Can't run for office

Agreed, it is disheartening. So, why don't you pass this example along to our Senators and get a new Bill introduced and passed allowing "non partison" individuals to run for office? Don't let this stop you, move forward in your qwest and you might achieve greater things and freedom for all of us "non partisans". It's not that we don't share either a Democrats view or a Republican's view...we actually share both. We look at things individually and decided upon them with their merit = NOT POLITCAL VALUE!

Is there a possibility that you can change your party now and run as a write-in candidate? I know that you have to have so many signatures on a petition to run as a write-in, but it would be worth a try!

More proof this is no longer a country with a government by the people, it is a country with people for the government.

What a bunch of bull$#@$%#!

write in???????

I did my time and fought the fight. When I went to the county clerk's office in November, I asked for EVERYTHING needed to run in the sheriff's election. I asked for their help, because I can't know all of Nebraska's election laws. They have the resources. As you can see, two laws were conveniently left out of the information provided. My opportunity to change parties expired at the beginning of December. Besides the incompetence displayed by the county clerk's office, my other complaint is why are ANY political offices restricted by the state of Nebraska to Democrats and Republicans only?

Final note. I can run in the general election if I get enough signatures on a petition. Another example of hurdles placed in the path of a common, law abiding citizen who chooses to be non-partisan. Republicans and Democrats aren't required to do this. Why is everyone else? Reminds me of the Jim Crow Laws.

Please run as a write in. I will personally carry the petition.

David I may never support you in the Election but I'd carry a petition to get you on the ballet. Good luck.

Run as a write-in! I feel by all the buzz around that we need a change. This is a start. Good luck!!

Sounds like another bill the State senators have been playing with and improving. lol

Looks like the Sate of Nebraska and county clerks office should have had the answer.

Best of luck Mac.

This is absolutely disgusting, David. Not only the fact that the county clerk didn't know that information, but that anyone would even devise an idiotic rule like that. Get the petition going and get on the ballot. It may be a lot of extra work, but you need to decide if it's worth fighting for.

What a shame, I would never have expected the state would have such archaic laws. The Sheriff should be of all things totally nonpolitical. You should get in touch with Chris to introduce a bill to correct this.

Breaking news flash. Talked with the State this morning and since I am not affiliated with a party, the December deadline has nothing to do with my filing. I can affiliate myself with the Republican or Democratic Party today and file to run for Sheriff. There was a misunderstanding of the laws at the county clerk's office. The campaign is back on.

Just be wise in who you decide to affiliate yourself with. Good luck David.

What a stupid law. i am a partisan but shutting someone out because the have neither an R or a D by their name is ridiculous. Good luck if I lived in RW county I would vote for a change there. Too many unsolved murders and sexual assaults there, hmm sounds like an ad or a slogan David

OK - so now who do we get to run for County Clerk? Still seems like you shouldn't have to register as Republican or Democrat to run for County Sheriff.

David,

Just another instance of someone falling asleep at the switch.

Sadly, we know who the someone is.

This guy who lives in our shoes - John Q. Public.

"I can't know all of Nebraska's election laws."

I think if I were going to run for election, I would take the time to educate myself on Nebraska's election laws instead of blaming someone else for my ignorance of the law. I support the right to run for election as an independent and support a change in the law. If I vote for a candidate for sheriff, I would expect that candidate to know the laws governing his/her public office and I would be very cautious of a candidate who points fingers at others before an election has even begun. Integrity and accountability are high on my list of requirements for public officials.

I believe He stated that he went to the county clerks office to make sure he knew all the laws. Without a law degree I dont know how this law could have been known. This law is an example of big politics. The current sheriff is not the most accountable public official I know. I would hope for a change.

you should waterboard the County Clerk to get the information you want

A person running for sheriff should educate their self on the election laws and should know them? Does that count for the airport authority and the NRD board too?? Get serious! The county clerk should know the laws! That's their JOB! I believe Mr. McConnell stated that he wanted all the information and requirements available to run. The county clerk didn't do their JOB! They didn't know. Obviously the law needs to be changed in Nebraska. On a national level you can run as an Independent, but not statewide or locally? We need to get up to speed here!

The way Mr. McConnell handled himself throughout this process is sickening. Can you imagine this guy in the courtroom acting like this? A person cannot fly off the handle and whine, finger point and blame everyone else when things don't go their way. There is no way this guy has the professionalism or the tact to take on a big job like being the Sheriff of Red Willow county. He reminded me of a little baby throwing a temper tantrum when he found out he could not run. Mr. McConnell, you should have thanked the courthouse staff for trying to save you the money and the embarassment of running for sheriff against a well thought of gentleman. Get out this election day and vote for Gene.

It looks to me like "homebuilder" would rather berate someone for their disagreement with a problem rather than address the issue that created the problem. Perhaps he or she doesn't want their prefered cantidate to have to face an opponent who views situations with down to earth common sense.

Part of the problem with politics in this country is the very idea that we only have two choices in platform and party. While this makes it easy for many to vote without knowing exactly who they are voting for, one has to make compromises to an extreme as not many people agree whole heartedly with one political platform or the other.

Regardless last I checked the position of a sheriff isn't a political appoitment but an elected one and no political partie(s) should have exclusive access to the position. Furthermore accecibility of information regarding election process is of prime importance.

Was Mr. McConnell's letter somewhat incidieary? Absolutely, as it should be any time a citizen in good faith tries to participate in any governmental process and is ultimately denied by red tape entangled methods designed to exclude the average citizen from taking an active role.

I would say that this was handled perfectly. Bring these kinds of problems to the people rather than a smoky room where deals are made. By the way how are those unsolved murder and sexaual assault investigations going homebuilder?

Chaco1- Those have nothing to do with the sheriffs department. That is a city investigation and I guess they cannot find evidence enough for a convistion. Get your facts straight before you start blaming.

conviction not convistion--typo

You are right homebuilder I stand corrected.