PALMYRA- Two challengers and a write-in candidate have stepped up to try and oust a state senator appointed by Gov. Pete Ricketts in a race for the District 1 seat in the Legislature.

Sen. Julie Slama of Peru, who worked on Ricketts’ reelection campaign in 2018, was appointed that year to fill the vacancy left by Sen. Dan Watermeier of Syracuse — who was elected to the Nebraska Public Service Commission — for the legislative district.Seeking to oust Slama are Janet Palmtag, a long-time real estate agent from Nebraska City; Dennis Schaardt, owner of a small meat processing business in Table Rock; and write-in candidate Mike Powers of Palmyra.

The race pits former Governor Dave Heineman, who endorsed Janet Palmtag, against sitting Governor Pete Ricketts who supports Senator Slama. Voters in the distrct have seen a cascade of mailings and advertisements, some negative, from the candidates, making the race the dirtiest- and likely the most expensive- of the primary.

At the forefront of the race is the debate over how best to deal with property taxes in Nebraska. Schaardt said the 'band-aide' approach being currently taken is not working, while Palmtag calls on reducing state spending, including int he Department of Corrections. Slama however favors the plan proposed by Senator Linehan focusing on state aid to education, which is stalled on the floor of the legislature.

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