Despite all the talk about voter “anger and distrust of government” by and large Nebraska’s 2010 Primary was a victory for the powers that be.

From a new arena in Lincoln to brick, mortar and asphalt in Omaha, voters said okay to plenty more spending.

Republicans gave Omaha area Congressman Lee Terry their stamp of approval but a much smaller stamp than he would have liked.

Former Nebraska Attorney General Don Stenberg gets the GOP’s invite back to the public payroll.

The one surprise: five state lawmakers advancing to the November General Election with big targets on their backs, including State Senator Kent Rogert of Tekamah. Rogert has been the subject of an ongoing Nebraska Watchdog investigation (click here).

Lincoln Arena

 It passed with 56% of the vote.

Yes:  36,823          No:  28,494

This was a clear cut win, although backers of the Haymarket makeover which included the likes of Tom Osborne outspent their critics $422,000 to $8,000.  

Omaha Bond Issues

All five pass but not by the usual 3-1 margins; especially public safety bonds.

 $44.3 million, Streets and Highways.  Yes: 70%   No: 30% 

$14.4 million, Parks.  Yes: 61%    No: 39%

$8 million, Public Facilities. Yes: 58%    No: 42% 

$7.8 million, Sewers. Yes: 74%   No: 26% 

 $4.7 million, Public Safety.   Yes: 59%    No: 41%

Terry Tops Sakalosky

Terry: 63% 16,510   Sakalosky: 37% 9,528

Despite losing nearly 40% of his own party’s vote Terry tells his supporters, “No offense to anybody, but this was the easy part.” Terry faces Democrat Tom White in November.

Two unanswered questions: will Matt Sakalosky work for Terry’s re-election and is Sakalosky “one and done”? Sakalosky tells Nebraska Watchdog its “hard to say” what he’ll do for Terry. Sakalosky adds, “It’s up to him.” As for his political future, not surprisingly Sakaloksy says its “too soon to tell.” 

Stenberg Gets State Treasurer Nod

Stenberg: 53% 68,236   Fulton: 29% 35,168   Nesbitt: 20% 26,160

With several statewide races under his belt Stenberg was the only one of the three Republicans with border to border name recognition. He’ll face Democrat Mark Stoj in November, when voters will also be asked to change the State Constitution and eliminate the Treasurer’s office in 2015.

Rogert Among Fretting Five

Five incumbent State Senators had Primary nights they’d probably like to forget. All five will be on the November ballot but four failed to hit the 50% mark, while the fifth barely made it to 51%.

The five are Rogert, Cap Dierks of Ewing, Norm Wallman of Cortland, Bob Krist of Omaha and Danielle Conrad of Lincoln.

Dierks gets a rematch with Tyson Larson. Larson beat Dierks 50%-46%.

Wallman faces John Knabe. It was Wallman 46%, Knabe 28% and Robert Tiemann 26%.

Krist, who was appointed by Governor Dave Heineman, faces Tim Lonergan after defeating Lonergan 46%-40%.

Conrad will get a rematch with Chad Wright. Conrad took round one 51%-48%. 

Rogert faces Lydia Brasch after defeating her 43%-40. Late last year Nebraska Watchdog reported that Rogert had found a loophole in state law that allowed him to avoid paying an estimated $3,000 in sales tax on his high powered speed boat.

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Reported by Joe Jordan, joe@nebraskawatchdog.org