NIOBRARA - State Sen. Tim Gragert did not file to run for reelection this year. Four candidates — Mark Patefield of Laurel, Keith Kube of Crofton, Barry DeKay of Niobrara and Robert E. Johnston of Clearwater — are vying for the open seat Gragert will leave in Nebraska Legislative District 40.

Patefield said he would focus on reducing taxes, controlling spending and emphasizing economic development to grow the state’s rural communities. He also said his focus would be to bring a conservative, commonsense approach to protecting resources and reducing regulations to allow more cooperation between rural areas, as well as working to improve access to broadband and health care and standing against federal overreach.

DeKay said he is running to address four major priorities: Reform the state’s broken tax structure; invest in roads and infrastructure; deliver much-needed broadband access across the state; and spur economic development in the district.

“I have spent my entire lifetime helping the people of District 40 in many areas,” DeKay said. “I believe my commonsense approach to working to achieve the best for the district is second to none.”

Kube, a native of Nebraska who sought the seat 4 years ago, said he has had the opportunity to work throughout North American for nearly a thousand different businesses, helping them to successfully navigate the task of ownership by “stress testing” them to find problems before they became an issue. He is motivated to run because he feels his experience in agriculture, business and consulting would allow him to best serve the district and state.

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