Nebraska's Lieutenant Governor Lavon Heidemann (R) announced only a short while ago he is resigning from his office. He is also withdrawing his name as Pete Ricketts (R) Lt. Gubernatorial running mate, due to a complaint of domestic violence filed by his sister.
As reported in the Gering (NE) Citizen here.
This close to the election for Governor and Lieutenant Governor, this could throw a monkey wrench in Pete Rickett's campaign. He is now forced to pick a new running mate.
He became Lieutenant Governor in 2013. The reason he is resigning is not a good one though.
More below the orange dust cloud of the oncoming Democratic storm. (Title edited for spelling error)
My previous article on the gubernatorial race can be found here, which now has the distinction of being the number two search item on DuckDuckGo.
As reported in the Citizen, he is resigning over testimony given by his sister regarding a protection order for her and their eighty-four year old mother, with which he disagrees in large part.
What the Citizen does not say from the AP wire (it left out the reason why he is resigning) is reported at Huffington Post here.
The protection order was granted Monday after Heidemann's sister, Lois Bohling, testified that she was afraid of her brother. Bohling said in a sworn statement that her brother grabbed her wrists and pushed her out of their mother's bedroom during an August dispute involving farmland and their 84-year-old mother's care.
If true, that reads as "domestic violence."
Governor Heineman (R) appeared with him at the state capitol when he made his announcement. Mr. Heineman says that he understands why Mr. Heidemann needs to take care of family issues at this time. Mr. Heidemann said he arrived at the decision to step down after much prayer
Chuck Hasselbrook (goes to his official Website for your information and donations) is his Democratic opponent, with running mate Jane Raybould.
As I noted in the previous diary, Nebraska has a real chance to flip the governor's mansion. This cannot be good for Lt. Gov. Heidemann.
Ya gotta watch these Great Plains states: to write us off as "flyover states" and not worthy of Democratic attention or whatnot is to throw away good opportunities (cf: Kansas and Governor Brownback).
Wed Sep 10, 2014 at 12:39 AM PT: Update: the Scottsbluff (NE)Star-Herald reports that Mr. Pete Ricketts (R) has picked State Auditor Mike Foley (R) as his replacement running mate.
Mr. Foley has served as State Auditor since 2007.