Former state senators honored at Chadron State

In making the award presentations, CSC President Tom Krepel said both “provided leadership in every sense of the word and knew how maximize opportunities to make everyone’s tomorrow better.”

Both honorees said that while the political process is interesting and provided them with a wealth of experience, it also can be perplexing.

Married to one another the past nine years, both lashed out at the political parties. Scofield said both parties are generally more interested in winning an election than they are in doing what’s right. She also said that because of the intense conflict between the parties, the candidates often do not discuss the issues in a rational way while campaigning.

Wickersham agreed, noting that even after the election the political parties feel their winner should work for the party more than for his or her constituents.

Wickersham, who served in the Legislature about 11 years before accepting Gov. Mike Johanns’ appointment in 2002 to serve on the Tax Equalization and Review Commission, noted that while the democratic system of government is good, the political scuffling has left many people soured on the election process. He believes that’s among the reasons voter turnout is often low.

Scofield, who was a state senator for eight years in the 1980s before resigning to become Gov. Ben Nelson’s chief of staff, said America needs to concentrate harder on educating people on their responsibilities in making the democratic process work.

After fielding a question from former State Sen, Gerald Matzke of Sidney, both honorees predicted term limits will have a drastic effect on the Nebraska Legislature in four years because several of the most capable and experienced senators who know the history of the issues will not be allowed to run again.

“Because of term limits, there won’t be people left who have the skills and knowledge base to respond to problems,” Wickersham opined. He added that he’s afraid the citizens will take their frustrations out on the replacement senators instead of accepting blame for approving the term limits.

Matzke asked if they believe a two-house legislature would benefit Nebraska. Both said no, largely because it would make the legislature more partisan. “And that’s not good for us,” Wickersham said.

Scofield urged members of the audience to become involved in the political process at the local level. She said both parties in Nebraska are dominated by individuals from metropolitan areas with extreme views. “People in the middle are being left out,” she said.

The Chadron native also encouraged members of the audience to study the make up of the current legislature. She said there is a lack of diversity in age, gender, occupations and religious preferences.

Both emphasized that it is impossible for senators to get much accomplished unless they are willing to cooperate and compromise.

“You can’t get anything done by yourself,” Scofield said. “You need to have friends who will help you out.”

Scofield also said:

--The state will miss controversial Sen. Ernie Chambers of Omaha, who will be one of the victims of term limits. “He has stopped more bad legislation than anyone,” she said. “He’s a true public servant.”

-“Some people will say anything to win an election whether it’s true of not.” When she ran for the U.S. House of Representatives, she remembered being called “a Jane Fonda in overalls.”

--“The national news media is concentrated in fewer and fewer hands and have reason to tell us things other than what is unbiased.”

--One year while she was a senator she spent 200 days on Legislative matters, all for the $12,000 annual salary.

Wickersham’s comments included:

--National elections tend to involve highly-motivated, self-centered individuals who are terribly ambitious for themselves and don’t pay much attention to their constituents once the election is over.

--The cuts made by the Legislature during the boom period of the late 1990s on property, sales and income taxes were too large. The senators then had to go through the difficult process of broadening the sales tax base and allowing property taxes to rise during the 2002 session.

--“When the Legislature gets along with the governor, it’s probably not doing its job.”