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Curt Friesen

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Curt Friesen
Member of the Nebraska Legislature
from the 34th district
In office
January 7, 2015 – January 4, 2023
Preceded byAnnette Dubas
Succeeded byLoren Lippincott
Personal details
Born (1955-07-13) July 13, 1955 (age 69)
Political partyRepublican
ResidenceHenderson, Nebraska
OccupationFarmer

Curt Friesen (born July 13, 1955) is a politician from the state of Nebraska in the Midwestern United States. In 2006, he unsuccessfully ran for a seat in the Nebraska Legislature. In 2014, he was elected to the legislature, and has since represented a central portion of the state. Friesen is a member of the Republican Party.

Early life

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Friesen was born July 13, 1955, in Henderson, Nebraska. He graduated from Henderson Community School in 1973, then attended Southeast Community College in Milford, Nebraska, obtaining an associate degree in diesel technology in 1975. In about 1976, he began farming in Hamilton County, where he raised corn and soybeans.[1][2]

Early political career

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Early in Friesen's farming career, he found himself in difficulties with U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) regulations. He sought assistance from Virginia Smith, who represented Nebraska's Third District in the U.S. House of Representatives. Smith's office contacted USDA officials, and the regulation in question was changed. According to Friesen, this experience resolved him to involve himself in politics rather than being "the person complaining in the coffee shop".[3][4]

From 1997 to 2008, Friesen served on the board of directors of the Upper Big Blue Natural Resources District, a local governmental body charged with managing ground and surface water and with preventing soil erosion in the upper portion of the Big Blue River basin. For the last two of these years, he was the board's chairman.[5][6][7] From 2000 through 2004, he was the mayor of Henderson;[5] he sought re-election in 2004, but was defeated.[8] In 2008, he was appointed as one of nine directors of the Nebraska Corn Board, which manages funds raised by a half-cent-per-bushel checkoff for research, education, market development, and promotion of Nebraska corn; he served two three-year terms, until 2014.[5][9][10]

Nebraska Legislature

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2006 election

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In November 2005, Friesen announced his intention of running in the next year's election for the Nebraska Legislature from the 24th District, which consisted of York, Seward, and part of Polk County. Incumbent Elaine Stuhr, a member of the Republican Party, was barred by Nebraska's term-limits law from running for re-election.[4][11][12][13]

Friesen, a Republican, was one of four candidates in the race. Greg Adams, a Republican, was a high-school teacher and the current mayor of York. Jim Ruby, a Republican from Seward, had served as the Seward County attorney from 1999 to 2003. Larry TeSelle had sold cars in Seward and Milford for 30 years; at the time of the election, he was a maintenance worker for Union Bank in Lincoln.[14][15][16]

In the nonpartisan primary, Adams received 4055 votes, or 42.8% of the 9474 votes cast. Friesen placed second, with 3593 votes, or 37.9%. Ruby and TeSelle received 1202 votes (12.7%) and 624 votes (6.6%) respectively.[17]

As the top two vote-getters in the primary, Adams and Friesen moved on to the general election. Over the entire course of the election, the Adams campaign was one of the top fundraisers among the southeastern Nebraska legislative races, raising $68,000 and spending $54,000;[16][18] the Friesen campaign raised $34,000 and spent the same.[19] Several of the largest institutional contributors gave money to both campaigns: the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce and Industry gave $3000 to Adams and $1500 to Friesen; the Nebraska Bankers gave $3600 to Adams and $1250 to Friesen; the Associated General Contractors Highway Improvement PAC gave $3500 to Adams and $500 to Friesen. The Nebraska Realtors gave $1500 to Adams and nothing to Friesen; Central Nebraska Wood Preservers of Sutton, Nebraska, gave Friesen $2000 and Adams nothing.[18][19]

When the November election was held, Adams received 6088 votes, or 50.8% of the 11,979 votes cast; Friesen received 5891 votes, or 49.2%.[20]

2014 election

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In August 2013, Friesen announced that he would make a second bid for a seat in the Nebraska legislature. On this occasion, he ran from the 34th District, which encompassed Nance, Merrick, Hamilton, and part of Hall Counties, including the cities of Fullerton, Central City, Aurora, and part of Grand Island. The incumbent, Annette Dubas, a member of the Democratic Party, was barred by Nebraska's term-limits law from running for a third consecutive term.[21][22][23]

Friesen ran unopposed in the 2014 election.[24] He raised over $35,000 for the campaign, and spent $7600. Major contributors included the Nebraska Realtors, which supplied $3000; the Nebraska Bankers PAC and the Nebraska Optometric Association, each of which contributed $2000; and the Associated General Contractors Highway Improvement PAC, which furnished $1750.[25]

Legislative tenure

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2015 session

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In the 2015 session of the legislature, Friesen was named vice-chair of the Natural Resources Committee; he was also appointed to the Transportation and Telecommunications Committee.[26]

Personal life

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In 1975, Friesen married Nancy Vaught; they have four children.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Sen. Curt Friesen—Biography". Nebraska Legislature. Retrieved May 28, 2015. Archived April 24, 2015, at Wayback Machine.
  2. ^ Friesen, Curt. "Voice your priorities". Nebraska Farmer, July 2010, p. 18. Retrieved May 28, 2015.
  3. ^ "Friesen cultivates new career". Archived May 28, 2015, at the Wayback Machine Unicameral Update. March 13, 2015. Retrieved May 28, 2015. Archived May 28, 2015, at Wayback Machine.
  4. ^ a b Wilkinson, Melanie. "Former Henderson mayor to run for legislative seat". York News-Times. November 7, 2005. Retrieved June 1, 2015.
  5. ^ a b c "Curt Friesen". LinkedIn. Retrieved May 28, 2015.
  6. ^ "About Us". Archived June 1, 2015, at the Wayback Machine Upper Big Blue Natural Resources District. Retrieved June 1, 2015. Archived June 1, 2015, at Wayback Machine.
  7. ^ "About NRDs". Archived April 28, 2015, at the Wayback Machine Nebraska's Natural Resources Districts. Retrieved June 1, 2015. Archived April 28, 2015, at Wayback Machine.
  8. ^ Wilkinson, Melanie. "2004 The Year In Review". York News-Times. December 31, 2004. Retrieved June 1, 2015.
  9. ^ "NCB Mission". Archived June 1, 2015, at the Wayback Machine Nebraska Corn Board. Retrieved June 1, 2015. Archived June 1, 2015, at Wayback Machine.
  10. ^ "Board Members". Nebraska Corn Board. Retrieved June 1, 2015. Archived November 21, 2014, at Wayback Machine.
  11. ^ "Nebraska Legislative Districts", established in 2001 legislative session. Retrieved June 1, 2015.
  12. ^ Bauer, Scott. "Education Committee Leader to be Determined". Yankton Daily Press & Dakotan. December 20, 2000. Retrieved June 1, 2015.
  13. ^ Hicks, Nancy. "Legislature will have fewer women, more attorneys". Lincoln Journal Star. November 8, 2006. Retrieved June 1, 2015.
  14. ^ Wilkinson, Melanie. "Vying to represent District 24". York News-Times. March 29, 2006. Retrieved June 1, 2015.
  15. ^ Jenkins, Nate. "Four candidates file for legislative seats". Lincoln Journal Star. November 18, 2005. Retrieved June 1, 2015.
  16. ^ a b Hicks, Nancy. "A roundup of area legislative races". Lincoln Journal Star. May 8, 2006. Retrieved June 1, 2015.
  17. ^ "Nebraska Election 2006: Official Election Results: Member of the Legislature". Archived February 21, 2015, at the Wayback Machine Nebraska Secretary of State. Retrieved May 28, 2015. Archived February 21, 2015, at Wayback Machine.
  18. ^ a b "Greg Adams for Legislature", general statement 10/24/2006–12/31/2006. Nebraska Accountability and Disclosure Commission. Retrieved June 1, 2015. See "Financial Summary" tab for overall numbers; "Schedule A" for contributions by individuals; "Schedule B" for contributions by businesses and organizations.
  19. ^ a b "Curt Friesen for Legislature (Dissolved 2007)", general statement 10/24/2006–12/31/2006. Nebraska Accountability and Disclosure Commission. Retrieved June 1, 2015. See "Financial Summary" tab for overall numbers; "Schedule A" for contributions by individuals; "Schedule B" for contributions by businesses and organizations.
  20. ^ "Nebraska Election 2006: Official General Election Results: Member of the Legislature". Archived February 10, 2015, at the Wayback Machine Nebraska Secretary of State. Retrieved May 28, 2015. Archived February 10, 2015 at Wayback Machine.
  21. ^ "Curt Friesen files for District 34 legislative seat". Grand Island Independent. January 20, 2014. Retrieved June 2, 2015.
  22. ^ "Legislative District 34 - LB703 (2011)". Nebraska Legislature. Retrieved June 2, 2015.
  23. ^ Walton, Don. "Democrat Dubas to enter race for governor". Lincoln Journal Star. August 8, 2013. Retrieved June 2, 2015.
  24. ^ Ellyson, Tyler. "Schumacher easily defeats opponent in District 22". Columbus Telegram. November 5, 2014. Retrieved June 2, 2015.
  25. ^ "Friesen for Legislature", general statement 10/21/2014–12/31/2014. Nebraska Accountability and Disclosure Commission. Retrieved June 2, 2015. See "Financial Summary" tab for overall numbers; "Schedule A" for contributions by individuals; "Schedule B" for contributions by businesses and organizations.
  26. ^ "2015 Legislative Committees". Nebraska Legislature. Retrieved May 26, 2015.
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