January 21, 2005

Dear Fellow Nebraskans:

It is with great enthusiasm that I write to you as the thirty-ninth Governor of this great state. I am very grateful to have had the opportunity to not only serve as Lieutenant Governor for three years, but to have done so alongside a man of Mike Johanns’ caliber. He is truly a dedicated public servant and his confirmation as Secretary of Agriculture is great news for our state and nation.

One of my priorities as Governor is to have direct contact with the citizens of this state – the whole state. I expect to spend a great deal of time visiting communities and listening to the people. That’s important to me.

It’s also important to me to earn your confidence. Perhaps the first step down that path is to share with you some information about my background. I was born in Falls City and moved several times with my family. Growing up I lived in small towns across Nebraska including Fairbury, McCook, Benkelman, and Wahoo, where I graduated from high school.

I attended the United States Military Academy at West Point and after college, served five years in the U.S. Army, graduating from the Army’s Airborne and Ranger Schools. It was during my time in the Army that I decided to pursue a life of public service on the civilian side. That decision led me to work for several former Congressmen, serve on the Fremont City Council, and to serve as your State Treasurer for nearly seven years before being appointed Lieutenant Governor.

The most important part of my life is my family. My wife and greatest supporter, Sally, is an elementary school principal at Howard School in Fremont. She is honored to be First Lady of Nebraska and her students are honored to be the self-proclaimed First Students of Nebraska! Sally and I have a twenty-year-old son, Sam, who is a sophomore at the University of Nebraska. He is also excited about this honor. My parents, Jean and Irene Heineman, live in Wahoo and continue to be a very special part of my life.

Next to my family, my top priority now is to lead this state with passion and with vision. I am very appreciative of the close working relationship I had with Governor Johanns during the past three years. My direct involvement in budget and policy discussions provides a solid foundation for me to roll up my sleeves and hit the ground running.

I mentioned how important it is to me to have direct contact with the citizens. In addition to my travels across our great state, I hope to achieve that objective by inviting you to write me a letter or send me an email message. My contact information is available on my website at www.gov.state.ne.us. I am sincere in my desire to know what thoughts and ideas you might have to move this state forward.

As I said when I took the oath of office, I stand ready to accept the awesome responsibilities that lay before me. I am humbled by this opportunity and incredibly honored to serve as the leader of this state. As Nebraska’s 39th Governor, I will commit myself to making this state an even greater place to live, work and raise a family.