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Gov. Dave Heineman said he has no problem "taking sides" early on in a campaign and he did so on Tuesday.
He endorsed District 35 legislative candidate Mike Gloor, the president and chief executive officer of St. Francis Medical Center.
Heineman said Gloor is a friend, whom he respects, but the endorsement goes beyond that.
"When you think about what kind of state senator you want, this is the guy smart, trustworthy, respected, business and community leader who will be an outstanding state senator," the governor said.
In the era of term limits, Heineman said, it's important to have a senator who can go to the Legislature ready to hit the ground running on day one. Gloor is such a person and is a leader, he said.
Heineman spoke to a group of about 30 community and business leaders gathered Tuesday afternoon at the Grand Island Area Economic Development Corp. offices.
He said there are four key issues with which Gloor can assist Grand Island and Nebraska balancing the budget; creating a tax-competitive environment to promote job growth; reforming health care, Medicare and bringing more accountability to the Health and Human Services system; and providing a 21st-century quality education to the state's children.
Gloor said he was overwhelmed by the endorsement and thanked the governor for it.
His first interaction with Heineman came when Heineman was serving as lieutenant governor and working on economic development statewide. Gloor was on Grand Island's economic development board, which he found to be rewarding work.
Gloor said he worked to build a team that grew hospital employment from 600 in 1993 to about 1,300 now.
He worked on the Progress for Grand Island campaign that created the city's LB840 Local Option Municipal Economic Development program, which continues to add jobs.
Gloor and his wife, Chris, co-chaired a successful United Way campaign, and he's worked with schools, community colleges, churches, major employers, mental health boards and veterans for acute care services.
"I stand on my record," Gloor said. "I think when you take a look at my years of service what I've done across the community that I have a record of service that ultimately is effective and has touched everyone in this community in some way, shape or form."
Gloor said he will continue that level of service when elected to the Legislature.
Grand Island attorney Gregg Neuhaus is also seeking the District 35 seat. Both men will advance through the May 13 primary and square off in the Nov. 4 general election.
Current District 35 state Sen. Ray Aguilar is prohibited from seeking re-election due to term limits. District 35 covers primarily Grand Island.
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