said. “I don’t mean to irritate anybody. “But rather than making some statement that 1 have to live with later - like a pledge - I’ve said I haven’t resolved any of those issues.” As for now, Nelson plans to return to work at Kennedy, Holland, Delacy and Svoboda, an Omaha law firm. Nelson said being governor had given him a perspective on the “big picture,” or the way that diverse issues and interests in the state interrelate. “I know that you can cut spending, but you don’t have to cut hope; that you can balance interests if you’re willing to make the difficult decisions,” he said. “And perhaps the one thing people will think about is that I haven’t set out to be all things to all people but tried to do what I think is right in the fundamental areas of education, economic development and the environment. “I hope that’s what the people remember - perhaps most of all that I really cared about the people of the state of Nebraska.”
