During a week when Nebraska's officially nonpartisan state legislature looked and sounded a lot more like Democrats and Republicans on Capitol Hill—battling reported extensively by News Channel Nebraska—there was a throwback moment two days earlier.
 
And it centered around a former lawmaker who has seen all sides of both parties.
 
As State Sen. Mike Flood put it, "I worked with Brad when he was a Republican."
 
Flood noting that former Congressman and State Senator Brad Ashford, a Republican turned Democrat with an independent bid for Omaha Mayor in between, is facing the "challenge of his life" battling brain cancer.
 
"Senator Ashford was a force for good in this Legislature," said Flood. "He was constantly working to find solutions to our state's problems and nobody liked seeing a solution more than Brad Ashford."
 
After Republican Flood, there was Democrat Steve Lathrop: "(Brad) is still a very optimistic person, still very interested in the common good."
 
Republican John McCollister:
"Brad has served this Legislature and in Congress, notably."
 
Democrat Machaela Cavanaugh:
"I have enjoyed fighting with Brad and reconciling with Brad several times while he was in  Congress, while he was in the Legislature. And he and I have worked on some juvenile justice projects since I have been in the Legislature. I consider him a dear friend."
 
And one more Republican, Rich Pahls: 
"He's one of those guys who I truly miss down here. These past several days I saw Brad on Facebook and the person who was shaking his hand was Don Bacon; the person who had defeated him. So it goes to show you that there is a world out there."
 
 
A world reflected on Ashford's front yard where political signs from candidates in both parties are front and center.