LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) - Incumbent state treasurer Don Stenberg said he has accomplished a lot in his first four years of office, and he wants the opportunity to continue the work that he’s started.
But he faces a challenger in the May 13 primary election who has concerns about the state’s current tax-collection system.
Since being elected treasurer in 2010, Stenberg said he has cut the office’s budget by 14 percent and improved a state website - nebraskaspending.gov - that details the money Nebraska government spends and receives.
Stenberg said he wants to continue the work he’s started, including looking for more efficient ways to run the office and reduce the office budget.
“I have a record of cost-effective management in the state treasurer’s office,” Stenberg said.
The state needs a treasurer who is a fiscal conservative with state government management experience and a background in financial issues, Stenberg said. Stenberg has a master’s degree in business administration from Harvard and served as Nebraska attorney general from 1991 to 2003.
Stenberg faces a challenger in Christopher Costello, of Omaha. Costello, who has worked in the Douglas County treasurer’s office and now heads a bus company, said he’s concerned about corruption in the tax-collection system.
From his work with the county, Costello said he understands methods for exploiting the system and would push for reforms. He didn’t offer examples of problems in the state system.
Michael O’Hara, of Omaha, is the only Democratic candidate for treasurer. O’Hara is a professor at the University of Nebraska at Omaha who teaches law and economics. He said he wants to improve on the efficiency and transparency of the office.
“My education was on regulation of business and I’ve been teaching business for over 30 years and that gets you into how to do efficient operations while in compliance with the law,” O’Hara said.
Libertarian Michael Knebel of Bellevue is also running for treasurer.
Knebel works as a broker who also educates active traders for TD Ameritrade.
He argues his private business experience is a benefit.
“I’m really running to provide a fresh view on the office of treasurer and to hopefully update it and make it more efficient,” he said.
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