Stenberg, Ross have known track record

Nebraska may be the Cornhusker State, but when it comes to politics, we're more like Missouri -- Show me.

Something about hype leaves us a little short.

That's why the McCook Daily Gazette is supporting Don Stenberg for the Republican nomination for Senate, and Ron Ross for State Treasurer.

Don Stenberg

While his major opponent has spent $4 million of his own money seeking the nomination -- nearly $1 million in April alone -- Don Stenberg is letting his actions speak for themselves.

A native of Tekamah, Stenberg grew up detassling corn, hauling bales, mowing lawns and lifeguarding at the local swimming pool. He walked on to the University of Nebraska track team to letter and win an athletic scholarship, then went on to earn his law degree and MBA at Harvard.

Elected Nebraska Attorney General in 1990, 1994 and 1998, he lost the closest U.S. Senate race in Nebraska history -- to McCook's own Ben Nelson -- in 2000 by 15,000 votes.

Along the way, he argued Nebraska's partial birth abortion case and two others before the U.S. Supreme Court, and was one of only four state attorneys general who filed a friend of the court brief in the highest court in favor of the president in Bush vs. Gore.

Stenberg says he'll work to lower energy prices through support of alternative energy like ethanol and bio-diesel, oppose activist judges, support national defense and homeland security, and make agriculture a top priority.

Ron Ross

The name Ron Ross should be familiar to Southwest Nebraskans, who should remember him from his successful years as CEO and administrator of Cambridge Memorial Hospital and member of the Cambridge City Council.

In addition, he founded the Rural Health Development Corp. to manage 23 hospitals and care facilities in Nebraska.

A native of Deshler, we can forgive him for graduating from the University of Colorado, especially following his service as director of the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services and his current service as State Treasurer, after being appointed to fill the term vacated by the resignation of Loralee Byrd.

Following the Byrd scandal, Ross has worked to restore the morale and efficiency of that important office.

Ross deserves to have a chance to continue his effective service in his current role.