LINCOLN - With campaign priorities such as tax system reform, education funding, and economic development, Republican gubernatorial candidate Brett Lindstrom sees someone like-minded in Dave Rippe.

Lindstrom, who represents northwest Omaha in the Nebraska Legislature, is set to announce Thursday that Dave Rippe of Hastings, former director of the Nebraska Department of Economic Development, is his choice for lieutenant governor and running mate in the race for governor.

Lindstrom has served as a state Senator since 2014.

“Throughout his career, Dave Rippe has fought for the people of Nebraska — strengthening our communities by helping home-grown Nebraska companies to expand, attracting big meaningful job creators, developing housing across the state, and now — to join me in bringing a New Generation of Conservative Leadership to the state,” Lindstrom said in a statement. “I know Dave is the right person to help grow Nebraska, and together, we will make Nebraska competitive for generations to come.”

Rippe, 39, previously served as executive director of the Hastings Economic Development Corp. from 2010 to 2017. He went on to lead the state Department of Economic Development from 2017 to 2019.

During his time as director of the Nebraska Department of Economic Development, Rippe worked with Lindstrom on tax incentive policy and the business innovation act, among other programs that Rippe said are key development policies for Nebraska.

Currently, Rippe, his wife Kristi, and their 9-year-old daughter Julia live in Hastings. They have built their own companies which focus on real estate and development.

Rippe grew up in Malcolm, NE, and is a graduate of Nebraska Wesleyan University and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

With his 40th birthday coming five days before the May 10th primary election, Rippe said, "It'll be a busy May."

Lindstrom works in the financial planning industry and is on the Legislature's committees for Revenue; Banking, Commerce, and Insurance; and Nebraska Retirement Systems, as well as the Committee on Committees.

“Brett is laser-focused on what Nebraska can be and what we as a state can do and not mire down in what we can’t do or what we shouldn’t do or what we wouldn’t do or what we couldn’t do,” Rippe said. “I just really appreciate his forward focus and his commitment to making Nebraska a competitive state.”

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