AUBURN – First District State Legislature candidates Dennis Schaardt and Bob Hallstrom were in harmony at Thursday’s political forum regarding Nebraska’s need for child care, but differed on who is best for the job.

Schaardt pointed to his experience operating Den’s Country Meats in Table Rock for nearly four decades and his service in local government. Hallstrom noted his ready-to-got relationships with state leaders and his familiarity with the legislative process.

 

Hallstrom: “You have to be able, when you get up to the Legislature, to advocate. In this case for the people of the first legislative district and be persuasive to get things done.
I’ll tell you tonight I’m here to ask for your vote and I’m here to suggest to you that I’m going to be the most effective spokesperson for the child care industry, the children that you provide services for and the families that  you serve.
I’ll be a difference maker for District 1 from day one.”

 Schaardt said he is on the front lines of issues facing child care providers, rural employers and the district.

He said daycare providers are burdened with regulations, including training requirements that make the tough job of filling positions even tougher.

Schaardt: “I know like Pawnee City, Table Rock and down that way it’s tough to find any employees come work for you, let alone to be able to get somebody with training.”

He said age zero to three years is an important learning time for kids, but the state’s Rule 11 is an obstacle for child care at schools. He said while it’s important to have someone who is knowledgeable, the rule requires a certified teacher for every age group.

Schaardt: “For them it feels foolish. For somebody that is under 18 months old, why would you need a certified teacher in there for that?”

 

Hallstrom said some day care providers are disadvantaged by a state reimbursement system for meals that is based on community income rather than food prices.

Hallstrom: “When it’s based on community income, there’s just a disconnect. That really, in my mind, doesn’t have any bearing on what the cost of providing those meals are and that they ought to be treated equally.”

Schaardt suggested schools with career academies include child care as a pathway and income tax kickbacks to businesses that pay extra for workers’ child care expenses.

Hallstrom said Nebraska already has a child care tax credit in place for self-employed, licensed child care providers and to businesses that contribute to child care.

Hallstrom: “The Legislature has done some things I think are a very promising aspect with regard to access and availability. There was a bill with limited funding, $300,000, provided last session for what they call intergenerational care facilities. That’s where you have underutilized space in a nursing home and they provide grants to build out child care facilities.

“I think it’s an excellent concept. Kids can definitely learn from the residents in the nursing home and it helps the morale of the residents to have young kids around, so I think that’s a very promising approach.”

Schaardt said there has been investment in day care in southeast Nebraska, but financial realities force many to shut down within three years.

Schaardt: “We’ve got to get houses to get people here. We need young people in those houses and then, to get the young people, we need somebody to be able to take care of the kids so they can come to work for us. So that’s a big, big step for us to try and overcome.”

 

Here is a summary of the candidates’ opening statements

Dennis Schaardt

“I grew up by Elk Creek, Neb., graduated from Ellk Creek High. After that I entered the workforce and worked construction for about six months. I  helped my dad farm in between times and the shortly, when I was 19  years old, I bought into a locker plant in Table Rock, Neb., and I’ve been there for the last 39 years running Den’s Country Meats down there.

I married with my wife Kim, I’ve got three kids, four grandkids and I know the struggles of finding daycare right now. It’s very tough to do that and the cost of it is really high, but I look at the numbers and, as a business person, I don’t see how any of these daycares even keep making things work.

The reason I ran, as I said from day one, is for my kids and my grandkids, the future of southeast Nebraska. That’s who I’m working. I’m working for every constituent in all five counties.

Me and Bob both alike, we’ve spent our time here. We’re just here to try and help southeast Nebraska grow and see all the problems there are and try to see if we can make it better in Lincoln, so when it comes down here we don’t have the burden of dealing with all the crises.”

 

 

 

Bob Hallstrom

“I’m from Syracuse, Neb., and I’m a lifelong resident of the district. I want to thank Dan and Lucas and the other economic development groups that are sponsoring this tonight and more importantly thank you for coming out and expressing your interest in the issues and the candidates and learning a little more about your government.

I’m a graduate of Syracuse-Dunbar-Avoca and also got my bachelor's of science from the University of Nebraska in Lincoln and my law degree from the University of Nebraska College of Law. I’m married to LuRae Speckmann from Elk Creek. Would you stand up please. Okay, she’s not going to stand up, she’s going to raise her hand, that’s good enough.

She grew up on a family farm near Elk Creek. We’ve got four children, Erin, Morgan, Grant and Kendall, and LuRae is a realtor broker. She’s also a chaplain pastor at the Grand Lodge independent Living community in Lincoln. In her spare time, if she has any, she’s pastor at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Otoe.

In terms of the why I ran, I’ve had a career that has involved being engaged with the Legislature. I represent both private practice clients and government relations clients up at the Legislature. I’ve had a good, long career professionally and it’s time to give back.

I’ve talked with a lot of state senators and I’ve observed that you can really make a difference in people's day-to-day lives in promoting good public policy and that’s what I’d like to do.”

“I think we’re going to be looking at a lot of issues on childcare tonight. I’m looking forward to the discussion. I think one of the things that you should be familiar and aware of is that given my experience I think it’s important to the people of southeast Nebraska that I’m the candidate who will hit the ground running. From my experience, if you talk to current and former state legislators, they’ll tell you that there is a steep learning curve. It can take as many as two to four years to get your sea legs under you and get the understanding of the system and the process and feel that you have relationships developed that can make a difference. The ability I have is to bypass that learning curve and be ready to represent you effectively and be an effective voice from day one.”