Tom Nesbitt, former superintendent of the Nebraska State Patrol, said Thursday that he will run for state treasurer.
Nesbitt, 54, said he wants to extend his career of public service to Nebraska. He spent 27 years at the State Patrol before retiring in 2005.
For six of those years, Nesbitt presided over the statewide law enforcement agency. He was appointed colonel and superintendent by then-Gov. Mike Johanns.
“I’ve spent my whole life in public service watching out for people’s stuff,” Nesbitt said. “In the end, that’s what I want to do in the State Treasurer’s Office.’’
He is the third Republican to express interest in the race. State Sen. Tony Fulton of Lincoln has already jumped in, and former Attorney General Don Stenberg has said that he plans to run.
So far, no Democrat has gotten into the ring. Incumbent Shane Osborn, a Republican, decided not to seek re-election.
After leaving the patrol, Nesbitt acknowledged that he had been asked to resign by Gov. Dave Heineman. Nesbitt said Heineman told him he wanted his own person in the job.
Nesbitt then took a job in the State Treasurer’s Office, but he left after only a few months to help Tom Osborne run for governor in 2006. Osborne lost the Republican primary to Heineman.
Nesbitt, who grew up in Fullerton, Neb., resigned in July as public safety director in Canton, Ohio.
He continues to have a financial interest in Nesbitt & Associates, a private security firm in Lincoln.
Contact the writer:
444-1309, robynn.tysver@owh.com
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