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Omaha man launches campaign for Secretary of State
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| Kris Pierce answers questions following a press conference, at Barrista's Friday morning, announcing his campaign for Nebraska Secretary of State. (Independent/Scott Kingsley) |
By Robert Pore
robert.pore@theindependent.com
Kris Pierce of Omaha officially announced his candidacy for the Democratic nomination for Nebraska secretary of state on Monday in Grand Island.
Grand Island was the first of three Nebraska stops where Pierce announced his candidacy. The others on Monday were in Lincoln and Omaha. Current Secretary of State John Gale, a Republican, announced last month that he would seek a third term.
Two key issues for Pierce are expanding trade in Nebraska by seeking additional foreign markets for Nebraska products and expanding commerce to all regions of the state.
As state lawmakers gather in Lincoln this week to adjust the state budget in anticipation of expected revenue shortfalls, Pierce also sees the secretary of state's office as a way to save money by streamlining the election process with available and proven technologies and procedures. Those include same-day voter registration, expanded vote-by-mail options, and online registration.
"We need to take a hard look at the money that can be saved by having the secretary of state's office adapt the technology that has been used successfully in other parts of the nation," Pierce said. "We must lead in cost-cutting measures that will pay us back by saving voters time and make access to our elections quick, fair and economical."
Pierce is the former executive director of the Douglas County Democratic Party and is a small-business owner who specializes in political and business development consulting.
"One of my premises has always been that every public servant should be an effective public servant and directly affect individual lives," he said. "With my background and what I have done, this is the best office to do just that. I don't think the secretary of state's office has been that effective and efficient in affecting everyday lives. I think I can bring a lot to that office to make it where everyday Nebraskans will know what the secretary of state does and what he does for me."
Pierce said he wants to bring Nebraska out of the "dark ages" of electoral technology.
"There are so many ways we can really improve the ways we do elections through the use of technology and reduce the cost of those elections and return that money back to taxpayers," he said.
But education is a key to transition Nebraska voters to a more technology-based system.
"It's about looking at the pros and cons and making sure there's a secure process to do it," Pierce said.
With agriculture being Nebraska's driving economic engine, Pierce said he sees a more elevated role for the secretary of state's office in promoting Nebraska's trade opportunities.
Nebraska agricultural exports were valued at nearly $6 billion in fiscal year 2008, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
"I want to find new and emerging markets for our farmers so our Nebraska family farms can not only survive but prosper," Pierce said. "It also means business by finding foreign investments and bringing back jobs to Nebraska."
For more information about Pierce's campaign, visit his Web site at piercefornebraska.com.
Grand Island was the first of three Nebraska stops where Pierce announced his candidacy. The others on Monday were in Lincoln and Omaha. Current Secretary of State John Gale, a Republican, announced last month that he would seek a third term.
Two key issues for Pierce are expanding trade in Nebraska by seeking additional foreign markets for Nebraska products and expanding commerce to all regions of the state.
As state lawmakers gather in Lincoln this week to adjust the state budget in anticipation of expected revenue shortfalls, Pierce also sees the secretary of state's office as a way to save money by streamlining the election process with available and proven technologies and procedures. Those include same-day voter registration, expanded vote-by-mail options, and online registration.
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Pierce is the former executive director of the Douglas County Democratic Party and is a small-business owner who specializes in political and business development consulting.
"One of my premises has always been that every public servant should be an effective public servant and directly affect individual lives," he said. "With my background and what I have done, this is the best office to do just that. I don't think the secretary of state's office has been that effective and efficient in affecting everyday lives. I think I can bring a lot to that office to make it where everyday Nebraskans will know what the secretary of state does and what he does for me."
Pierce said he wants to bring Nebraska out of the "dark ages" of electoral technology.
"There are so many ways we can really improve the ways we do elections through the use of technology and reduce the cost of those elections and return that money back to taxpayers," he said.
But education is a key to transition Nebraska voters to a more technology-based system.
"It's about looking at the pros and cons and making sure there's a secure process to do it," Pierce said.
With agriculture being Nebraska's driving economic engine, Pierce said he sees a more elevated role for the secretary of state's office in promoting Nebraska's trade opportunities.
Nebraska agricultural exports were valued at nearly $6 billion in fiscal year 2008, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
"I want to find new and emerging markets for our farmers so our Nebraska family farms can not only survive but prosper," Pierce said. "It also means business by finding foreign investments and bringing back jobs to Nebraska."
For more information about Pierce's campaign, visit his Web site at piercefornebraska.com.
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