August 15, 2006

Dear Fellow Nebraskans:

After taking office last January, I made it a priority to visit with Nebraskans in an effort to hear their concerns and ideas about the future of our state. One thing was immediately clear wherever I went was the very high number of informed and engaged citizens in all corners of this state.

Nebraskans take very seriously the responsibilities entrusted to those at all levels of public office, and I have been impressed by the number of capable and qualified candidates interested in getting involved in this area of civic life.

The fact is that we have seen a continued interest in serving our neighbors at the local level, in spite of a number of challenging issues confronting those who serve on city councils, county and school boards, and those who represent Natural Resources Districts and a number of other locally elected boards. Having begun my career in public service as a member of a city council, I know that some of the decisions that have the greatest impact on our residents are made at the local level.

At the state level, there have been many examples these past few months of extremely qualified Nebraskans interested in stepping up to offer their voice in service to our state.

Whether it’s one of the 20 legislative seats opening up in the year ahead, or in seeking to fill vacancies on the University of Nebraska Board of Regents and the Nebraska Supreme Court, Nebraskans can be very proud of the long list of potential public servants in our state.

In announcing my choice for a new regent for the University of Nebraska, I commented that any one of the twelve applicants I’d spoken with could have done an admirable job in serving the voters of western Nebraska.

The caliber of candidates willing to serve the seventh district on the Board of Regents was superb indeed. Among the applicants were current and former elected officials, private businessmen and women, farmers and ranchers, among others, and the same can be said of those who’ve applied to become Nebraska’s next Chief Justice. Our current Chief Justice John Hendry has set the bar high and it seems clear that selecting the next chief will be an equally difficult choice.

It is the willingness of everyday Nebraskans to step up and get involved in their communities that gives me hope for the future. Our state’s most precious resource is in our people. Nebraskans continue to exemplify the pioneering spirit and strong work ethic that is not only a part of our heritage and our history, but is driving new growth and opportunity in our state.

One of the most frequent compliments I hear from business leaders looking to our state for future expansion is the uncompromising quality of our workforce. It is one of our strongest selling points when it comes to attracting new development, and is a testament to the schools that provide in depth training for our workforce, and the strong families and communities that make this state a great place to live and work.

Earlier this summer, Nebraska was in the national spotlight because of the success we’ve had in the area of community involvement. A national survey of volunteerism trends was released that said our state had the second-highest rate of volunteerism in the nation. In a state where we believe very strongly in the power of personal responsibility, it’s great to see that Nebraskans recognize volunteerism as a part of civic responsibility. It shows that the Midwestern work ethic and commitment to our communities is alive and well in our state.

It is for all of these reasons that I continue to be very optimistic about the future of our state, and it is that spirit of service that makes Nebraska a truly wonderful place to call home.