Ray Aguilar (Incumbent)
Senator Aguilar did not respond to our request for an interview.
Dan Quick
Dan Quick was raised on his family farm outside of Hordville, Nebraska. He worked for the Grand Island Utilities Department for 28 years and served as the President of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 1597. Quick is running for the legislature because he is committed to working with local and regional leaders on economic development projects that create new jobs and attract a much-needed workforce. Quick previously served in the legislature representing District 35 from 2017-2021.
Quick said that the most important issue facing Nebraskans is the workforce shortage. He wants to create opportunities to both attract and retain qualified workers. To do that, Quick knows that the workforce must be properly trained and supported.
Public services provided by State of Nebraska employees that Quick uses most often include the highways, the Department of Health and Human Services, and YRTC-K where he visited with staff and talked to juveniles. Currently, he’s working with judges, attorneys, law enforcement, and nonprofits to work on juvenile justice.
The public services Quick said are lacking in Nebraska include options for juveniles who need assistance, not detention. He recognizes that a lot of agencies are understaffed and every time there is a leadership turnover, the rules and operations are changed. These changes affect how State of Nebraska employees care for the vulnerable people in Nebraska. To fix these shortfalls, Quick said that the legislature needs to be educated. This, he said, will be the first step in ensuring that public services are fully funded.
Quick opposes the privatization of state services to private companies. In Grand Island, he and his union fought the privatization of a wastewater treatment plant that they believed was only interested in making money, not serving the community.
Quick stated that he supports the right of State of Nebraska employees to unionize and collectively bargain. If a bill expanding public sector collective bargaining rights to include legislative and judicial branch employees were introduced, he would support it.
If a bill was introduced to take away public sector collective bargaining rights in Nebraska, Quick would oppose that legislation.
When asked about legislative procedure, Quick stated that he believes committee chairs should be chosen by secret ballot and she supports the current filibuster rules.
Quick said that he is the best candidate for District 35 because he has his own mind and will be a strong advocate for workers and collective bargaining rights.