AUBURN – After two side-by-side candidate forums in this election cycle for First District state Legislature, the Dennis Schaardt campaign pulled out of a third forum scheduled Tuesday by the Auburn Chamber of Commerce.

In an official statement, Schaardt explained his decision to cancel his appearance at the chamber coffee and hold a campaign event at the Auburn restaurant The Dutch Pantry.

Schaardt: “For weeks our opponent has used his special interest money to attack us. With one week left we were not going to give him another opportunity to do that. We’re going to focus our time on listening to hardworking families in our district and building positive relationships.”


At the Chamber of Commerce forum, candidate Bob Hallstrom said he feels it's important to answer the questions prepared by the business community.

Hallstrom said property taxes remain atop the district's agenda, while rural economic development, recruitment and retention of jobs, affordable child care and rural workforce housing are on the district's to-do list.

Hallstrom: “I started out by saying give me the opportunity to use my experience to serve and represent your interest.
That experience is more important now than ever. We have 13 senators who are term limited. We have two senators, including Sen. Slama, who decided not to run for re-election. And 13 more senators who have only two  years of experience.
So the ability to hit the ground running on behalf of the people of the first district and to represent their interests from day one and to go forward and be a difference maker I think is the most important thing we have going for us in my candidacy. “

 

 


Both Schaardt and Hallstrom were given a list of questions that asked their opinions about initiatives on the Nov. 5 ballot.

Abortion initiatives

Hallstrom said he will support for 434 and oppose 439.

Hallstrom: “There’s a suggestion that voting no on both initiatives would be something to consider. One of the things that I’m afraid of is that is not what the option is. There were over 200,000 signatures for both of those initiatives and it’s very likely that both of them are going to pass. If both of them pass, then the one that gets the most votes will be the one that will prevail. People will have to make their decisions on that basis.”

 


School choice referendum

Hallstrom: “I support our public schools whole heartedly. … We have to support teacher recruitment and retention.

… I am supportive of empowering parents to make the best decisions for their children to allow them to fulfill their full potential.”

 

Other issues

Hallstrom: “We need a fairer system for funding schools. The current formula that we refer to as TEEOSA is not working. It basis its formula on resources and needs and we find the vast majority of rural school districts like those in southeast Nebraska  are not getting state equalization aid.”

“More recently the increases in valuation for real estate, even the larger school districts are feeling the pain of losing equalization aid. I think Lincoln Public Schools are losing $32 million this year. That gives us I think an opportunity to bring the urban and rural interests together to try and work on a fix.”

 

In a Facebook post, Schaardt thanked those attending the campaign event at the Dutch Pantry and said he is trying to stay positive.

Schaardt: “A lot of you know me for who I am and know I’m only doing what’s best with my actions, I visited with a gentleman that spent 20 years in the Navy serving our country then another 29 working at Cooper Nuclear.
That there made me appreciate even more why I’m running for office to help the young and old out.
When we work together things get done.”