Interview: Stormy Dean (D) for Gov. of the State of Nebraska

By: Ky Starr 

1)     What distinguishes you from your opponents?

I come from business and am financial manager.  I am also the only candidate for governor of Nebraska offering a plan to address the looming $461 million budget shortfall.  My 5-Point Plan includes Zero-Based Budgeting and Efficiency Management Tracking to rein in state spending while protecting our funding priorities.

2)     What is the greatest challenge of public service?

The greatest challenge is bringing together all sides of a particular issue, listening to their concerns and deciding how best to move forward together.  However, bringing people together to find consensus is also rewarding.

3)     What is the most important issue facing the State of Nebraska?

The $461 million deficit is the most important challenge the next governor of Nebraska will face.  How we address this shortfall will define us as a state.  Nebraska was the only state in the U.S. to cut children from Medicaid to balance the budget.  We were also the only state in the U.S. to cut our University system to balance our budget.  I don’t believe this correctly defines the kind of state we want to be.

4)     What advice would you give someone thinking of running for public office?

If you think you can make a positive impact, then join in.  Public service is not a spectator’s sport.  We need more good people to get involved.

5)     What is your favorite political book?

While it’s not a political book, it is my favorite all-time book and speaks to the heart of Nebraska’s spirit: Cowboys and Cattletrails.  I spent part of my childhood in Ogallala, the cowboy capital of our state.  The spirit of the West and spirit of Nebraska is well represented in this book.

6) What is your favorite political TV program?

The West Wing

7) How did you become involved in the Democratic Party?

I realized my core beliefs were more in line with that of the Democratic Party.  I am a fiscal conservative which is also in line with the Party.  Democrats do not want to see one red cent ever wasted.  We want the money to go to the places where it will benefit people the most.  We believe in prioritizing spending.  The Johanns administration has seen a 21% increase in state spending – or $1 billion.

8) Who are your political mentors?  What are some of your favorite political quotes?

I really like Winston Churchill and Harry Truman. My favorite quotes are "never, ever, ever give up" from Churchill and "the buck stops here", from Truman.

9) Will the U.S. invade Iraq by December 2002?  Should they invade?

The President was given authority by Congress to go to war with Iraq.  That decision is best left to President Bush and his military advisors at this point.  I support the President’s authority to invade Iraq to protect the national security interests of the U.S.

10) What is your view of the recent Enron debacle?  Will the new federal law be effective?

I believe in Corporate Responsibility.  As a CFO, it is very disturbing to me that Enron pulled the scandal it did.  Peoples’ lifetime investments were lost in a heartbeat.  The perpetrators were ethically wrong and justice should be brought in this case.  I hope the new federal law is effective.  We need to review and monitor the law so that changes can be made, if necessary, to make it as effective as possible.

11) What type of Corporate reform do you support in the State of Nebraska?

The key reform I have advocated involves modifying LB 775 – the state’s biggest economic development law.  LB 775 was written 15 years ago.  I believe it must be updated to the ‘new economy’.  In order to offer rational changes to it, we need full disclosure of LB 775 recipients.

12) Where did your parents get that name (we like it)?  Is there a good story behind it?

My parents just liked the name.  It’s been kind of humorous in this race because people always ask about my name.  Many inquirers are expecting some big explanation to my name, but there really is none.  Many others thought my name came from a song, but my birth pre-dates the song in question.

13) If you were governor today, what would be your first order of business?

I would address the $461 million budget shortfall.  I have said throughout the campaign, that my first order of business will be to review state agency spending with a fine-toothed comb.  I would sit down with all agency directors and ask the tough questions: are you doing what you are suppose to be doing?  Are the services reaching the people they way they should?  Are you doing it effectively?  Is there a better way to do it?  And finally, the toughest question of all, is this something we should be doing in the first place?

14) How do you improve education in Nebraska?

Education is what got me involved in politics.  I am the President of the Ralston School Board.  As a father of two daughters, I am concerned about the future of this state and education.  I have proposed a 4-Point Education plan for education.  My plank includes: Fund Education First; Fair Pay for Teachers; Emphasis on Early Childhood Education; and Fixing the State Aid Funding Formula for Schools.

15) What is your plan to improve economic development/job creation in Nebraska?

I propose to re-direct some benefits under LB 775 (which is currently geared toward Nebraska’s big businesses) to smaller companies.  6o% to 70% of the jobs created in the 1990s came from these sized businesses.  The second crucial part of my economic development plan involves education.  Education is the key force driving economic development in this state.  Only through a qualified and educated workforce can we attract new business and allow existing businesses to expand.

16) What happened to Husker football?

Craig Bohl.