Clouse ready to take over 37th District
Stan Clouse said he was trying to pass the final hours of Election Day as normally as possible, but even before the final votes in the District 37 legislative race were counted, he was thinking about his goals as a state senator.
"We've been doing normal errands, kicking back, relaxing and watching to see how things turn out," Clouse said when contacted early Tuesday evening. "My first goal in the Legislature is to hit the ground running. A lot of senators say we really need to get committee assignments and attend the weeklong orientation."
The Hub had an early deadline Tuesday. As a result, not all the votes were counted when Clouse was asked how he was feeling after an entire year of campaigning to become the senator representing the city of Kearney, Gibbon and Shelton in the Nebraska Legislature.
"We're cautiously optimistic. We hope all the work and the 20-plus years we served this community pays off," Clouse said of the time he served on Kearney's City Council and as the city's mayor.
Attempts were unsuccessful to speak with Clouse's opponent, political newcomer Lana Peister.
Joe Maul, leader of the Buffalo County GOP, admitted Peister was a longshot vs. Clouse.
"Lana worked very hard. I don't even know how many doors she knocked on. If Lana could win, it would be an upset," Maul said.
Clouse said he underestimated the time and expense of a campaign for the state Legislature.
"What surprised me the most was the amount of time and expense involved with it. Our campaign cost a lot, but it wasn't nearly as expensive as the campaigns in some other places of the state," he said.
Maul said he is proud of the effort that Peister invested in her campaign. He said it was a bit of a surprise that incumbent U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer encountered such a strong challenge from Dan Osborn, an independent political newcomer.
Polling showed Osborn and Fischer in a tight race. Maul said Osborn may have spent $25 million attempting to unseat Fischer.
Maul said he was confident Donald Trump would win the presidency vs. Democrat Kamala Harris.
"Trump is a lock," Maul said.
Dan McKeon, the Amherst farmer campaigning against Ord marketing manager Ethan Clark, said he ran a clean campaign, although an 11th hour fight erupted over the question of which candidate was a more legitimate resident of the 41st District.
The winner of that race will inherit the 10-county 41st District. Albion Sen. Tom Briese, who was appointed State Treasurer by Gov. Jim Pillen.
The winner of the 37th District race will replace state Sen. John Lowe of Kearney, who termed out after eight years in the Legislature.
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