LINCOLN — Gov. Pete Ricketts is losing no time in searching for candidates to switch state Sen. Mike Flood of Norfolk within the Nebraska Legislature.
Flood, a Republican, gained a particular election Tuesday to fill out the remaining months of former Rep. Jeff Fortenberry’s time period representing Nebraska’s 1st Congressional District. The election is not going to be licensed till Friday, July 15.
However Ricketts introduced Wednesday that he would begin accepting purposes from residents of Legislative District 19 desirous to fill the upcoming emptiness. The appointee will serve the rest of Flood’s present time period, which expires in early January 2025.
The appointee could have his or her first style of legislative motion this yr if Ricketts calls lawmakers into particular session on abortion within the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court docket ruling overturning the Roe v. Wade choice that legalized abortion nationwide.
Nebraska, beneath laws Flood launched and shepherded to passage in 2010, at the moment permits abortions till the twentieth week after fertilization. Ricketts has mentioned he helps a ban on abortions, together with in instances of rape or incest. However a proposed ban fell two votes quick throughout this yr’s common legislative session.
Throughout a press convention Wednesday, Ricketts mentioned he plans on appointing an abortion opponent to switch Flood, provided that he believes constituents within the district are additionally in opposition to abortion.
However opponents might want to discover one other vote for a particular session to succeed.
Ricketts mentioned Flood’s victory Tuesday over Patty Pansing Brooks, a Democrat and supporter of abortion rights, gained’t have a lot impression on the chance of him calling a particular session.
Nonetheless, a Pansing Brooks victory Tuesday would have probably given anti-abortion lawmakers one other vote within the Legislature.
Understanding that actuality, some folks, together with Pansing Brooks’ husband, Loel Brooks, speculated that voters who in any other case would have voted for Pansing Brooks could have stayed dwelling.
Ricketts mentioned he nonetheless wants to speak with Speaker of the Legislature Mike Hilgers of Lincoln a few potential particular session. Ricketts mentioned he’s contemplating the truth that the Legislature’s former try at an abortion ban failed, and that any future laws needs to be clear about not together with in vitro fertilization within the ban, which was a sticking level for some opponents.
District 19 represents Madison County and the southern portion of Pierce County. Candidates will need to have lived inside the district for a minimum of a full yr, be registered to vote and be a minimum of 21 years outdated.
Functions are due by the tip of the day Friday, July 8. Ricketts mentioned he was reserving the proper to hunt out extra certified candidates.
people could full an software for government appointment on-line at governor.nebraska.gov/board-comm-req. Candidates could embrace a canopy letter, résumé and any extra background supplies with their purposes.
Questions in regards to the software course of will be directed to Kathleen Dolezal with the governor’s workplace at 402-471-2256 or kathleen.dolezal@nebraska.gov.