Douglas County government would be full of Democrats if the Omaha World-Herald had their way. Today, the World-Herald endorsed Don Kleine for Douglas County attorney over the incumbent Stu Dornan. Yesterday, the World-Herald encouraged voters to re-elect Roger Morrissey for Douglas County assessor. On Wednesday, the OWH endorsed Democrat John Ewing for Douglas County treasurer over incumbent Julie Haney.

Kleine’s advantage – Omaha World-Herald

Douglas County voters face a difficult choice Nov. 7. They can grant a full four-year term to Stu Dornan, appointed county attorney after Jim Jansen resigned in 2003. Or they can elect the County Board’s other option at that time – Don Kleine, Jansen’s chief deputy and current chief of Attorney General Jon Bruning’s criminal bureau.

Dornan has served with honor and laudable dedication. But county voters ought not pass up the chance to regain the services of perhaps the most respected prosecutor in the state. That person is Don Kleine.

This is an instance where a challenger’s particularly strong qualifications – in this case, as a prosecutor of unusually impressive skill and experience – justify the replacement of an incumbent, albeit a dedicated and capable one.

Re-elect Assessor Morrissey – Omaha World-Herald

During eight years in office, Douglas County Assessor Roger Morrissey and his staff have done yeoman work to move the county beyond its old-time, cockeyed valuation practices. Voters on Nov. 7 should give Morrissey a third four-year term.

Under Morrissey’s predecessor, 24-year Assessor Frank Bemis, properties that didn’t change hands could go years without being revalued. Morrissey, a veteran real-estate appraiser, took over at a time when the state was demanding more rigorous adherence to valuation standards set in state law.

Ewing for treasurer – Omaha World-Herald

Since her election in 1994, Julie Haney, the Douglas County treasurer, has been a change agent, pushing for new and better ways of doing things. She has overseen constructive change in the operations of her department in various regards, and she deserves credit for those improvements.

But in recent times, her record has been marked by discordant episodes that reflect poorly on her temperament and judgment.

People can and will disagree over how precisely to apportion the blame for the Byzantine circumstances that allowed Fred Cappellano, a 31-year employee of the office, to embezzle more than $120,000. But during this year in particular, the Treasurer’s Office has produced a string of peculiar incidents that raise concern about the steadiness of Haney’s judgment and operational approach. Specifically:

The astoundingly overheated and bitter in-house clash that erupted over the circulation of a card for Cappellano. The inappropriate use of county e-mail for campaign fundraising. Haney’s display of zealotry, poor judgment and insufficient explanation concerning her sending a letter to a Waterloo man on county letterhead after he criticized her in The World-Herald’s Public Pulse.

Taken together, such events raise a legitimate question: Is it time for this change agent to be succeeded by a competent successor, a consolidator?

The answer is yes. Haney’s opponent, Omaha Deputy Police Chief John Ewing, is an intelligent, accomplished manager who has the talent and temperament to provide the Treasurer’s Office with the needed direction and vision.

Ewing understands the various dimensions of the Treasurer’s Office. He ably analyzes its structure, its numerous connections to other departments and its fundamental needs for the long term.