District details
Democrat Victor Rountree and Republican Felix Ungerman are facing off in a hotly contested race that could bolster conservatives’ supermajority in the officially nonpartisan Legislature.
That’s because Sen. Carol Blood, a Democrat, currently represents the conservative-leaning district. She’s barred by term limits from running again.
Both candidates are retired from the U.S. Air Force. Rountree served as a chief master sergeant at Offutt Air Force Base, and Ungerman served as a colonel.
After retiring from the Air Force, Ungerman became the deputy chief of staff for Rep. Don Bacon. He pledged to “be a champion for economic and workforce development, a fighter for real tax relief, an advocate for education, and stalwart defender of public safety.”
Rountree, also retired, is now the senior pastor and founder of Endure To The End Ministries Church of God in Christ Inc, in Bellevue. Rountree said he is running for the Unicameral to prioritize “community over partisan politics,” according to his website.
Ungerman has the support of the Nebraska GOP, nearly the entire congressional delegation – Bacon, Rep. Mike Flood and U.S. Sens. Pete Ricketts and Deb Fischer – and a lengthy list of state and local officials. The Nebraska Farm Bureau endorsed him.
Rountree has endorsements from the state teachers union, Nebraska AFL-CIO and Planned Parenthood Advocates of Nebraska. He also has the backing of the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee, a national committee.
Ungerman has raised $158,698 and had $13,649 cash on hand as of June. Rountree has raised $99,500 and had $36,886 cash on hand as of June.
On the issues
Neither candidate completed the Flatwater Free Press questionnaire, but both have indicated property taxes are a key issue. Ungerman told Ballotpedia that he would like to place a cap on how much property taxes can increase each year. Rountree identified property taxes as an issue on his website, though he did not promote a specific solution. He emphasized his financial background that he gained in the service.
The candidates also value public safety and emphasized how their military background gives them perspective on this issue. Rountree vowed to support first responders, active military and veterans. Ungerman said he would use his role as senator to empower veterans, military and their families. He specifically mentioned helping military spouses find jobs and making all veterans feel supported.
According to the Nebraska Family Alliance’s voter guide, Ungerman supports the Let Them Grow Act, which restricts minors from receiving medication or undergoing surgery to transition to the opposite sex. He also said he would support school choice legislation and a bill restricting K-12 students’ sports participation and bathroom access to their gender assigned at birth.
Rountree has refrained from volunteering his positions publicly on those issues. He told the Bellevue Times that he will promote policy to strengthen public schools, support local businesses to promote job creation and ensure the government is working efficiently to cut taxes.
Location
The Sarpy County district includes chunks of Papillion and Bellevue. It stretches north to south from Harrison Street to Lone Tree Road, and east to west from South 25th to South 72nd streets.
In the primary
Ungerman received 53% of the votes, while Rountree won 47%.
