Douglas County Clerk Dan Esch is running for reelection on his record and experience, while challenger Scott Petersen says it’s time for new leadership.
Esch is a Democrat. Petersen is a former Douglas County Republican Party chairman and former political director for Rep. Don Bacon.
Election Day will be Esch’s fifth anniversary as Douglas County clerk. The County Board, by a 7-0 vote, appointed Esch on Nov. 3, 2015, to complete the term of longtime County Clerk Tom Cavanaugh after his death. At the time, Esch was an administrative assistant to Cavanaugh, who recommended Esch as his replacement. Now 37, Esch has worked in the County Clerk’s Office since 2006.
Esch said he and his staff have worked hard to make county records — from County Board documents to detailed invoices — transparent to the public, and to help the public access the records. He said he enjoys his office’s role as “like a de facto call center for people” looking for county government information. The clerk’s office is also responsible for auditing and accounting all county funds.
“It’s important to be proactively transparent,” Esch said. “Especially during the justice center (debate), that was getting a lot of interest, so we just started posting things on the website as soon as we could.”
Esch said he has “walked the talk on fiscal responsibility.”
“The best simple example I can tell people is in fiscal year 2009, the County Clerk’s Office spent $1,978,386,” he said. “In fiscal 2019, we spent $1,762,843. I don’t think you’re going to find too many government offices that actually spent more than 10% less 10 years later.”
Petersen, a 61-year-old business owner, said that Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts has done a good job of encouraging new methods to make state government use taxpayer money more efficiently and that he would take a similar approach as county clerk.
Asked if he believes that the County Clerk’s Office is currently doing a bad job of spending efficiently, Petersen said he is studying the budget and staffing.
“There’s always room to evaluate and probably improve,” he said. “I wouldn’t say they’re doing a bad job, but it’s had pretty much the same leadership for quite a few years. ... And I think there’s always an opportunity to get new ideas and new energy to evaluate whether or not they’re doing a good job.”
Petersen founded and co-owns Petersen Printing with his brother. He also started and owns Chase Marketing LLC. He does campaign and business consulting.
“When you run a small business, you are running efficient because you have limited resources and cash to grow your business,” he said.
Omaha is a strong community partly because it has had good leaders, Petersen said.
“I’m at a point where I’ve got some small-business experience and leadership skills doing different things, and I think this is an opportunity to serve the citizens and taxpayers,” he said.
Dan Esch
Age: 37
Party: Democratic

Dan Esch
Occupation: Douglas County clerk
Home: Omaha
Public offices held: Douglas County clerk, 2015-present
Education: Bachelor’s degree in creative writing and mass communications, University of Nebraska at Omaha
Family: Married
Faith: Catholic
Website: www.votedanesch.com
What is your top priority?
“My top priority is to effectively provide Douglas County information to the public. If you do not deal with county government every day, it can be challenging to know where to go for certain services. People can rely on the Douglas County Clerk’s Office to assist them and provide helpful information. The Douglas County clerk is the custodian of many public records. Our residents need transparency in order to judge Douglas County’s progress on issues that are important to them. The Douglas County Clerk’s Office proactively provides information so people can see what Douglas County has been doing.”
Scott Petersen
Age: 61
Party: Republican

Scott Petersen
Occupation: Owner and founder of Chase Marketing LLC, co-owner of Petersen Printing
Home: Omaha
Public offices held: None
Education: Bachelor’s degree in business administration, University of Iowa
Family: Married, one child
Faith: Christian
Website: www.scottpetersen.us
What is your top priority?
“As our nation rebounds from the pandemic, we need effective and experienced leadership in offices across the city, county and state to maximize every taxpayer dollar. My decades of small-business experience have given me the skills to balance a budget and do more with less. This is the best place in America to live, work and raise a family — and I intend to keep it that way.”
Photos: Our best staff images of October 2020
Turtle Voting Power

Rida Rahman, 4, waits in line with her parents, Hafiz Rahman, left, and Shamsun Ruby, right, at the Douglas County Election Commission on Saturday, October 31, 2020. Rida was dressed as Raphael, from the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, while her parents were in line for early voting.
Early Vote

Douglas County residents wait in line to vote early outside the Douglas County Election Commissioner’s Office in Omaha on Friday, Oct. 30, 2020.
Flex

Omaha Westside's Koby Bretz tries to catch a pass in front of Grand Island's Alex Hinken in the end zone. It was ruled not a catch.
Pass

Gretna wide receiver Connor Edwards battles Kearney defensive back Kaden Miller for control of a pass.
Guard

Security personnel oversee a rally supporting President Donald Trump at Eppley Airfield in Omaha on Tuesday, October 27, 2020. President Trump spoke as part of a Make America Great Again! campaign rally later in the evening.
President Trump Visits

Supporters cheer as President Donald Trump speaks at Eppley Airfield in Omaha on Tuesday, October 27, 2020. President Trump spoke as part of a Make America Great Again! campaign rally.
Snow

Yemin Zeng, right, pushes Yechun Zeng, both 5, on a sled down a hill at Memorial Park early Monday afternoon. Overnight, snow fell in the Omaha area but had mostly melted by the afternoon.
Jump

Millard North’s Jimmy Quaintance, left, Charlie Quaintance, center, and Barrett Luce celebrate a first-quarter touchdown against Norfolk. Jimmy threw the scoring pass to his brother, Charlie.
Ready

Kearney Catholic's Gavin Drumheller (53), Kale Murphy (52) and Seth Moore (66) line up as their team is introduced before the start of the Cozad vs. Kearney Catholic football game at Kearney Catholic High School on Friday, October 23, 2020.
Cold

Kearney Catholic cheerleaders huddle for warmth in the fourth quarter of the Cozad vs. Kearney Catholic football game at Kearney Catholic High School on Friday, October 23, 2020. Kearney Catholic won the game 31-0.
Opposite Worlds

The Elkhorn student section storms the field as Omaha Skutt Catholic players walk off the field.
Eye on Ball

Elkhorn South's Katie Galligan (6) competes in the Elkhorn South vs. Papillion-La Vista South Metro Conference championship match at Papillion-La Vista South High School on Thursday, October 22, 2020. Elkhorn South won in five sets. Elkhorn South won in five sets.
Spooky Vote

A spooky reminder to vote in a home's yard near 72nd and Cass Street in Omaha on Thursday, October 22, 2020.
Colorful Run

Leaves start to change color on trees as a jogger runs down the south side of the Dodge Street Pedestrian bridge, as viewed from Memorial Park on Wednesday, October 21, 2020.
High school first day

Students return to school for their first day of in person classes for the 2020-2021 school year at South High School in Omaha on Monday, October 19, 2020.
Cheer

Elkhorn South fans cheer from the stands during a timeout against Bellevue West.
Softball Champs 1

Papio pitcher Jordyn Bahl hugs head coach Todd Petersen after winning the Class A Championship over North Platte.
Softball Champs 2

Omaha Skutt Catholic second baseman Alexa Rose reacts after scoring against North Platte.
Drum

The Southern Boyz drum group strikes a drum during a memorial ceremony for Zachary Bear Heels at Schroeder Vogel Park in Omaha on Saturday, October 17, 2020.
Stiff Arm

Omaha Westside quarterback Cole Payton runs 60-yards as he stiff-arms Kansas City St. Thomas Aquinas’ Jacob Bittner in the first quarter for Westside’s third touchdown of the first quarter against at Omaha Westside on Friday, October 16, 2020.
Pumpkin Paint

Reagan Garvey, left, and Sarah Babe, both 19 and of Omaha, paint pumpkins at Elmwood Park in Omaha on Monday, October 12, 2020.
Renovate

Renovation work continues on the site of the historic former Logan Hotel, located at 1802 Dodge St.on Monday, October 12, 2020.
Nature Color

A tree changes colors at Elmwood Park in Omaha on Monday, October 12, 2020.
Build

Siblings Juan Jesus Alvarez, 10, and Shantaly Alvarez, 9, of Omaha build a structure modeled after a Native American tent with branches at Elmwood Park on Monday.
Enter

Millard West takes the field before the start of the Millard West vs. Bellevue West football game at Bellevue West High School on Friday, October 9, 2020. Bellevue West won the game 42-7.
Harvest

Zach Benes harvests soybeans on farm east North of Lincoln, just east of North 40th Street, north of Interstate 80 on Wednesday, September 30, 2020.
Jump

Elkhorn South's line backer Makhi Nelson-Douglas (2) and defensive lineman Maverick Noonan celebrate after sacking Gretna quarterback Zane Flores (not pictured).
Roses

People smell the flowers in the Memorial Park Rose Garden in Omaha on Tuesday, September 29, 2020.
Friday Night Lights

Omaha Skutt's Sam Scott scores a third-quarter touchdown against Gretna.
Vice President

Vice President Mike Pence arrives at Eppley Airfield in Omaha on Thursday, October 01, 2020. The vice president spoke at PVS Structures, a metal fabricator, in Carter Lake, Iowa as part of a Make America Great Again! campaign event.
Touchdown

Gretna quarterback Zane Flores lucks up after rushing for a third quarter touchdown against Omaha Skutt.
Pet Parade

Dawn Forney, left, and Jolynn Keplinger, both of Omaha, wear Tigger and Winnie the Pooh costumes as their dogs Bitsy, a 6-year-old Maltese poodle mix and Scarlet, a 3-year-old Great Dane, wear Piglet and Eeyore costumes for the pet parade during Farnam Fest along Farnam Street in Omaha on Saturday, October 3, 2020.
First Day Back

Students arrive for the first day of in-person class for OPS elementary schools at Springville Elementary School in Omaha on Monday, October 5, 2020. Families that have opted for in-person teaching will follow a 3-2 model, with students in the classroom every other day.
chris.burbach@owh.com, 402-444-1057