LINCOLN- The first dark money dropped into Nebraska’s governor’s race Friday, with a pair of TV ads attacking two of the contest’s top three Republican candidates.

Dark money group Conservative Nebraska funded a TV ad calling Conklin Co. CEO Charles Herbster a “Missouri millionaire” who does business out of state and pays his property taxes late.

A similar group, Restore the Good Life, backed a TV ad calling State Sen. Brett Lindstrom of Omaha “a liberal tax and spender,” citing a vote supporting a gas tax increase to fund roads.

The attack on Herbster mirrored Gov. Pete Ricketts’ criticisms Tuesday to the Nebraska Examiner after learning that Lt. Gov. Mike Foley was endorsing Herbster.

Ricketts reached Friday, acknowledged that he was helping fund the group running ads against Herbster, saying he would be “a horrible governor.”

“Me and my dad (Joe) gave a combined $600,000 to Conservative Nebraska,” Ricketts said. “I want Nebraska Republicans to have the facts when they head to the polls.”

The governor’s father, Joe Ricketts, founded TD Ameritrade. The Ricketts family has spent millions of dollars, in dark money and in donations given publicly, on Nebraska races and ballot initiatives.

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