If you think the race in Omaha between Anne Boyle and Jim Vokal is ugly, you should be in Lincoln.

Local Republicans denounce attack ads - Lincoln Journal-Star

Even the Republicans are getting mad now. Two Republicans and an independent businessman who served on a volunteer committee with City Council candidate Dan Marvin held a press conference Thursday to express their outrage over a GOP campaign criticizing Marvin.
Dan Marvin

The campaign, paid for by the state Republican Party, accuses Marvin of trying to increase Lincoln property taxes by serving on a committee that proposed the $75 million street improvement bond issue.

The GOP assault on Marvin was denounced by former Republican Lancaster County Board member Jan Gauger, independent businessman Brad Korell and former Lincoln Independent Business Association President and Republican Russ Bayer. All three served with Marvin on committees charged with finding solutions to the city’s gaping infrastructure financing gap. The committee’s work culminated in the bond issue proposal.

Other political ploys attempted by Republicans in Lincoln is chronicled by Kyle over at the New Nebraska Network.

An interesting story appeared today in the World-Herald.

Political rival may review assessor - Omaha World-Herald

George Mills, who twice has lost bids to be Douglas County assessor, soon may be helping set the county’s property valuations.

Mills, a former County Board member, is being nominated to serve as one of three “referee coordinators” who will oversee valuation protests during June and July.

As a strong critic of Morrissey, Mills would provide good oversight for the Assessor’s Office, McCallister said.

“I call that check and balance in government,” she said, adding: “If Roger has nothing to hide, there’s no problem.”

Unfortunately, Mills may try to abuse this position and get political mileage out of the process. This nomination is clearly a political move because board members are not following written procedures with this nomination. I’m worried that Mills will try and find problems where none exist. This is equivalent to having John Kerry reviewing Dubyas job performance. It just doesn’t make sense.

As referee coordinators, Mills and veteran appraisers Larry Saxton and Rick Coder each would be paid $85 an hour. If they work 40 hours a week for six weeks, each would earn more than $20,000.

In the article, Kathleen McCallister said there are no requirements to be selected for this position. If that is the case, I would like to submit my name for this temporary position. Instead of being paid $85 an hour, I will offer to do the job for only $75 an hour.

UPDATE: The Omaha World-Herald has taken a stand on this issue.

On Friday, April 15th, the University of Nebraska Board of Regents held a meeting in Lincoln. Some interesting things were discussed.

UNO dorm plan prompts worries - Omaha World-Herald

I encourage everyone to read the article above to see how UNO continues to get the shaft by the Board of Regents. It is obvious that most of the members of the Board of Regents are lap dogs for UNL. For many of the Regents, UNO could drop off the face of the earth and the Regents wouldn’t care. When UNL wants something, they get it. Unfortunately, that means UNO has to get by on what’s leftover.

I’ve never been to a Board of Regents meeting but here is how I picture a conversation between the Regents, UNO, and UNL.

UNL: Do you know what would be great on our campus? A quilt museum!
Regents: Sure whatever you want Lincoln!
UNO: Do you know what would be great on our campus? A few more dorms!
Regents: Shut up UNO!

After reading the news story, I was a little disappointed with the comments below.

Regent Chuck Hassebrook of Lyons said the UNO dormitories would compete with other campuses that already have an investment in on-campus housing.

I don’t see why UNO doesn’t deserve the same investment as the other universities in the state? UNO is competing and winning in many categories against UNL even though the cards are stacked against UNO. Imagine if UNO and UNL were on a level playing field. I wish the mainstream media would start asking tough questions to the Regents?

For more opinions about this topic, visit eomaha.com.

From The New York Times

Former United States Senator Bob Kerrey, the president of the New School University and a Democratic candidate for president in 1992, said yesterday that he was considering a run for mayor of New York City, declaring that Michael R. Bloomberg had failed to fight Washington Republican policies that Mr. Kerrey said endangered the city’s finances and security.

Wow! I didn’t see that one coming. We will have to wait and see if Senator Kerrey is serious about this.

Last night, Mike Fahey and Dave Friend discussed issues in North Omaha.

Visit the World-Herald website, for a complete story.

More than 125 people showed up at Salem Baptist Church to hear the candidates’ plans for north Omaha and the city as a whole.

The forum was sponsored by several organizations, including the NAACP, the Urban League of Nebraska, 100 Black Men of Omaha and the local chapter of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women.

But what did Dave Friend (or his campaign) have to say about the event? The quote below is straight from the Dave Friend website.

Dave holds his own in front of North Omaha community forum sponsored by minority organizations known for their active support of Democrats and promoting distrust of police.

With an attitude like that, African-Americans have a reason to be afraid if Dave Friend is elected mayor. Did Dave express his concerns in front of the organizations or does he just rely on the internet to fling virtual insults?

UPDATE: It looks like the Friend campaign has taken that comment down.