No comparison between Blank, Hergert fines

See there, I told you so, says the cynic.

Former Regent Don Blank agreed Friday to pay $3,100 in late fees and a penalty for failing to quickly report the $20,000 he loaned to his campaign while it waited for $25,000 in public campaign money.

Just like his opponent, David Hergert, right?

Not by a long shot.

Hergert, who beat Blank by 11 percentage points in the general election, spent $90,000 in the campaign, more than twice his estimate as reported to the Accountability and Disclosure Commission. Later, the State Supreme Court found Hergert guilty of false reporting and obstructing government officials; he was removed from office permanently on July 7.

Hergert was impeached by the Legislature on 10 charges, all of which show a tendency to play fast and loose with the rules.

Blank, on the other hand, tried to follow the rules, and had asked the commission whether he could lend himself money in anticipation of the public funding, and was told yes.

He was tripped up over the requirement that he then report the $20,000 loan as a contribution -- it would have been nice if the commission had pointed that it out, if it didn't.

And, it's important to note that Blank was put in that position because of Hergert's unlawful maneuverings.

Unlike Hergert, Blank didn't try to blame campaign staff, saying he had only himself to blame.

At 70, Blank says he's "fat, happy and sassy" and has enjoyed his public service, but won't be running again.

Blank, who practices Dentistry in McCook, served on the McCook City Council during the 1970s and was mayor for six of his nine years on the council.

In 1974, he ran for Congress, and was defeated by 140 votes of 70,000 cast in the Republican primary.

In 1986, he was elected to the University of Nebraska Board of Regents with a 60 percent majority vote over the incumbent. He received a rare vote of confidence by being elected Regent chairman after only three years in office and serving two consecutive terms.

Civic leaders like that are a rare breed, and we will be lucky to find more like him.

McCook and Nebraska owe Don Blank a debt of gratitude.