In today’s super heated partisan world, Democrats and Republicans rarely agree on anything. However, if ever there was something that both sides could agree it on, it ought to be the principle that our elections in the United States are free and fair.
Free elections means that anyone that wants to can run for just about any office. Fair elections mean that every citizen will get one vote, and it will be treated the same as their neighbor’s. It also means that candidates will follow election rules and laws. Sadly, this last statement is becoming less and less true.
Last year, David Hergert of Mitchell, Nebraska ran and won a controversial seat on the University of Nebraska Board of Regents. The problem is not with Hergert’s race, gender, socioeconomic status, where he is from, his views on stem cell research or water rights, but rather the fact that he cheated in order to win an election. He cheated often and he cheated severely. Hergert spent more many than he was allowed to under law and he prevented his opponent from spending money he was entitled to spend under Nebraska election law.
In the subsequent year, Hergert has been fined $33,000, put under investigation by the State Patrol and Attorney General, and been asked to resign by the Unicameral, every major paper in the state, and the student and faculty governments of UNL. In response, Hergert has steadfastly maintained that he has done nothing wrong. He refuses to be held accountable for his actions. He trivializes his violations and refuses to recognize that he prevented a fair election between himself and his opponent. He believes that he is owed something and that we ought to just leave him alone.
As we celebrate the first birthday of the UNO College Democrats Blog, lets remember that other birthday that we celebrate every year. No not your own—but rather the United States of America’s. This country is still being governed by the same amazing document that it was governed by nearly 300 years ago. That ought to remind us that as we fight over the war, abortion, the environment, and judges, that no single idea or no single person is bigger than this great system. This system of rules and laws is what is most important. No one, no matter if they are the smartest kid in the room, have the most money, or if they have the best ideas should be above the law. Therefore, at its heart, the Hergert controversy is really about protecting our American system of free and fair elections so that our democracy can flourish for another 300 years. That ought to be something that we all agree is a good idea.
Matt Schaefer
UNL Young Democrats President & Student Government Senator
Bravo. Hergert must go, and we must wonder if he has any shame. Matt Schaefer is right on target again. This issue caused unity among urban and rural state senators, Democrats and Republicans in the Legislature, who know repeated abuse of campaign finance laws by Mr. Hergert were not the result of slipshod accounting, but rather a clear violation of the spirit and intent of state statute. How can a university enforce ethics in the classroom, when a cheat serves at the highest level of authority?
Well said Matt!!
I hope UNO (Nebraska State University) has a good showing in Lincoln tomorrow or I guess I should say later today. I called about 4:30 p.m. to Lincoln to say I wanted to say something at the Regents’ meeting but they told me I was not within the twenty-four hour limit to inform them to speak. Racheal, the secretary, told me that seven or eight people had already signed up to talk about him. There is a half-hour limit for public input and at a five minute limit for each speaker that probably takes care of the time anyway. I am looking forward to going, it should be interesting. I am kind of the pursausion that who ever has not screwed up should throw the first stone, but Hergert had gone over the line. As a Senate in Student Government, I know that Layne tried to pass a resolution to have him resign. One of the arguments about it was that the Senators did not know enough to make an educated vote. Hopefully, that not will not be legitimate argument for long.
I was happy to attend the bored meeting on Friday. Okay it was anything but boring; it was worth the trip. I think after that onslaught he would resign. It seems like the embarrassment of the situation is enough punishment for the chap!
Thanks to all College Democrats that made the trip down to Lincoln to fight for what is just.