Controversies appear to have hurt Dakota County incumbents
Primary winner: Ousted commissioners 'good people'
By Bret Hayworth Journal staff writer | Posted: Thursday, May 15, 2008
Out with the old, in with the new.
Well, sort of.
Barring write-in victories, it appears three Dakota County (Neb.) commissioners won't serve beyond January 2009.
As primary voters chose among 12 candidates in two parties on Tuesday, they didn't advance incumbent commissioners Betty O'Neill, Bill Engel and Jackie Hartnett onto the November ballot. That means the three Democrats, with a combined three dozen years of service, won't be deciding Dakota County issues.
Two of the six candidates who will be on the ballot are former commissioners who are back seeking seats.
Rick Bousquet, a former commissioner who didn't win re-election in 2006 but advanced Tuesday, joins Tony Gomez and Sally Reinert on the Democratic ticket. Among the three Republicans who moved onto the Nov. 4 ballot is former commissioner Lyle Todd, as well as Richard McNear (who received the most votes) and Gary Johnson.
Bousquet said Wednesday it appears voters were disgruntled with O'Neill for her insistence on unsealing a report conducted by an Omaha law firm into county jail time sheets. County Attorney Ed Matney sent the report for review to the state attorney general, and the response back showed that no criminal offense occurred. The board voted to seal it to protect those who talked to investigators.
"They were all good people, but I think what they did with the county attorney and the sheriff's report and all that kind of sunk them," Bousquet said. "I believe Jackie Harnett was a victim of that, and Bill, maybe also."
Engel, 78, of South Sioux City is not daunted, and said he'll run in the fall as a write-in candidate. He said he's been the top votegetter in two of the three elections he's won, and predicted he will do it again in six months.
"I'm going to run as a write-in, and I look to win by a landslide," Engel said, figuring he'll get the votes of Republicans and Independents.
He said he lost due to light voter turnout, as well as being the subject of many media reports after being arrested on 2007 misdemeanor charges of drunken driving and leaving the scene of a property damage incident.
"What really beat me was the bad news that I've been getting from the news media," Engel said. "I didn't do either one, I am perfectly innocent of both of them."
He admitted drinking two beers on the night in question, but said he never drove a car.
O'Neill of South Sioux City is a former county assessor who won election in 2004. Like Engel, she thought low voter turnout hurt her candidacy.
"I feel I wasn't advanced because of the conflict between Mr. Matney and myself. I still feel the report about the jail should have been disclosed. Thirty-six thousand taxpayer dollars was spent on the jail report," O'Neill said.
Hubbard resident Hartnett has won five terms dating back to 1988. She and Matney didn't return calls Wednesday.
The other two county commissioners not up for election this year are Bill Rohde and Bill McLarty. They are serving four-year terms that run through January 2011.
Bret Hayworth may be reached at (712) 293.4203 or brethayworth@siouxcityjournal.com
Well, sort of.
Barring write-in victories, it appears three Dakota County (Neb.) commissioners won't serve beyond January 2009.
As primary voters chose among 12 candidates in two parties on Tuesday, they didn't advance incumbent commissioners Betty O'Neill, Bill Engel and Jackie Hartnett onto the November ballot. That means the three Democrats, with a combined three dozen years of service, won't be deciding Dakota County issues.
Two of the six candidates who will be on the ballot are former commissioners who are back seeking seats.
Rick Bousquet, a former commissioner who didn't win re-election in 2006 but advanced Tuesday, joins Tony Gomez and Sally Reinert on the Democratic ticket. Among the three Republicans who moved onto the Nov. 4 ballot is former commissioner Lyle Todd, as well as Richard McNear (who received the most votes) and Gary Johnson.
Bousquet said Wednesday it appears voters were disgruntled with O'Neill for her insistence on unsealing a report conducted by an Omaha law firm into county jail time sheets. County Attorney Ed Matney sent the report for review to the state attorney general, and the response back showed that no criminal offense occurred. The board voted to seal it to protect those who talked to investigators.
"They were all good people, but I think what they did with the county attorney and the sheriff's report and all that kind of sunk them," Bousquet said. "I believe Jackie Harnett was a victim of that, and Bill, maybe also."
Engel, 78, of South Sioux City is not daunted, and said he'll run in the fall as a write-in candidate. He said he's been the top votegetter in two of the three elections he's won, and predicted he will do it again in six months.
"I'm going to run as a write-in, and I look to win by a landslide," Engel said, figuring he'll get the votes of Republicans and Independents.
He said he lost due to light voter turnout, as well as being the subject of many media reports after being arrested on 2007 misdemeanor charges of drunken driving and leaving the scene of a property damage incident.
"What really beat me was the bad news that I've been getting from the news media," Engel said. "I didn't do either one, I am perfectly innocent of both of them."
He admitted drinking two beers on the night in question, but said he never drove a car.
O'Neill of South Sioux City is a former county assessor who won election in 2004. Like Engel, she thought low voter turnout hurt her candidacy.
"I feel I wasn't advanced because of the conflict between Mr. Matney and myself. I still feel the report about the jail should have been disclosed. Thirty-six thousand taxpayer dollars was spent on the jail report," O'Neill said.
Hubbard resident Hartnett has won five terms dating back to 1988. She and Matney didn't return calls Wednesday.
The other two county commissioners not up for election this year are Bill Rohde and Bill McLarty. They are serving four-year terms that run through January 2011.
Bret Hayworth may be reached at (712) 293.4203 or brethayworth@siouxcityjournal.com
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dc voter wrote on May 15, 2008 10:18 PM:
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