The son of parents who started a small Nebraska business that grew into a large, successful food distribution company, I learned early about hard work, risk-taking, the importance of strong relationships with others, and the unfailing optimism of entrepreneurs.

 

Not surprisingly, in my law practice, I represent businesses like the one my parents started. I gained an early understanding around the family dinner table how road blocks created by government over-regulation weigh heavily on the greatest job creators in our country – small businesses. I have dedicated his legal career to helping businesses successfully overcome those obstacles. I have seen the effect of the burden of taxes on both businesses and employees, fueling unrestrained government spending.

 

I also have a deep and abiding dedication to the education of our children. After nearly twenty years of involvement in education policy as a private citizen, I was appointed and then elected to the Nebraska State Board of Education, where I served for eight years.

 

During my service on the State Board, I led the Board’s efforts to establish new, more rigorous standards in reading, writing, mathematics, science and social studies. Through my efforts, the Board unanimously adopted a Statement of Purpose for the Board’s social studies standards, which includes this: “The purpose of the Nebraska Social Studies Standards is to teach our children to become young patriots who have an intellectual understanding of the genius of our country’s founding principles and who feel an emotional connection to our nation.”