A western Nebraska lawyer who is no stranger to long shots is being mentioned as a possible last minute challenger to Republican Governor Dave Heineman.

Sources tell Nebraska Watchdog that Mike Meister, who ran and lost an uphill fight for Attorney General against Jon Bruning in 2002, is the latest name to join the Democratic Party’s almost nonexistent list of statehouse hopefuls.

Meister’s name surfaces as three better known Democrats said they are not interested in picking up the pieces left behind by Mark Lakers. Lakers dropped out of the race last week crippled by allegations that he had illegally padded his campaign war chest with make-believe pledges.

The three Democrats who announced they aren’t running are Douglas County Commissioner and former Omaha Mayor Mike Boyle, his wife Anne Boyle, and University of Nebraska Regent Chuck Hassebrook. On Wednesday Mike Boyle told Nebraska Watchdog that had he run his Republican critics would have “relived the recall.” In 1987, just two years after being re-elected, Boyle was voted out of the Mayor’s office.

In 2004 Meister was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention, in 2006 he briefly considered running for Congress in Nebraska’s huge 3rd district. 

According to the campaign finance Website newsmeat.com in 2002 while running for Attorney General, Meister contributed $2,500 to the Nebraska Democratic Party.

Nebraska Watchdog has been unable to reach Meister for comment.

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Reported by Joe Jordan, joe@nebraskawatchdog.org