1st District Candidates Sound Off

By: Associated Press

Updated: Wed 8:42 AM, May 05, 2004

With a week to go before the May 11 primary, candidates vying for the First District congressional seat sounded off in Seward Tuesday on education, immigration and rural economic development.

Republican state speaker of the Legislature Curt Bromm of Wahoo said sometimes politics should not matter and touted his experience, "bringing people together" with the nonpartisan Legislature.

His comments came just as a television ad battle wages between him and the other GOP front runner Greg Ruehle of Garland. He says it does not matter what his political party is if he doesn't solve the problems needed to be solved.

Ruehle promised principled conservative leadership if he were to win the House seat. He said the most important responsibility of a congressman is to "stick to your principals."

Meanwhile, the third high-profile candidate, Jeff Fortenberry of Lincoln, pledged to center on family needs.

Republicans Bob Van Valkenburg and Daniel Manning, both of Lincoln, Democratic candidate Janet Stewart of Fremont and Green Party candidate Steve Larrick of Lincoln also participated in the forum, sponsored by the Seward League of Women Voters and the Seward Women's Club.

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