LINCOLN- A group of state senators criticized the appointment of Bud Synhorst, who heads a conservative business group in Lincoln and is a former executive director of the Nebraska Republican Party, because they said he opposed Lincoln’s mask mandate, and because the Health Board lacked racial and gender diversity.
Omaha State Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh led the opposition, saying that Synhorst’s “outspoken” criticism of the director of the Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department, Pat Lopez, helped inspire death threats against her, and the need for Lopez to hire security protection. Megan Hunt of Omaha and Matt Hansen of Lincoln, also said they could not support confirming Synhorst’s placement on the 17-member board, which helps set state health policies, because he didn’t support public health initiatives like wearing masks to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Synhorst, when reached later, said he was disappointed by the accusations. He said that neither he nor LIBA opposed the mask mandate, and that he had only spoken in support of letting businesses “get back to normal”.
Opponents of the appointment also argued the Health Board does not reflect the people it is supposed to represent, because it has only one female member, no members of color and no members who live east of 72nd Street in Omaha. On Thursday Senator Hunt requested clarification from the Attorney General's Office on if Synhorst is barred from serving due to his appointment to the committee responsible for nominating judges.