Schaardt, Hallstrom advance for state Legislature
LINCOLN - Table Rock businessman Dennis Schaardt was the top voter getter in the bid to replace Julie Slama on the District 1 seat of the state Legislature.
Schaardt got 18 percent of the vote in 2020 in a campaign that saw Gov. Pete Ricketts' appointee Julie Slama and Republican Janet Palmtag advance out of the primary. On Tuesday, Schaardt had a commanding lead as high as 68 percent of the vote. Even after Syracuse attorney Bob Hallstrom won his home county of Otoe, Schaardt remained with 47 percent of the vote.
Candidates are considering the implications of a voter turnout ranging from 22 to 27 percent across most of the district.
Slama announced this winter that she would not seek re-election, but focus her attention on motherhood.
Here are districtwide results 45/45 precincts * Otoe County early voting not included
State Legislature
Dennis Schaardt, 3,108 (47 percent)
Bob Holman, 396
Glenda Willnerd, 934
Robert Hallstrom, 2,172 (32 percent)
Pawnee County
Dennis Schaardt, 446
Bob Holman, 14
Glenda Willnerd, 70
Robert Hallstrom, 127
Richardson County
Dennis Schaardt, 924
Bob Holman, 91
Glenda Willnerd, 208
Robert Hallstrom, 383
Nemaha County
Dennis Schaardt, 598
Bob Holman, 70
Glenda Willnerd, 149
Robert Hallstrom, 346
Otoe County * early voting results not included
Dennis Schaardt, 652
Bob Holman, 97
Glenda Willnerd, 378
Robert Hallstrom, 1,059
TABLE ROCK – Dennis Schaardt of Table Rock announced his candidacy for state Legislature shortly after incumbent Julie Slama announced she would not seek re-election. He was soon followed by Democrat Glenda Willnerd of Unadilla and Robert Hallstrom of Syracuse.
Schaardt is a longtime business owner in Table Rock who has served as a Pawnee County commissioner, mayor, city councilman and volunteer fire chief.
In a statement, he said he believes that his campaign should prioritize our state’s spending issues, taxes and protecting life at conception.
In 2020, Schaardt got 18 percent of the vote against fellow Republicans Slama and Janet Palmtag.
Schaardt has owned Den’s Country Meats for over 30 years.
SYRACUSE – Robert J. “Bob” Hallstrom is a third generation Nebraskan and attorney from Syracuse.
In a statement, he said he is running as a strong conservative. He listed reducing the property tax burden on farmers and families, supporting the Second Amendment and quality education as campaign priorities.
Hallstrom is a partner with the Brandt, Horan, Hallstrom & Stilmock firm in Syracuse. He received his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 1978, and his Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Nebraska College of Law in 1981. He is general counsel for the Nebraska Bankers Association and also represents the National Federation of Independent Business, Nebraska Pharmacists Association, and Nebraskans for Workers’ Compensation Equity and Fairness.
He has been the target of the campaign ads run by Preserve the Good Life, which criticize his role as a lobbyist.
UNDADILLA - Glenda Willnerd is the only Legislature District 1 candidate endorsed by the Nebraska Democratic Party. She says her priorities are support of public education, family farmers and fair taxation.
She is a graduate of Syracuse High School and earned her master’s degree in education at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She worked 36 years in public schools as a teacher and librarian.
She voices opposition to the Opportunity Scholarships Act and other measures she says will steer education funds away from public schools.