Curt Friesen

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Curt Friesen
Member of the Nebraska Legislature
from the 34th district
Assumed office
2015
Preceded by Annette Dubas
Personal details
Born (1955-07-13) July 13, 1955 (age 68)
Political party Republican
Residence Henderson, Nebraska
Occupation Farmer

Curt Friesen (born July 13, 1955) is a politician from the state of Nebraska in the Midwestern United States. In 2006, he unsuccessfully ran for a seat in the Nebraska Legislature. In 2014, he won election to the legislature, representing a district in the central part of the state. Friesen is a member of the Republican Party.

Personal life and professional career

Friesen was born July 13, 1955, in Henderson, Nebraska. He graduated from Henderson Community School in 1973, then attended Southeast Community College in Milford, Nebraska, obtaining an associate degree in diesel technology in 1975. In about 1976, he began farming in Hamilton County, where he raised corn and soybeans.[1][2]

In 1975, Friesen married Nancy Vaught; the couple produced four children.[1]

Early political career

Early in Friesen's farming career, he found himself in difficulties with U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) regulations. He sought assistance from Virginia Smith, who represented Nebraska's Third District in the U.S. House of Representatives. Smith's office contacted USDA officials, and the regulation in question was changed. According to Friesen, this experience resolved him to involve himself in politics rather than being "the person complaining in the coffee shop".[3][4]

From 1997 to 2008, Friesen served on the board of directors of the Upper Big Blue Natural Resources District, a local governmental body charged with managing ground and surface water and with preventing soil erosion in the upper portion of the Big Blue River basin. For the last two of these years, he was the board's chairman.[5][6][7] From 2000 through 2004, he was the mayor of Henderson;[5] he sought re-election in 2004, but was defeated.[8] In 2008, he was appointed as one of nine directors of the Nebraska Corn Board, which manages funds raised by a half-cent-per-bushel checkoff for research, education, market development, and promotion of Nebraska corn; he served two three-year terms, until 2014.[5][9][10]

Nebraska Legislature

2006 election

In November 2005, Friesen announced his intention of running in the next year's election for the Nebraska Legislature from the 24th District, which consisted of York, Seward, and part of Polk County. Incumbent Elaine Stuhr, a member of the Republican Party, was barred by Nebraska's term-limits law from running for re-election.[4][11][12][13]

Friesen, a Republican, was one of four candidates in the race. Greg Adams, a Republican, was a high-school teacher and the current mayor of York. Jim Ruby, a Republican from Seward, had served as the Seward County attorney from 1999 to 2003. Larry TeSelle had sold cars in Seward and Milford for 30 years; at the time of the election, he was a maintenance worker for Union Bank in Lincoln.[14][15][16]

In the nonpartisan primary, Adams received 4055 votes, or 42.8% of the 9474 votes cast. Friesen placed second, with 3593 votes, or 37.9%. Ruby and TeSelle received 1202 votes (12.7%) and 624 votes (6.6%) respectively.[17]

As the top two vote-getters in the primary, Adams and Friesen moved on to the general election. Over the entire course of the election, the Adams campaign was one of the top fundraisers among the southeastern Nebraska legislative races, raising $68,000 and spending $54,000;[16][18] the Friesen campaign raised $34,000 and spent the same.[19] Several of the largest institutional contributors gave money to both campaigns: the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce and Industry gave $3000 to Adams and $1500 to Friesen; the Nebraska Bankers gave $3600 to Adams and $1250 to Friesen; the Associated General Contractors Highway Improvement PAC gave $3500 to Adams and $500 to Friesen. The Nebraska Realtors gave $1500 to Adams and nothing to Friesen; Central Nebraska Wood Preservers of Sutton, Nebraska, gave Friesen $2000 and Adams nothing.[18][19]

When the November election was held, Adams received 6088 votes, or 50.8% of the 11,979 votes cast; Friesen received 5891 votes, or 49.2%.[20]

2014 election

In August 2013, Friesen announced that he would make a second bid for a seat in the Nebraska legislature. On this occasion, he ran from the 34th District, which encompassed Nance, Merrick, Hamilton, and part of Hall Counties, including the cities of Fullerton, Central City, Aurora, and part of Grand Island. The incumbent, Annette Dubas, a member of the Democratic Party, was barred by Nebraska's term-limits law from running for a third consecutive term.[21][22][23]

Friesen ran unopposed in the 2014 election.[24] He raised over $35,000 for the campaign, and spent $7600. Major contributors included the Nebraska Realtors, which supplied $3000; the Nebraska Bankers PAC and the Nebraska Optometric Association, each of which contributed $2000; and the Associated General Contractors Highway Improvement PAC, which furnished $1750.[25]

Legislative tenure

2015 session

In the 2015 session of the legislature, Friesen was named vice-chair of the Natural Resources Committee; he was also appointed to the Transportation and Telecommunications Committee.[26]

Among the "most significant"[27] actions taken by the Legislature in its 2015 session were three bills that passed over vetoes by governor Pete Ricketts. LB268 repealed the state's death penalty; LB623 reversed the state's previous policy of denying driver's licenses to people who were living illegally in the United States after being brought to the country as children, and who had been granted exemption from deportation under the Barack Obama administration's Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program; and LB610 increased the tax on gasoline to pay for repairs to roads and bridges.[27][28][29] Friesen voted against the death-penalty repeal, and to sustain Ricketts's veto of the measure;[30] he voted for passage of LB623, and to override the gubernatorial veto;[31] and he voted for passage of the gas-tax increase, and to override the veto.[32]

2016 session

In its 2016 session, the Nebraska legislature passed three bills that Ricketts then vetoed. LB580 would have created an independent commission of citizens to draw new district maps following censuses; supporters described it as an attempt to de-politicize the redistricting process, while Ricketts maintained that the bill delegated the legislature's constitutional duty of redistricting to "an unelected and unaccountable board".[33][34] Friesen voted against the bill in its 29–15 passage.[35] Sponsor John Murante opted not to seek an override of the governor's veto.[36]

A second vetoed bill, LB935, would have changed state audit procedures. The bill passed by a margin of 37–8–4; Friesen was listed as "present and not voting". The bill was withdrawn without an attempt to override the veto; the state auditor agreed to work with the governor on a new version for the next year's session.[33][37]

A third bill passed over Ricketts's veto. LB947 made DACA beneficiaries eligible for commercial and professional licenses in Nebraska. The bill passed the Legislature on a vote of 33–11–5; the veto override passed 31–13–5. Friesen voted for the bill; on the vote to override Ricketts's veto, he was present and not voting..[38][39]

The legislature failed to pass LB10, greatly desired by the Republican Party, which would have restored Nebraska to a winner-take-all scheme of allocating its electoral votes in U.S. presidential elections, rather than continuing its practice of awarding the electoral vote for each congressional district to the candidate who received the most votes in that district. Supporters were unable to break a filibuster; in the 32–17 cloture motion, Friesen was among those who voted for the bill.[40][41]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Sen. Curt Friesen—Biography". Nebraska Legislature. Retrieved May 28, 2015. Archived April 24, 2015, at Wayback Machine.
  2. ↑ Friesen, Curt. "Voice your priorities". Nebraska Farmer, July 2010, p. 18. Retrieved May 28, 2015.
  3. ↑ "Friesen cultivates new career". Unicameral Update. March 13, 2015. Retrieved May 28, 2015. Archived May 28, 2015, at Wayback Machine.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Wilkinson, Melanie. "Former Henderson mayor to run for legislative seat". York News-Times. November 7, 2005. Retrieved June 1, 2015.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 "Curt Friesen". LinkedIn. Retrieved May 28, 2015.
  6. ↑ "About Us". Upper Big Blue Natural Resources District. Retrieved June 1, 2015. Archived June 1, 2015, at Wayback Machine.
  7. ↑ "About NRDs". Nebraska's Natural Resources Districts. Retrieved June 1, 2015. Archived April 28, 2015, at Wayback Machine.
  8. ↑ Wilkinson, Melanie. "2004 The Year In Review". York News-Times. December 31, 2004. Retrieved June 1, 2015.
  9. ↑ "NCB Mission". Nebraska Corn Board. Retrieved June 1, 2015. Archived June 1, 2015, at Wayback Machine.
  10. ↑ "Board Members". Nebraska Corn Board. Retrieved June 1, 2015. Archived November 21, 2014, at Wayback Machine.
  11. ↑ "Nebraska Legislative Districts", established in 2001 legislative session. Retrieved June 1, 2015.
  12. ↑ Bauer, Scott. "Education Committee Leader to be Determined". Yankton Daily Press & Dakotan. December 20, 2000. Retrieved June 1, 2015.
  13. ↑ Hicks, Nancy. "Legislature will have fewer women, more attorneys". Lincoln Journal Star. November 8, 2006. Retrieved June 1, 2015.
  14. ↑ Wilkinson, Melanie. "Vying to represent District 24". York News-Times. March 29, 2006. Retrieved June 1, 2015.
  15. ↑ Jenkins, Nate. "Four candidates file for legislative seats". Lincoln Journal Star. November 18, 2005. Retrieved June 1, 2015.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 Hicks, Nancy. "A roundup of area legislative races". Lincoln Journal Star. May 8, 2006. Retrieved June 1, 2015.
  17. ↑ "Nebraska Election 2006: Official Election Results: Member of the Legislature". Nebraska Secretary of State. Retrieved May 28, 2015. Archived February 21, 2015, at Wayback Machine.
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 "Greg Adams for Legislature", general statement 10/24/2006–12/31/2006. Nebraska Accountability and Disclosure Commission. Retrieved June 1, 2015. See "Financial Summary" tab for overall numbers; "Schedule A" for contributions by individuals; "Schedule B" for contributions by businesses and organizations.
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 "Curt Friesen for Legislature (Dissolved 2007)", general statement 10/24/2006–12/31/2006. Nebraska Accountability and Disclosure Commission. Retrieved June 1, 2015. See "Financial Summary" tab for overall numbers; "Schedule A" for contributions by individuals; "Schedule B" for contributions by businesses and organizations.
  20. ↑ "Nebraska Election 2006: Official General Election Results: Member of the Legislature". Nebraska Secretary of State. Retrieved May 28, 2015. Archived February 10, 2015 at Wayback Machine.
  21. ↑ "Curt Friesen files for District 34 legislative seat". Grand Island Independent. January 20, 2014. Retrieved June 2, 2015.
  22. ↑ "Legislative District 34 - LB703 (2011)". Nebraska Legislature. Retrieved June 2, 2015.
  23. ↑ Walton, Don. "Democrat Dubas to enter race for governor". Lincoln Journal Star. August 8, 2013. Retrieved June 2, 2015.
  24. ↑ Ellyson, Tyler. "Schumacher easily defeats opponent in District 22". Columbus Telegram. November 5, 2014. Retrieved June 2, 2015.
  25. ↑ "Friesen for Legislature", general statement 10/21/2014–12/31/2014. Nebraska Accountability and Disclosure Commission. Retrieved June 2, 2015. See "Financial Summary" tab for overall numbers; "Schedule A" for contributions by individuals; "Schedule B" for contributions by businesses and organizations.
  26. ↑ "2015 Legislative Committees". Nebraska Legislature. Retrieved May 26, 2015.
  27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 Knapp, Fred. "2015 Legislature Leaves Its Mark On Nebraska". NET (Nebraska public radio and television). June 3, 2015. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  28. ↑ Walton, Don. "Senators override Ricketts' veto of Dreamers licenses". Lincoln Journal Star. May 28, 2015. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  29. ↑ Pluhacek, Zach. "Gas tax hike gets Nebraska lawmakers' OK, governor's veto". Lincoln Journal Star. May 7, 2015. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  30. ↑ "Legislative Journal, One Hundred Fourth Legislature, First Session". Nebraska Legislature. Vote on final reading of LB268 is at pp. 1738–39; override of veto is at pp. 1896–98.
  31. ↑ "Legislative Journal, One Hundred Fourth Legislature, First Session". Nebraska Legislature. Vote on final reading of LB623 is at pp. 1791–92; override of veto is at pp. 1930–32.
  32. ↑ "Legislative Journal, One Hundred Fourth Legislature, First Session". Nebraska Legislature. Vote on final reading of LB610 is at p. 1500; override of veto is at p. 1623.
  33. ↑ 33.0 33.1 Matheny, Ryan. "Nebraska legislators wrap up 2016 session". KMA. April 25, 2016. Retrieved April 29, 2016.
  34. ↑ Nohr, Emily. "'Unconstitutional, unelected and unaccountable': Ricketts vetoes bill to revamp how political maps are drawn". Omaha World-Herald. April 18, 2016. Retrieved April 29, 2016.
  35. ↑ "Legislative Journal: Carryover Legislation". p. 1622. Retrieved April 29, 2016.
  36. ↑ "Independent redistricting commission vetoed, no override attempt offered". Unicameral Update. April 19, 2016. Retrieved April 29, 2016.
  37. ↑ "Legislative Journal: Carryover Legislation". pp. 1579–80. Retrieved April 29, 2016.
  38. ↑ Duggan, Joe. "Legislature to vote on overriding veto on bill that would allow work licenses for those brought to U.S. illegally as kids". Omaha World-Herald. April 19, 2016. Retrieved April 29, 2016.
  39. ↑ "Legislative Journal: Carryover Legislation". Passage of LB947 is on p. 1614; the veto override is on pp. 1637–38. Retrieved April 29, 2016.
  40. ↑ Stoddard, Martha. "Bill to return Nebraska to winner-take-all Electoral College method comes up short". Omaha World-Herald. April 13, 2016. Retrieved April 29, 2016.
  41. ↑ "Legislative Journal: Carryover Legislation". p. 1591. Retrieved April 29, 2016.

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