Omaha, NE. —Add two long-held Republican seats to the possible, emphasize the word
possible, fall-out from the hung-jury ruling on TransCanada's Keystone XL Pipeline.
As the company meets with
landowners this week the Nebraska Democratic Party is targeting a pair of Public Service Commission posts, held by two men who recently voted to OK the pipeline.
The last time Republicans
Tim Schram of Gretna and
Lincoln's Frank Landis ran they got a free pass—no opponent—but 2018 is shaping up to be a fight.
According to Democratic Party Chair Jane Kleeb, John Atkeison and Christa Yoakum are looking to oust Landis, while
Omahan Mike Forsythe is challenging Schram. Kleeb says all three Democrats are opposed to the Keystone XL pipeline.
Instead of killing the pipeline or approving TransCanada’s preferred route—the company’s first choice— the PSC split the difference and by a 3-2 vote decided to move the pipeline.
A decision that leaves both sides with plenty to complain about and the future of the pipeline still in doubt.
[caption id="attachment_1303853" align="alignleft" width="180"]
Mike Forsythe[/caption]
At the same time it also energized some who want to end business as usual at the PSC. As we reported before the vote, the PSC has long flown under the radar with commissioners serving six year terms with no term limits.
And despite pulling down a $75,000 a year salary and making decisions that affect pipelines, railroads, transmission lines, grain elevators, 9-1-1 service and your cell phone Nebraskans would be hard-pressed to name one—let alone all five—commissioners.
Schram was first elected in 2006; Landis in 1988—that’s right Landis is going on 30 years.
Following their votes in favor of a 50-page order giving the pipeline the go-ahead, both Schram and Landis, unlike their three fellow commissioners, did not offer written comments on the decision.
[caption id="attachment_1303850" align="alignright" width="207"]
Ron Nolte[/caption]
Schram telling News Channel Nebraska he would, "Let the order do the talking." Those talking points, in favor of moving the pipeline, include this statement: "TransCanada's engineer...was clear that the Alternative Mainline Route (the route OK'd by the PSC) was a viable and beneficial route, it just wasn't the route Keystone preferred."
Landis has not responded to NCN's request for comment and has not said if he's running for re-election. Speculation is growing that he won't.
One fellow Republican has already signed up for Landis' seat and more appear likely. Former Cass County Commissioner Ron Nolte has filed, telling NCN that he "agreed with the three men who voted for (the pipeline)."
Despite speculation that State Sen. Dan Watermeier will run, Watermeier tells NCN he's happy right where he is. First elected to the legislature in 2012 and reelected in 2016, he can't run again and is term limited at the end of 2020.
In the meantime, Democrats have candidates in the wings—candidates who opposed the pipeline and for the first time in years have an issue PSC voters have indicated, at the very least, a willingness to listen to.
Follow Joe on
Twitter and
Facebook
Joe can be heard Tuesday’s 7:10 a.m.
KLIN Lincoln; Wednesday’s 8 a.m.
KUTT Fairbury
; Thursday’s 7-8 a.m.
US92 and 8-9 a.m. KNEN Norfolk and 8:55 a.m
KBIE 103.1 Nebraska City.
Mike Forsythe[/caption]
At the same time it also energized some who want to end business as usual at the PSC. As we reported before the vote, the PSC has long flown under the radar with commissioners serving six year terms with no term limits.
And despite pulling down a $75,000 a year salary and making decisions that affect pipelines, railroads, transmission lines, grain elevators, 9-1-1 service and your cell phone Nebraskans would be hard-pressed to name one—let alone all five—commissioners.
Schram was first elected in 2006; Landis in 1988—that’s right Landis is going on 30 years.
Following their votes in favor of a 50-page order giving the pipeline the go-ahead, both Schram and Landis, unlike their three fellow commissioners, did not offer written comments on the decision.
[caption id="attachment_1303850" align="alignright" width="207"]
