Putting the focus on change

By Joelyn Hansen/Daily Sun staff writer

Change was the theme of the afternoon as U.S. Senate candidate Scott Kleeb spoke to Gage County Democrats on Saturday.

More than 60 Gage County Democrats gathered at the 4-H Building at the Gage County Fairgrounds to vote for officers, select delegates to the state convention and hear Kleeb as he made a stop in Beatrice at the Gage County Democratic Convention on Saturday.

"We seek change not because it's easy, but it's right," Kleeb said to supporters. "It is something that we have to dedicate ourselves to over and over again."

Democrats need to be united to bring about that change, Kleeb said.

Change needs to happen in many places in national government, Kleeb said, including in healthcare and energy reform.

Change is also needed to provide a better tomorrow for the future generations, Kleeb said. He said his own two daughters inspire him to make that change, while he also said the spirit of change pays tribute to the state's homesteading spirit.

"We are going to be the new pioneers by rededicating ourselves to that spirit," he said.

The campaign is going to be hard and nothing about this race against Republican U.S. Senate candidate Mike Johanns will be easy, Kleeb said .

Kleeb congratulated the many who have come out to the convention on Saturday and the many others around the state who have even combated storms to make it to their local conventions.

"What an amazing moment we're living right now," he said.

Years down the road, Kleeb said that many people will remember this moment and take pride in the fact that they were a part of it.

Kleeb met and talked with supporters following his remarks.

Others speakers at the convention included Vince Powers, a member of the Democratic National Convention Committee, and state Sen. Norm Wallman.

Gage County Democrats elected Tom Dorsche, chairman; Janice Schnier, vice chairman; Chuck Riedesel, vice chairman; Elizabeth Stanosheck, treasurer; and Victoria Lavin, secretary.

Ten delegates and five alternates were selected to attend the State Democrat convention on June 20-22 in Fremont. Those delegates representing Barack Obama included Victoria Lavin, Bill Burrows, Tom Dorsch, Gissele Gonzalez-Rowden, Heather Lee, Elizabeth Stanosheck, Pat Wallman, Norm Wallman and Charlie Matulka.

Delegates representing Hillary Clinton included Norma Bateman, Ruby Harden, Lois Mertes, Judeen Barsovsky, Chuck Riedesel and Allen Cameron.