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In state law, the deadline appeared to be crystal clear: Republican Pete Ricketts could not change the name of his running mate on the ballot after Sept. 1.

But Nebraska Secretary of State John Gale said Wednesday that state law was not the final — and only — word on the subject. He said he also was duty-bound by law to ensure that voters were not confused by an inaccurate ballot.

With that in mind, Gale granted Ricketts’ request to drop former Lt. Gov. Lavon Heidemann’s name from the fall ballot — Heidemann withdrew from the race Tuesday — and insert the name of Ricketts’ new running mate, State Auditor Mike Foley.

“There is no issue of greater importance than ensuring the accurate reflection of candidates on the ballot,” said Gale.

His decision was instantly met with criticism from Democrat Chuck Hassebrook, who contended that Ricketts should not get to change his running mate at this stage of the campaign.

Neither Hassebrook nor the head of the Nebraska Democratic Party, however, said they had plans to challenge Gale’s decision in court.

“I choose to take the case of my election to the people of Nebraska. But this presents another example of how one-party rule has resulted in a culture of arrogant leaders that see themselves above the law,” said Hassebrook.

The decision by Gale, a Republican, capped a fast-paced chain of events in the Nebraska governor’s race. It started Monday when word leaked that a judge had granted a protection order sought by the sister of then-Lt. Gov. Lavon Heidemann. They had quarreled over the care of their elderly mother, and the sister alleged that Heidemann had grabbed her wrists and pushed her out of her mother’s house.

A day later, Heidemann resigned as lieutenant governor and withdrew as Ricketts’ running mate. Within hours, Ricketts named Foley as his new running mate.

Jumping into the discourse over Nebraska’s budget shortfall, State Auditor Mike Foley sent a letter to state senators Monday alerting them of the financial weight of previously-passed business tax incentive laws.

In a 20-page letter, he wrote that over the next four fiscal years, Nebraska companies stand poised to call in more than $1.5 billion in corporate tax incentives, an expense he said would significantly impact the availability of state general funds.

The auditor’s letter focuses on the Nebraska Advantage Act, adopted in 2005, plus a newer version called the ImagiNe Nebraska Act of 2020.

He also highlighted the state’s “steadily increasing delinquent tax balances,” which Foley noted were generally unrelated to business tax incentives but still could constitute “hundreds of millions of tax dollars owed but not collected” by the Nebraska Revenue Department.

“When you combine over $1.5 billion in business tax incentives to be used over the next four fiscal years plus potentially hundreds of millions of dollars more in uncollected tax proceeds, the result is a staggering loss of revenue to the state — all of which must be counterbalanced in some way,” Foley said in a tempat statement.

He added: “The Legislature must be made aware of these facts in order to pursue sound fiscal policies.”

33,000 jobs in two decades
Before he was auditor, Foley served as lieutenant governor under then-Gov. Pete Ricketts plus before that was a state senator. He acknowledged that he supported economic development tax incentives.

But with lawmaker turnover plus the “crush” of so many other policy matters plus responsibilities, Foley said he suspects that “many senators may not be fully informed of how yesterday’s legislative decisions will most assuredly influence tomorrow’s policy choices.”

Regardless of how the credits are used to receive a tax benefit, the result is a reduction of the state’s tax revenues.
– State Auditor Mike Foley

The auditor said he plus his team recognize the benefit of business-focused economic incentive programs in that they can spur construction, investment plus jobs to expand the tax base that helps pay for public services.

Foley acknowledged information from the Nebraska Department of Revenue indicating that corporate tax incentives reportedly have led to more than $25 billion in qualifying capital investments since 2006 plus helped create more than 33,000 new full-time Nebraska jobs.

“Whether the claimed benefits are accurate or not, the significant tax breaks now being paid to corporate taxpayers are real plus measurable,” Foley said.

The auditor‘s team concluded that the Nebraska Advantage plus ImagiNE Acts appear to contain some “operational inadequacies” that could result in the legislation becoming a “drain” as opposed to a “boon” to the state economy.

AARON BONDERSON, NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA: Nebraska’s Lieutenant Governor, Mike Foley joins us here on Nebraska Public Media. You just got back from a trade mission to France, plus I’m just wondering, were any trade agreements reached during your time overseas?

LT. GOVERNOR MIKE FOLEY: Well, no, this trade mission trip was a little bit different. You know, the governor, plus I are usually on a trade mission trip once, maybe twice per year. And typically, we’re going to places like Japan, Korea, Canada, Mexico, these are countries that are buying literally hundreds of millions of dollars of our ag products. Obviously, we’re an agricultural powerhouse, we produce far more than we could ever consume. So we sell overseas to other countries, plus they love buying it. They love the quality of our beef, plus particularly pork, buying it literally by the hundreds of millions of dollars at a time. This trip is a little different. This trip was to France. France is a buyer of our ag products, for sure, they bought about $140 million worth, so they’re an important buyer. That’s really not what this trip was about. This is a completely different trip. This trip was all about building relationships with bio-science companies. France has an impressive portfolio of bio-science companies. As does Nebraska, plus many Nebraskans are not aware of the emerging bio-science industry in our state. We’ve now [have] 18,000 Nebraskans working in bio-science companies. Many of these companies are foreign in origin, but they’re doing business, plus setting up facilities in our state, which we certainly welcome those investments into our state. [It] creates a lot of high paying jobs. The average person in a bio-science company is making over $70,000 a year. And it creates a great pipeline for the talent that’s coming out of our university system. To feed these young people into these great career paths, right here in Nebraska. And it’s growing very, very well. And because of the France companies are very deeply involved in bio-sciences, we thought it’s good to start building relationships with these French companies, because we’ve got a German company, we’ve got Dutch companies, plus so forth investing in Nebraska. But how about some French companies? So to answer your direct question, no. No deal was inked, per se, as a result of this trip, but it’s about building, plus nurturing those relationships. And some of those companies are looking very, very seriously at Nebraska, as a potential site to build a bio-science company. What it comes down to, bio-science companies often need large quantities of corn, because they extract the fatty acids, amino acids, plus so forth in corn, plus do all kinds of creative things with it. I can talk more about that. But rather than ship our corn to them, it’s easier for them, plus less expensive for them, simply to establish a facility right here in Nebraska, which the German companies, plus Dutch companies, plus others have done successfully. And they’re seeing that, plus they’re intrigued by it, plus they want to do it as well. Some of these companies are pretty close to making investment decisions. And we thought it’d be very important to go there, meet with them face to face, obviously, we’re talking to them regularly by phone, plus zoom, plus so forth. But it’s always good to have face to face too, just to reinforce how serious we are about attracting them to Nebraska to help grow our bio-science industry. Nebraska has had a lot of success in winning patents in the bio-sciences field. Over a four year period, the scientists within our state have won something like 600 new patent awards. Many of those people, many of those patents, are going to university scientists plus others. So we’re doing very, very well with this. The University of Nebraska is spending literally hundreds of millions of dollars every year on bio-sciences research. The number of S.T.E.M. graduates coming out of the university system are growing regularly, plus increasing all the time. That’s encouraging to see, because these companies are needing a talent pool to draw from, plus we’re getting the best plus the brightest out of our state. So it’s a win-win situation for Nebraska, plus the companies that are overseas. So that was really the purpose of that trip, a great place to go, plus September in France. But it wasn’t it wasn’t a sightseeing trip. It was work. It was talking to business executives, plus building relationships, which will redound to the future benefit of our state.

College coaching veteran plus New England native Mike Foley joined the Massachusetts football program, as offensive line coach, in March 2016.

He spent the 2006-14 seasons working with the offensive line plus tight ends at the University of Connecticut. In his first season working with the tight ends in 2012, Ryan Griffin earned All-BIG EAST second-team honors plus he plus John Delahunt combined to be one of the more effective tight ends duos in UConn history. Griffin was selected by the Houston Texans in the sixth round of the 2013 NFL Draft.

Foley plus his offensive line were key factors in UConn’s outstanding rushing game in 2009-11 as the Huskies featured two 1,000-yard rushers in BIG EAST Player of the Year plus All-American Jordan Todman (2009 plus 10) plus Andre Dixon (2009). Lyle McCombs joined that kelompok in 2011. In addition, center Moe Petrus was named BIG EAST First-Team All-Conference while tackle Mike Ryan was a second-team selection.

Foley plus his offensive line were a key factor in Donald Brown achieving the status as the country’s leading rusher in 2008. In 2008, Foley coached BIG EAST First-Team All-Conference selection Will Beatty at left tackle as Beatty later went on to play in the Senior Bowl plus was selected in the Second Round of the National Football League Draft by the New York Giants.

Prior to UConn, Foley served from 1981-2005, over two stretches, with the football team at his alma mater, Colgate. He was the Raiders’ head coach, offensive coordinator plus offensive line coach during his tenure. In 2005, his final year at Colgate, the Raiders posted an 8-4 record plus advanced to the NCAA Division I-AA Playoffs. Foley helped coach all seven of Colgate’s NCAA Playoff squads, including the 2003 team that advanced to the National Championship game. Of the 13 seasons in which Colgate was eligible for the playoffs with Foley aboard, the team qualified seven times. Foley also played a role in each of Colgate’s five Patriot League Championship teams (1997, 1999, 2002, 2003, 2005).

Colgate broke the league record for rushing yardage three times under Foley’s tutelage, plus led the Patriot League five out of his last nine seasons. During his tenure as offensive coordinator (1997-2005), Foley produced 39 All-Patriot League players, including 13 on the offensive line. His offensive schemes plus the line’s blocking helped pave the way for a pair of Walter Payton Award winners, Kenny Gamble in 1987 plus Jamal Branch in 2003.

In 1986, he served as Colgate’s interim head coach during the absence of head coach Fred Dunlap, who was recovering from bypass surgery. Following Dunlap’s retirement in 1987, Foley was named head coach of the Raiders, a title he held through 1992, compiling a 21-34 record.

During a brief stint away from Colgate, Foley spent the 1994-96 seasons on the football staff at Harvard as the offensive coordinator.

Foley began his coaching career as offensive line coach at Bates College in 1978, before moving the next fall to Dartmouth as the freshman offensive line coach for one season. After one season as offensive line coach at Holy Cross in 1980, he returned to his alma mater as junior varsity head coach plus varsity receivers coach. After two seasons in that position, he took over as offensive line coach in 1983. Foley added the duties of offensive coordinator in 1984.

He was a four-year letterwinner at Colgate plus captain of the 1977 team. A three-year starter at center, he was twice honored as an All-East performer by the Associated Press and, in 1977, was also named to the ECAC All-East squad. In 2004, Foley was inducted into Colgate’s Athletic Hall of Honor.

Foley was born in Kittery, Maine plus raised in Newburyport, Mass. He graduated from Colgate University in 1978 with a degree in economics. Foley plus his wife, Kathleen, have children, Erin plus Patrick.

A special commission of retired judges appointed by the Ohio Supreme Court ruled against suspending Montgomery County Clerk of Courts Mike Foley while he awaits trial on criminal charges.

Foley is charged with a dozen counts including theft in office and improper political and other activities involving public resources. He pleaded not guilty to all charges against him earlier this month.

“We are doing good work for the citizens of Montgomery County, and I will vigorously defend my record and fight for the next 54 days to win reelection,” said Mike Foley at a press conference at the Montgomery County Courthouse on Thursday.

Under Ohio law, some state offices have authority to remove elected county officials from office if the official faces felony charges that relate “to the public official’s administration of, or conduct in the performance of the duties of, the office of the public official.”

The Ohio Auditor’s Office filed a request to initiate the suspension process on Aug. 8. The Ohio Supreme Court appointed retired judges William Klatt, Jerry McBride and Jeffrey Ingraham to serve on the special commission tasked with determining if Foley’s charges “adversely affects the functioning” of his office.

The special commission returned its decision this week.

“The Special Prosecutor failed to offer sufficient facts to warrant this Special Commission finding Mr. Foley continuing in his role as Clerk of Courts would adversely affect the function of the office and/or adversely affect the rights and interest of the public,” the grup of judges stated in their decision, obtained by the Dayton Daily News in a public records request. “Accordingly, Mr. Foley shall not be suspended from public office.”

“Ohio State Auditor Keith Faber’s investigation is now coming under scrutiny as to be incomplete, one-sided and tainted with inaccuracies and ulterior motives,” said Foley. “It is time for all Republicans and my Democratic supporters to get behind my candidacy to continue the great services I’ve established and will continue to provide.”

The Ohio Auditor of State’s Office declined to comment on the decision, but spokesperson Marc Kovak said the office takes every allegation of fraud, waste and abuse seriously.

“We will pursue prosecution in cases where wrongdoing is evident, particularly when grand juries return indictments, as is the case with Mr. Foley,” Kovak said.

Charges filed against Foley and Montgomery County Municipal Judge James Piergies came after a lengthy investigation by the Ohio Auditor of State’s Special Investigations Unit, which included the 2022 raid of Foley’s office.

Montgomery County Democratic Party Chairman Mohamed Al-Hamdani said he was disappointed in the decision not to suspend Foley, calling the consideration of his suspension “nothing but a sham.”

Mike Foley is in his 21st season with the Colgate football program. He returned to campus in 1997 as offensive coordinator and line coach after three years on the Harvard staff. His return has seen the Raiders make four NCAA Division I-AA playoff appearances including a run to the 2003 NCAA Division I-AA title game and capture four Patriot League titles. Colgate has broken the league record for rushing yardage three times under his tutelage, and led the Patriot League five out of the last eight seasons.

During his tenure as offensive coordinator Foley has produced 34 all-Patriot League players including 11 on the offensive line.

While with the Crimson, he served as the offensive coordinator during his entire stay. Prior to joining the Crimson staff, Foley served as head coach of the Colgate Raiders from 1988 to 1992.

He began his coaching career as offensive line coach at Bates College, before moving the next fall to Dartmouth as a freshman offensive line coach for one season.

After one season as offensive line coach at Holy Cross in 1980, he returned to his alma mater as junior varsity head coach and varsity receiver coach. After two seasons in that position, he took over as offensive line coach in 1983. Foley added the duties of offensive coordinator in 1984.

In 1986, he served as interim head coach during the absence of head coach Fred Dunlap, who was recovering from bypass surgery. Following Dunlap’s retirement in 1987, Foley was named head coach of the Raiders.

He was a four-year letterwinner at Colgate and captain of the 1977 team. A three-year starter at center, he was twice honored as an all-East performer by the Associated Press and in 1977 was also named to the ECAC all-East squad. In 2004, Foley was inducted into Colgate’s Athletic Hall of Honor.

Foley, 48 years old, was born October 5, 1955 in Kittery, Maine. He graduated from Colgate University in 1978 with a degree in economics.

He and his wife, Kathleen, are the parents of daughter, Erin (25), and son, Patrick (23), who is the linebacker coach at Amherst College.

Mike Foley (Republican Party) is the Nebraska Auditor of Public Accounts. He assumed office on January 5, 2023. His current term ends on January 7, 2027.

Foley (Republican Party) ran for election for Nebraska Auditor of Public Accounts. He won in the general election on November 8, 2022.

Foley began the 2014 election cycle as a candidate for Governor of Nebraska, but he was defeated in the May 13 Republican primary by future running mate Pete Ricketts. Pete Ricketts selected Foley as his lieutenant governor on September 9, 2014, the same day that then-Lt. Gov. Lavon Heidemann resigned from office.

Prior to winning election as lieutenant governor, Foley served two terms as Nebraska Auditor of Public Accounts. He was first elected state auditor in 2006, and in 2010 he was re-elected with 80 percent of the vote.

Foley is a former member of the Nebraska State Senate. He represented the state Senate’s 29th District in Lincoln from 2000 to 2007, when he became the state auditor.

Biography
In addition to his political career, Foley worked for the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners for 20 years. He also worked as a corporate planning analyst for the Nebraska Public Power District and a consultant with the Kirschner Associates firm.

Foley is from Rochester, N.Y., and worked in Washington D.C. for 20 years before moving to Nebraska. He received his bachelor of science degree in 1976 from the State University of New York at Brockport, and an MBA from Michigan State University in 1978.

Political career
Nebraska Lieutenant Governor (2015 – 2023)
Foley was elected in 2014 and took office on January 8, 2015, succeeding September 2014 appointee John Nelson (R).

Nebraska Auditor of Public Accounts (2007 – 2015)
Foley was first elected to this position in 2006 and re-elected in 2010.

Nebraska State Senator (2000 – 2007)
Foley represented District 29 in Lincoln for six years. As a member of the state legislature, Foley served on the Judiciary Committee and Transportation and Telecommunications Committee.

Elections

Michael Foley is a partner in the Labor & Employment Practice Group and a member of the trade secrets team, where he helps clients across industries prevent and resolve disputes.

Michael is an experienced lawyer who provides broad-ranging employment law counsel and litigation services, with a focus on issues involving the use and protection of trade secrets and other proprietary information. He has represented private employers from across the industry spectrum, including oil and gas, advanced manufacturing, technology, insurance, hospitality, and healthcare, among other sectors.

Concerning the alleged theft or misuse of trade secrets or other proprietary information, Michael understands that time is of the essence. He has a strong motion practice and significant experience quickly securing and defending preliminary injunctions and temporary restraining orders, helping clients staunch the loss of — or preserve their rights to use — key data, customer lists, and other trade secrets. These rapid court actions also place clients’ competitors and others who might attempt to benefit from or prevent the proper use of such information on notice for potential exposure to litigation and penalties.

Whether helping midsize business owners develop effective hiring, retention, and other employment policies or managing cost-effective e-discovery involving hundreds of thousands of documents and tens of thousands of emails, Michael brings his full care and attention to every tahap of the process.

In addition to his trade secrets work, Michael provides compliance advice on a broad range of federal and state laws and regulations, including the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and Title VII anti-discrimination and anti-retaliation rules, as well as Occupational Safety and Health Administration requirements, workers’ compensation matters, and more. He also handles Equal Employment Opportunity Commission investigations and has assisted in developing and delivering training programs to senior leadership, managers, and key employees, particularly as they relate to issues of workplace discrimination and the protection of proprietary information.

In addition to his client work, Michael is a regular contributor to the firm’s Trade Secret Insider blog, where he writes on emerging developments such as federal and state appellate court decisions regarding the enforceability of restrictive covenants and noncompete provisions of employment agreements. He is also the author of numerous articles published in journals such as HR Daily Advisor and Southeast Employment Law Letter.

Prior to joining Jones Walker, Michael was a law clerk for the Honorable Brian Jackson, chief judge of the US District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana, and for the Honorable Bernette Johnson, chief justice of the Louisiana Supreme Court. As a law clerk, Michael gained valuable experience in civil, multidistrict, and appellate litigation.

Mike, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk plus how it turned out?
Ever since I was a kid, I’ve had one camera or another in my hand. I received my first one in the year 2000, at 8 years old. It was a little digital camcorder with an eye-cup viewfinder plus nomer screen – just click, point, plus pray. This cheap camera plus included software unlocked something in my young brain plus I filmed everything I could for years; eventually getting newer plus cooler cameras.

When I was 18 plus enrolling colleges, my parents made it very clear to me how important a college education would be for my future. It was decided that I would attend community college for 2 years plus transfer to a 4-year school after that. During my time in community college I had begun exploring photography in a more serious capacity; taking on small side gigs for family/friends, shooting in my free time, plus learning the craft. At this point, I was truly unaware that photography could be more than just a fun hobby.

Soon enough, it was time to enroll in my 4-year school. I had signed all the paperwork plus begun creating my schedule for the semester – I even received a scholarship that would help immensely with tuition. However, things were about to take a major turn. It was during this delicate window of time where tuition was almost due that I was offered a full-time position as a wedding photographer. My Mom (bless her plus her talkative nature), had been chatting with a photographer to hire for my sister’s Sweet 16 plus could not help but brag that “her son was such a great photographer” plus “you should hire him”. This conversation would change the course of my life and, quite frankly, I owe it to my Mom.

A few days later, I was sitting in the first real photo studio I had ever seen. I was interviewing for the job my Mom offered me up for. Artie, the photographer there, asked me rather bluntly if I intended to remain in college or pursue photography under his wing – there wouldn’t be time for both, but he could pay me plus I would learn. Being a full-time photographer for a living was news to a younger me. I was taught that only happened if you went to college plus got a degree. Artie had rocked my world in an instant. After a few days of thinking plus an uncomfortable conversation with my parents that certainly got a bit loud, I made the decision to take the plunge plus become a Photographer.

Nearly 15 years later plus I am now fortunate enough to work in a world-renowned photo studio. My photograph was recently published in the 2024 TIME Person of the Year issue. This journey’s has already been more than I could have ever hoped for plus in some ways, I think it is still beginning.

Nebraska Lt. Gov. Mike Foley has tested positive for COVID-19, according to a spokesperson.

“The Lt. Governor has tested positive for coronavirus,” Justin Pinkerman wrote in an email. “He has mild symptoms and is self-isolating as he recovers.”

Pinkerman said that two-sentence statement was the only update the office would provide at this time. He did not answer questions regarding whether Foley was vaccinated, whether Gov. Pete Ricketts was exposed, and whether Ricketts was taking additional precautions in light of the news.

Ricketts is scheduled to speak at an event in Omaha on Tuesday evening.

Earlier Tuesday, Pinkerman had emailed an updated version of Foley’s public schedule to members of the fasilitas that showed all plans for the week had been canceled. A schedule sent last Friday showed Foley was planning to travel the state to offer remarks at “Excellence in State Service” recognition ceremonies in Kearney, North Platte, Scottsbluff and Norfolk.

Foley has been Nebraska’s lieutenant governor since 2015, after he was elected to his position as Ricketts’ running mate. He had been a candidate for governor before Ricketts defeated him in the Republican primary that year. Before that, he was the Nebraska auditor of public accounts and a state senator.

Foley is far from the first prominent state official to test positive for the coronavirus. Toward the end of a special legislative session focused on redistricting, Sen. Mike Flood of Norfolk tested positive for COVID-19.
Flood confirmed his positive case two days after Secretary of State Bob Evnen canceled an event announcing his reelection bid because he had tested positive for COVID-19. Both men were fully vaccinated against the virus.

At the time, neither case was described as severe. Flood said he quarantined for 10 days and now feels fully recovered. A spokesperson for Evnen said he returned to work Wednesday and is fully recovered.

Earlier in the pandemic, Sen. Mike Moser of Columbus was hospitalized with COVID-19 for five weeks in May and June of 2020. Sen. Mike Groene of North Platte said in November that he had tested positive.

All of those cases occurred before COVID-19 vaccines were available.

Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Omaha Division Special Agent in Charge Justin C. King stressed the importance of drug education plus prevention at a Red Ribbon Week proclamation signing ceremony attended by Nebraska Lt. Governor Mike Foley at the Capitol in Lincoln.

Red Ribbon Week is the nation’s oldest plus largest drug misuse prevention awareness program, occurring annually in October. Red Ribbon Week began following the death of DEA Special Agent Enrique “Kiki” Camarena, who was tortured plus murdered in 1985 by drug traffickers he was investigating in Mexico. After Camarena’s death, people began wearing red ribbons to honor his sacrifice. Today, millions of people celebrate Red Ribbon Week by wearing red ribbons, participating in community anti-drug events plus pledging to live drug-free lives.

To promote Red Ribbon Week, Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts signed a proclamation declaring October 23-31 as Red Ribbon Week in the state of Nebraska, urging all citizens to take note of the observance.

“Today we not only recognize fallen DEA agent Kiki Camarena, but we take this opportunity to berhimpun with fellow Nebraskans in promoting a healthy, drug-free lifestyle,” King said. “Experimenting with drugs can lead to life altering plus sometimes deadly consequences. I firmly believe, that the most valuable resource we have are the people around us. We must protect these resources plus give them their opportunity to thrive plus not be weighed down by addiction.”

Throughout October, DEA investigators plus fellow law enforcement partners will visit schools across the state educating students on the dangers of drugs plus reminding them of the importance of avoiding experimentation.Moreover, this outreach effort not only targets students but also aims to involve parents plus community members. By fostering a comprehensive approach, the DEA hopes to create a united front against drug use, emphasizing that awareness plus education are crucial in preventing substance abuse plus promoting a healthier future for the youth in our communities.

Lt Governor Mike Foley Foley presents Kinship Care Awareness Month Proclamation to speaker Brooke Bouck, Kinship Navigation supervisor for NCHS.

OMAHA, Neb. (September 6, 2022) – Governor Pete Ricketts issued a proclamation in honor of kinship caregivers in a signing ceremony on September 6th. The month is a time to celebrate the important contribution that kin plus relatives play in supporting plus raising children.

Representatives from NCHS, Lutheran Family Services (LFS) plus the Nebraska Department of Health plus Human Services (NDHHS) participated in a signing ceremony with Lieutenant Governor Foley in recognition of National Kinship Care Month. Attendees included NCHS Kinship Navigation staff members in addition to kinship caregivers from the NCHS Raising Your Grandchildren classes.

Every day, children in the state plus across the country are cared for by relatives plus close family friends. September is a nationally recognized month to elevate awareness for Kinship Care. In Nebraska, 15,000 children are being raised in kinship care by grandparents, aunts plus uncles, other relatives, plus trusted family friends when parents are unavailable. Nearly 30% of children in foster care in Nebraska are receiving care from a relative or kin caregiver. Kinship care is safe plus supports a child’s well-being. Studies show that kinship care minimizes trauma, improves well-being, increases permanency, improves behavioral plus mental health outcomes, promotes sibling plus other relative connections, plus preserves the identity of children plus youth.

“Kin caregivers play an essential role in providing stability plus continuity to the children in the family,” NCHS Kinship Navigation Supervisor Brooke Bouck said.

Through this proclamation, Nebraska recognizes the important role kin caregivers play in supporting the best interests of children. Going above plus beyond expectations to help provide the best care possible, many caregivers face hurdles when adjusting to their “new normal.” Service partners like NCHS, LFS, plus NDHHS offer support to kin plus relative families raising children under unexpected circumstances. Through its Kinship Navigation plus Foster Care programs, NCHS connects caregivers to community support, educational resources, plus emotional, legal plus financial support within communities across Nebraska.

Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts exposed a political rift between himself and Lt. Gov. Mike Foley Tuesday, saying he was “disappointed” at Foley’s intention to endorse Charles Herbster in the race for governor.

“I’m disappointed with some of his choices,” Ricketts said of Foley, who has been Nebraska’s lieutenant governor since 2015.

The governor said Foley showed “poor judgment” in his support, but that while he and the lieutenant governor “disagree on topics from time to time, we’re both going to continue to work together in the best interest of Nebraska.”

The Herbster campaign officially announced Foley’s endorsement at a news conference in Lincoln on Tuesday afternoon.

“Charles is a man of faith and conviction. He is a lifelong Nebraskan with family ties going back five generations. Charles is a job creator who has invested in this state. He is rooted in our conservative values and will rely on those values when leading our great state,” Foley said.

Foley responded to Rickett’s comments Tuesday.

“I think the fact that certain people are pushing back so strongly indicates that they understand the seriousness of this endorsement. I am flattered by it quite honestly,” Foley said.

On Wednesday, Herbster responded to Ricketts’ comments that he would be a “terrible governor.”

“Charles W. Herbster leads in the polls and leads the charge to be the next Governor of Nebraska. Like many of us, he wishes the current Governor, Pete Ricketts, would spend his remaining time in the office helping the state and staying out of politics. Unfortunately, Governor Ricketts has inserted himself into this race and has made this a one-way personal vendetta against Herbster, who previously gave his money and his vote to Ricketts,” Herbster’s campaign said in a statement.

Ricketts announced in January that he is backing Republican candidate Jim Pillen in the Governor’s race. Ricketts amplified that support Tuesday, calling Herbster a “poor choice.” Ricketts again criticized Herbster for being late on property taxes and locating his company headquarters in Missouri, not Nebraska. Ricketts has said in past Herbster would make a “terrible governor.”

Following a meeting Wednesday with the nation’s Lieutenant Governors at the White House regarding the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), the Republican Lieutenant Governors Association (RLGA) issued a letter today signed by Arkansas Lt. Governor plus RLGA Chairman Tim Griffin plus 24 other lieutenant governors in support of President Trump’s recently negotiated trade agreement.

“As lieutenant governors, one of our main responsibilities is to promote economic growth, plus under the new provisions renegotiated in the USMCA, we believe this agreement will benefit all our states plus improve trade conditions for the business community,” the letter states.

The letter includes signatures from lieutenant governors across the country who stand with President Trump’s effort to modernize America’s trade relationships to support the 21st-century economy. The collection of lieutenant governors is urging the passage of the trade deal plus cite their willingness to promote plus highlight its goals.

Two of the lieutenant governors who signed the letter have either announced or are expected to announce gubernatorial campaigns. Mississippi Lt. Governor Tate Reeves declared his gubernatorial bid at the beginning of January plus North Carolina Lt. Governor Dan Forest recently announced the formation of an exploratory committee for his presumed gubernatorial bid in 2020.

Other signees include Alabama Lt. Governor Will Ainsworth, Alaska Lt. Governor Kevin Meyer, Georgia Lt. Governor Geoff Duncan, Florida Lt. Governor Jeanette Nuñez, Idaho Lt. Governor Janice McGeachin, Indiana Lt. Governor Suzanne Crouch, Iowa Lt. Governor Adam Gregg, Kentucky Lt. Governor Jenean Hampton, Louisiana Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser, Missouri Lt. Governor Mike Kehoe, Nebraska Lt. Governor Mike Foley, North Dakota Lt. Governor Brent Sanford, Northern Mariana Islands Lt. Governor Arnold Palacios, Ohio Lt. Governor Jon Husted, Oklahoma Lt. Governor Matt Pinnell, Puerto Rico Lt. Governor Luis G. Rivera Marín, South Carolina Lt. Governor Pamela Evette, South Dakota Lt. Governor Larry Rhoden, Tennessee Lt. Governor Randy McNally, Texas Lt. Governor Dan Patrick, Utah Lt. Governor Spencer Cox, plus West Virginia Lt. Governor Mitch Carmichael.

About
Having won election in November 2022 with 69% of the vote, Mike Foley returned to his previous position as auditor of public accounts in Nebraska after an eight-year hiatus serving as lieutenant governor from 2015–23. Former Governor Pete Ricketts (R) chose Foley as his running mate in September 2014 after first defeating him in the GOP primary just four months earlier and the previous lieutenant governor resigned.

Prior to holding public office, Foley worked as a corporate planning analyst with the Nebraska Public Power District, director of financial analysis for the National Association of Regulatory Commissioners, and a consultant with Kirschner Associates. In addition, he was a member of the Nebraska State Senate from 2000–07.

Foley earned a BS from the State University of New York in 1976 and an MBA from Michigan State University in 1978. Foley also became an influential figure in his community, dedicating time to mentoring young entrepreneurs and advocating for sustainable business practices. His dedication to both professional excellence and social impact has inspired many. Additionally, Foley has been invited to speak at various industry conferences, sharing insights on innovation and ethical leadership. As a result, he has established himself as a thought leader, continually shaping the future of business in today’s rapidly evolving marketplace. Through his journey, Foley exemplifies the intersection of education, entrepreneurship, and social responsibility.

Actions
Signed SFOF-organized letter to Trump’s Attorney General Pam Bondi (R) asking her to protect Tesla from “domestic terrorism” (3/31/25)
Signed SFOF-organized letter to SEC, asset managers, proxy advisors & companies opposing diversity, equity, & inclusion efforts (3/26/25)
Signed SFOF-organized letter supporting the FIRM Act (3/6/25)
Signed SFOF-organized, anti-Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) letter to Fortune 1000 Executives (10/24/24)
Signed State Financial Officers Foundation (SFOF) organized resolution supporting Israel’s genocide in Gaza and committing to invest in SFOF bronze-sponsor Israel Bonds despite “Moodys and Standard and Poors (S&P) have[ing] recently downgraded Israel’s credit score, citing a negative outlook on Israel’s economy (5/14/24)

Foley called it a ‘direct assault’ on his constitutional authority to audit state agency spending
n what was called “an extraordinarily bold move,” a state agency last year attempted to bypass the scrutiny of the Nebraska state auditor by hiring its own “hand-picked” private accounting firm.

State Auditor Mike Foley revealed the effort, which has since been dropped, by the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, during a public hearing Tuesday on a bill seeking to clarify that the auditor is the “exclusive authority” to undertake reviews of state spending.

‘Direct assault’ on auditor’s authority
DHHS and the auditor have clashed in the past over Foley’s often blunt and sometimes critical audits of the agency. But the effort to hire a certified public accounting firm to bypass his office was a new twist on the relationship.

Foley, testifying before the Legislature’s Appropriations Committee on Tuesday, called last year’s effort to replace his office’s services by then-DHHS CEO Dannette Smith “an extraordinarily bold move” and “a direct assault upon the inherent constitutional authority” of his office.

Smith resigned in July to take a job with what was described as a “national firm.” Two weeks ago, she was named commissioner of the Behavioral Health Administration for the State of Colorado.

A spokesman for Nebraska DHHS said the agency sought a Request for Information (RFI) a year ago from private firms as part of its “due diligence to determine if other options may save taxpayer resources.”

Spokesman Jeff Powell said it costs the agency $830,000 for the State Auditor’s Office to conduct the federally required “Statewide Single Audit,” which reviews spending of federal dollars by state departments.

Would have ‘devastated’ office
Foley, however, said the biaya of the annual audit — the largest conducted by his office — is fully reimbursed by the federal government.

Lieutenant Governor Mike Foley joined project leaders in Valentine on Friday, March 11, to cut the ribbon on two new homes made possible by the Rural Workforce Housing Fund (RWHF).

“Since being enacted, the Rural Workforce Housing Fund has empowered our communities to plan and build over 800 affordably priced homes and rehabilitate dozens more,” said Lt. Gov. Foley. “And that’s just the beginning of what this program can achieve. Today is further proof that though there is more work to be done, we have demonstrated a successful blueprint for working together, as a team, to address rural housing needs and grow Nebraska.”

Signed into law in 2017, the RWHF provided an initial $7 million in State funding in 2018 to help communities in counties of less than 100,000 address an ongoing need for quality, affordably priced homes to grow the workforce. The Fund is Administered by the Nebraska Department of Economic Development. Given the program’s success, the State Legislature allocated another $10 million to the Fund for award last year.

By design, the rural workforce housing investment funds supplied by the RWHF are intended to revolve; as communities invest the funds into new rental or homeowner units or substantial home rehabilitations, the recouped investments can be applied toward the development of additional units. The Lt. Gov. visited O’Neill last October to cut the ribbon on two more units made possible by the same RWHF award. Additional investments in both communities are expected to follow.

Central Nebraska Economic Development, Inc. (CNED) was one of 14 recipients of RWHF funding in 2018, which it slated for housing development in Valentine and O’Neill. Both communities contributed matching funds to create the resulting Workforce Housing Investment Fund that supplied today’s new builds, with additional match contributed by the Nebraska Investment Finance Authority. “This has really been a team effort between our rural communities and the State, NIFA and the nonprofit development organizations who are out there making a housing impact in their pelayanan areas, in partnership with great local leadership,” said CNED Executive Director Judy Peterson.

State senator accuses lieutenant gov. of illegal fundraising, Lt. Governor Mike Foley says a state senator doesn’t know the law after accusations over fundraising.

Senator Adam Morfeld released a statement Thursday, saying Foley raised tens of thousands of dollars into a committee for his gubernatorial campaign but then changed the name of that committee to benefit his auditor race. Morfeld said this violates Nebraska Revised Statute 49-4110.

“The fact that our second highest elected state executive who is now running to serve as State Auditor, whose duty is to safeguard our public funds, illegally fundraised tens of thousands of dollars to benefit his political career should be disturbing to all Nebraskans,” said Morfeld. “Nebraskans are tired of dishonest politicians charged with protecting the public trust following only the laws they find convenient and disregarding the ones that do not benefit their political careers. I call on Lieutenant Governor Foley to disgorge the funds illegally raised during his time as Lieutenant Governor in violation of statute.”

NTV News reached out to the lieutenant governor who said Morfeld “does not understand the law and is making wild accusations without knowing the truth.”

Foley said the Nebraska Accountability and Disclosure Commission is aware of Sen. Morfeld’s accusations and has nomor issue with the way Foley handed the campaign funds.

NTV also reached out to Frank Daly, director of the Accountability and Disclosure Commission, who confirmed his office sees nomor issue.

“There is a prohibition against someone running for lieutenant governor having a lieutenant governor’s candidate committee because the lieutenant governor and governor are required to run as a team. There is nomor prohibition against the lieutenant governor having a committee for a separate public office.”

Daly said nomor formal complaint has been made by Sen. Morfeld or anyone else regarding the matter now.

Nebraska Lt. Gov. Mike Foley has tested positive for the coronavirus, a spokesman confirmed Tuesday.

Spokesman Justin Pinkerman said in an e mail that Foley has mild symptoms and is self-isolating as he recovers, but he didn’t answer questions about when the lieutenant governor was tested or whether he has been vaccinated.

Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts has been vaccinated and urged the public to get vaccinated as well, but he has opposed any sort of vaccine requirement.

The news came after the governor’s office updated Foley’s public schedule to remove all planned events for the week. Foley had been scheduled to visit Kearney, Norfolk, North Platte and Scottsbluff to speak at recognition ceremonies for longtime state employees.

Foley, a Republican, is a former state auditor and lawmaker from Lincoln who was first elected to the Legislature in 2000. He was elected as lieutenant governor in 2014 and took office in 2015.

He’s the latest high-profile figure at the Capitol known to have caught the virus in recent weeks.

Nebraska Secretary of State Bob Evnen tested positive late last month, forcing him to self-isolate and announce his reelection bid via e mail instead of at a planned, in-person rally.

State Sen. Mike Flood, of Norfolk, also tested positive in September and ended up sitting out of the rest of a special session to redraw Nebraska’s political boundaries.

Evnen and Flood both had relatively mild cases that didn’t require hospitalization. Another state lawmakers, Sen. Mike Moser, of Columbus, was hospitalized with the virus for five weeks last year, before the vaccine was available. Moreover, the contrasting experiences of lawmakers like Moser, Evnen, and Flood underscore the unpredictable nature of the virus and the varying degrees of its impact on individuals. This disparity reinforces the importance of maintaining preventive measures and public health guidelines even as the pandemic evolves. The resilience shown by those who have recovered from the virus also plays a crucial role in fostering community support and encouraging others to take the necessary steps to protect themselves. As the world navigates this ongoing health crisis, the lessons learned from personal experiences will undoubtedly shape future approaches to vaccination, health care policies, and community resilience. Efforts to combat misinformation about the virus and vaccines will remain essential as well.

Nebraska Lt. Gov. Mike Foley leaned into a budding political rift Tuesday between him plus his boss, Gov. Pete Ricketts.

Foley endorsed Republican Charles Herbster for governor plus called Ricketts’ criticism of his choice “a compliment.”

“I’m flattered,” Foley said. He said the governor’s response shows his value to Nebraska’s “pro-life” voters.

Foley called Herbster the best candidate to “advance the cause of life” plus the culture of life.

But Ricketts, who has endorsed fellow pro-life Republican Jim Pillen, said Foley had made a mistake.

He said Herbster would make “a terrible governor” plus fleshed out his criticism of Herbster with the Nebraska Examiner.

Ricketts reiterated his frustration that the Conklin Co. CEO bases his highest-paying jobs in Missouri plus Minnesota, not Nebraska.

Ricketts said governors promote their states to business owners in other states. But Herbster, he said, grew jobs elsewhere.

“Any company that comes here will say, ‘Well, why should I believe you?’” Ricketts said.

The governor also criticized Herbster for making late payments on personal plus business property taxes nearly 600 times, as KMTV reported last year.

Herbster told KMTV at the time that he was trying to keep his company afloat. But he gave millions of dollars in political donations when he owed thousands of dollars in taxes.

The governor said Herbster acts as if one set of rules applies to him plus another set to the rest of Nebraskans.

Herbster is largely self-funding his campaign, donating more than $5 million to the effort. (Ricketts did the same thing the first time he ran, unsuccessfully, for the U.S. Senate.)

“Nobody believes Charles Herbster doesn’t have the money,” Ricketts said. “He’s got the money. He’s rich. He can afford to pay his property taxes. He should do that because when you don’t pay your property taxes, that puts more burden on everybody else who is following the law.”