Ouch:
http://www.omaha.com/...
Lt. Gov. Lavon Heidemann is out.
Heidemann resigned today – a day after a court issued a protection order to his sister, who alleged that he grabbed her wrist and pushed her in a quarrel over their elderly mother.
An emotional Heidemann said Tuesday he was resigning, both as lieutenant governor and as a running mate for Republican Pete Ricketts. He said he was grateful for the opportunity to serve the state but was resigning for the good of his family. He took no questions.
Heidemann – his voice breaking – ended his statement with: "I love this state, and the people of this state who have supported me."
Gov. Dave Heineman said he would move as expeditiously as possible to appoint a new lieutenant governor. - Omaha World-Herald, 9/9/14
Here's some more info:
http://touch.latimes.com/...
The protection order sought by Heidemann's sister, Lois L. Bohling of Elk Creek, Neb., was granted by Johnson County District Judge Daniel Bryan after a hearing Monday morning, according to local media reports.
Bohling wanted to block Heidemann from contacting her or from visiting their disabled mother, Lola Heidemann, who was widowed after their father died in January 2013.
According to a petition Bohling filed with the court, Bohling and Heidemann have been struggling over how to divide their father's property since at least October 2013.
Bohling said that in various disagreements over the last year, Heidemann had shouted at her husband and became angry with her during a phone call.
In one December incident, Bohling said, "Lavon became VERY angry and his anger was pointed at me. He was shouting at me and at one point raised up, and started to come over the table at me with a furor in his eyes, like a wild man, that scared me to pieces."
Bohling said she began to avoid her brother after that, but had another run-in with him a few weeks ago, on Aug. 19, at their mother's home.
Bohling, who said she has been her mother's primary caregiver during the last five years, said that Heidemann became angry with her after he arrived and she began to talk about their mother's medical care.
Bohling said Heidemann then charged at her with "hatred" in his eyes, grabbing her arms and "screaming" in her face.
"Now I am not just afraid but terrified of him. I feel scared because there is no way to know when or where he will erupt at me next," Bohling wrote in her petition for an order of protection.
In a statement, Heidemann called the dispute "a private, legal family matter regarding disagreements resulting from my dad’s estate, as well as the best possible medical treatment for my mom." - Los Angeles Times, 9/8/14
So where does that leave Ricketts? Not in a terrific position:
http://journalstar.com/...
Pete Ricketts, Republican candidate for governor, will announce a new running mate Tuesday afternoon.
It is too late for Heidemann to be removed from November's general election ballot, according to the Secretary of State's Office. In Nebraska, the governor and lieutenant governor run together on the ballot.
Ricketts of Omaha is running against Democrat Chuck Hassebrook of Lyons. Hassebrook has chosen Jane Raybould of Lincoln as his running mate. - Lincoln Journal Star, 9/9/14
This race has been turning out to be competitive and it's one we should all get involved with. Click here to donate and get involved with Chuck Hassebrook's (D. NE) campaign:
http://www.chuckhassebrook.com/