By the Lincoln Journal Star
Wednesday, Apr 30, 2008
Candidate Kathy Campbell in five:
1. I’m organized and prepared.
2. I’m from a nursery family (Campbell’s Nurseries), but I have a brown thumb.
3. I love to read murder mysteries, which is probably the old English teacher in me. I read for pleasure every night before I go to bed, no matter how much I’ve had to read for my job or the campaign.
4. I’m always looking for long-term solutions.
5. There is always tomorrow; I’m a Cubs fan.
Campbell, 61, a Republican, was a Lancaster County Commissioner for 16 years. She is now vice president of a nonprofit foundation.
On the campaign trail:
Campbell had raised about $26,000 for the campaign by the mid-April reporting deadline and says she is conducting a full-fledged campaign before the primary.
She’s is walking her district, using yard signs, larger signs and sending mailers. Campbell says she is fortunate to have gotten contributions from many individuals and help from volunteers. About 75 people have helped during the campaign.
Residents have been talking about whatever legislative issue is in the news that week, from smoking to the State Fair, she said.
There are also always questions about property taxes, she said.
Q. Should the state have a role in the immigration issue? If so, what specific legislation or bill might you propose?
A. If some legislation would be beneficial in helping businesses verify the documents, Campbell said she would support it.
She said she would have supported requiring state and local governments to check immigration status before providing government benefits (part of a bill that failed last year). However, she does not believe the state should change the tuition law. Children of illegal immigrants who are Nebraska high school graduates pay in-state tuition at public colleges and the university.
These are Nebraska high school graduates, who are illegal immigrants but working toward getting their citizenship. There is merit in assuring that young people who will become U.S. citizens get the highest education possible, she said.
The state also needs to be very vigilant in watching what is happening at the federal level, she said.
Q. Voters often complain about the state’s high property taxes, which are local taxes. Is this an issue the state can address?
A. Build tax base through good jobs and retaining or bringing back young Nebraskans. Curtail unfunded state mandates on local governments. Monitor and adjust as needed property valuation ranges and statutes. Slowly reduce levy authority of local school districts while providing a matching increase in state aid, as funds allow. Consider incentives for consolidation of local governmental units to save property tax dollars.
