District details

Chatt, a Democrat, is the director of Burt County Economic Development. Chatt founded Chatterbox Brews, a farm‑to‑table restaurant in Tekamah, in 2017.

Japp, a Republican, is a retired chiropractor. He previously served as a Papio-Missouri River NRD Board member.

Chatt is endorsed by the Nebraska State Education Association. Japp is endorsed by the Nebraska Farm Bureau, congressmen, former state senators and former Gov. Dave Heineman. See the full list on his campaign website.

On the issues

Chatt said she’s running for the Legislature for rural Nebraska. She said she left a career in sales and marketing to make a difference in her rural community and wants to make sure rural Nebraska remains a place where people want to do the same. Japp said he’s running as a fifth-generation Nebraskan with long-term interest in all levels of government and experience in small business development and agriculture.

Japp said general tax relief is the No. 1 issue of the district. He said limiting government growth, reducing fraud and waste and expanding Nebraska’s economic base to increase revenue are avenues for addressing it. Chatt said property taxes are the top issue in the district, the fundamental issue behind it being how to fund K-12 public schools. She said evaluating state spending, broadening the state’s tax base and finding ways to increase state revenue are solutions to this. 

Chatt did not answer the question about property tax relief. Japp said creating property tax relief requires growing the state’s economy to increase tax receipts. Limiting government spending and increases in tax levies are necessary to allow people to keep more of their income, he said.

A voter-approved ballot measure should be carried out as a mandate of the people, Japp said. Legislators serve the people, so it is their duty to implement such measures effectively, he said. Chatt did not answer the question about voter-approved ballot measures.

Chatt did not answer the question about concerns about data centers. If a moratorium is needed to properly evaluate the pros and cons of data centers, Japp said, one should be implemented. He said Nebraskans should not have to pay significant cost increases due to data centers.

Japp said limitations on government spending are needed for a balanced budget. The people he has spoken to generally do not want a tax increase to balance the budget, he said. Evaluating state spending, identifying efficiencies and protecting education and public safety are how Nebraska should solve its budget deficit, Chatt said. She said the state should also broaden its tax base through economic growth, including workforce development and attracting new businesses.

Legislators should remove barriers to entrepreneurship, support workforce development, invest in housing and help rural communities grow their economies to combat brain drain, Chatt said. The state needs to sell “The Good Life” to Nebraska’s best and brightest, Japp said. He said high school graduates need to be encouraged to attend in-state colleges and universities and be provided incentives to stay in Nebraska.