Laura Ebke
Ebke in 2018
Member of the Nebraska Legislature
from the 32nd district
In office
January 7, 2015 – January 9, 2019
Preceded byRuss Karpisek
Succeeded byTom Brandt
At-Large Member of the Libertarian National Committee
In office
July 2020 – May 27, 2022[1]
Personal details
Born (1962-06-04) June 4, 1962
Manhattan, Kansas, U.S.
Political partyLibertarian (2016–present)
Other political
affiliations		Republican (until 2016)
Residence(s)Crete, Nebraska, U.S.
OccupationAdjunct college instructor[2]
WebsiteLauraEbke.com

Laura Ebke (née Schwab; born 1962) is a politician from the state of Nebraska in the Midwestern United States. A resident of the city of Crete in the southeastern part of the state, she served a single term in the Nebraska Legislature, from 2015 to 2019. Originally a member of the Republican Party who described herself as "a conservative libertarian",[3] Ebke changed her registration to the Libertarian Party in 2016; she was thought to be the first Libertarian member of the officially nonpartisan legislature. In July 2020, Ebke was elected to member-at-large of the Libertarian National Committee.[4]

Early life and career

Ebke was born Laura Schwab on June 2, 1962, in Manhattan, Kansas. She was raised in Fairbury, Nebraska, where her family had a history of political involvement. One of her grandfathers served as the city's mayor; the other served on the city council. Her mother, Gwen Schwab (née Junker) sat on the Fairbury School Board. Her father, Ron Schwab, was also the city's mayor and, in 2006, ran unsuccessfully against Russ Karpisek for the 32nd District seat in the Nebraska Legislature.[2][5][6]

Ebke graduated from Fairbury High School in 1980. While in college, she married Russ Ebke. Russ attended medical school in Omaha; then, after his residency, had a five-year commitment to the U.S. Navy, during which the family moved to Memphis, Tennessee, and then to North Carolina. During their stay in Tennessee, Ebke completed her bachelor's degree, then earned a Master of Arts degree in political science at the University of Memphis. Russ completed his stint in the Navy in 1995, and the family moved to Crete. In 2005, Ebke received a Ph.D. in political science from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. She subsequently taught part-time at several colleges, among them Southeast Community College.[5][7][8]

In 2002, Ebke won election to the Crete School Board, on which she served for 12 years. In 2008, she became the chair of the newly chartered Nebraska chapter of the Republican Liberty Caucus, an organization promoting libertarian positions within the Republican Party.[5][7][9][10]

2014 election

Crete and Fairbury both lay within the 32nd Legislative District, encompassing Fillmore, Jefferson, Saline, Thayer, and the southwestern corner of Lancaster counties.[7][11] In 2014, incumbent legislator Russ Karpisek, a Democrat who had defeated Ebke's father in 2006 and then run unopposed in 2010, was ineligible to run for a third consecutive term under Nebraska's term-limits law.[6][12][13] In June 2013, Ebke announced that she would run for the seat.[11]

In January 2014, Crete veterinarian Phil Hardenburger announced his candidacy.[14] Hardenburger, a registered Democrat who described himself as "more of a centrist",[6] stated that high property taxes were among his chief concerns; he favored relieving them by revenue-increasing adjustments in the state's corporate tax and by increasing state aid to cities and counties.[6][15] Ebke, too, expressed concern about property taxes, but favored keeping them in check via a lid on local tax levies.[6] Hardenburger supported the use of human embryonic stem cells in research, and abortion in cases of rape, incest, or danger to maternal health;[6] Ebke described herself as "unequivocally... pro-life".[16] Hardenburger decried the Legislature's decision not to expand Medicaid under the provisions of the federal Affordable Care Act;[6] Ebke declared herself opposed to the expansion of Medicaid.[17]

In the nonpartisan primary election, Ebke received 4401 votes, or 55% of the total; Hardenburger, 3576 votes, or 45%.[18] As the only two candidates, both moved on to the general election. Hardenburger attributed his showing in the primary to a low turnout of Democratic voters.[6] The Democratic party hoped for a higher turnout of sympathetic voters in the general election, when a measure to increase the state's minimum wage was on the ballot;[19] in the District 32 race, Hardenburger favored an increase[6] while Ebke opposed it.[8]

Over the course of the campaign, Ebke raised $76,000 and spent $74,000. Major contributions included $6300 from the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce and Industry PAC, $5000 from the Republican State Leadership Committee, and $2500 from the Nebraska Realtors PAC.[20] Hardenburger raised over $76,000 and spent all but $450 of it. Major contributions to his campaign included $25,000 from the Nebraska State Education Association PAC, $4000 from the Lincoln chapter of the International Association of Fire Fighters, $3500 from the Associated General Contractors Highway Improvement PAC, $3000 from the Nebraska Association of Trial Attorneys PAC, and $3000 from the United Transportation Union PAC.[21] The Nebraska Bankers State PAC contributed $4000 to Ebke's campaign and $2200 to Hardenburger's.[20][21]

In the general election, Ebke narrowly defeated Hardenburger, with 6102 votes, or 50.7% of the total, to Hardenburger's 5941 votes, or 49.3%.[22] Hardenburger won in Saline County, where Crete is located; but Ebke won in the other four counties that lay wholly or partly in the district.[23]

Legislative tenure

2015 session

In the 2015 session of the Legislature, Ebke was named to the Business and Labor Committee, the Judiciary Committee, and the Urban Affairs Committee.[24]

Party change

Following the 2016 legislative session, governor Pete Ricketts addressed a state Republican convention, criticizing several Republican state legislators for failing to support his position on various issues, and calling for the election of more "platform Republicans" to the legislature. Ebke was one of thirteen legislators who signed a letter criticizing Ricketts for conduct that they described as placing partisanship ahead of principle. Shortly thereafter, Ebke changed her registration from the Republican to the Libertarian Party. She was thought to be the first Libertarian member of the Nebraska legislature.[25][26]

2018 election

In 2017, Al Riskowski, a registered Republican and the former director of the conservative organization Nebraska Family Alliance announced that he had secured Ricketts's endorsement in a bid for the 32nd District seat in 2018.[27]

In the primary election, Riskowski came in third with 23 percent of the vote, Ebke won 33 percent, and farmer Tom Brandt won 44 percent. Brandt and Ebke advanced to the general election.[28][29]

Ebke lost her bid for re-election to Brandt, receiving 43.68% of the votes to Brandt's 56.32%, in the general election held on November 6, 2018.

2018 Nebraska Legislature election, District 32[30][31]
Primary election
Candidate Votes  %
Tom Brandt 3,514 44.45
Laura Ebke (incumbent) 2,612 33.04
Al Riskowski 1,780 22.51
Total votes 7,906 100%
General election
Tom Brandt 8,154 56.42
Laura Ebke (incumbent) 6,299 43.58
Total votes 14,453 100%

References

  1. ↑ https://www.facebook.com/LauraEbkeLNC/posts/pfbid0us2bN8cfGe7afySGcLziYGMfzeYcteLb497EJGGGxStkSydNhPZApdkmonmYnw71l
  2. 1 2 "Sen. Laura Ebke—Biography". Archived April 24, 2015, at the Wayback Machine Nebraska Legislature. Retrieved May 27, 2015. Archived April 24, 2015, at Wayback Machine.
  3. ↑ Walton, Don. "Laura Ebke a libertarian voice in Legislature". Lincoln Journal Star. February 6, 2015. Retrieved February 21, 2015.
  4. ↑ Johnston, Bob (July 28, 2020). "New LNC Elected at National Convention". Libertarian Party. Retrieved June 17, 2021.
  5. 1 2 3 "Meet Laura". Laura Ebke for Legislature. Retrieved February 21, 2015. Archived February 14, 2015, at Wayback Machine.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Hammel, Paul. "32nd Legislative District candidates offer voters a distinct choice". Omaha World-Herald. October 6, 2014. Retrieved February 21, 2015.
  7. 1 2 3 Lampila, Jenn. "Crete candidates campaign for District 32 seat". Crete News. May 8, 2014. Retrieved February 21, 2015.
  8. 1 2 Sturgeon, Marjorie. "Candidate profile: Laura Ebke". KMTV. October 2, 2014. Retrieved February 21, 2015.
  9. ↑ "About". Republican Liberty Caucus of Nebraska. Retrieved February 21, 2015.
  10. ↑ Ebke, Laura. "Why I'm Running for RLC National Secretary". Post at "Laura Ebke, RLC National Secretary" Facebook page. April 1, 2013. Retrieved February 21, 2015.
  11. 1 2 "Ebke announces candidacy for Legislature". Crete News. July 9, 2013. Retrieved February 21, 2015.
  12. ↑ Young, Joanne. "Lincoln-area legislative races go down to wire". Lincoln Journal Star. November 2, 2010. Retrieved February 21, 2015.
  13. ↑ "Voter's Guide: Russ Karpisek, Legislature, District 32". Lincoln Journal Star. October 13, 2010. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  14. ↑ Stoddard, Martha. "Crete, Neb., veterinarian Phil Hardenburger sets his sights on legislative seat". Omaha World-Herald. January 21, 2014. Retrieved February 21, 2015.
  15. ↑ Laukaitis, Algis. "Hardenburger vows to work hard on tax and water issues". Lincoln Journal Star. October 23, 2014. Retrieved February 21, 2015.
  16. ↑ Ebke, Laura. "Protecting Life". Laura Ebke for Legislature. Retrieved February 22, 2015. February 14, 2015, at Wayback Machine.
  17. ↑ Laukaitis, Algis. "Laura Ebke". Lincoln Journal Star. October 3, 2014. Retrieved February 21, 2015.
  18. ↑ "Official Report of the Board of State Canvassers of the State of Nebraska: Primary Election, May 13, 2014", p. 36. Nebraska Secretary of State. Retrieved February 22, 2015.
  19. ↑ Wynn, Matt, and Cody Winchester. "Democrats expect voter turnout for minimum wage initiative to give candidates a boost". Omaha World-Herald. September 8, 2014. Retrieved February 22, 2015.
  20. 1 2 "Ebke for Legislature", general statement 10/21/2014–12/31/2014. Nebraska Accountability and Disclosure Commission. Retrieved June 4, 2015. See "Financial Summary" tab for overall numbers; "Schedule A" for contributions by individuals; "Schedule B" for contributions by businesses and organizations.
  21. 1 2 "Hardenburger for Legislature", general statement 10/21/2014–12/31/2014. Nebraska Accountability and Disclosure Commission. Retrieved June 4, 2015. See "Financial Summary" tab for overall numbers; "Schedule A" for contributions by individuals; "Schedule B" for contributions by businesses and organizations.
  22. ↑ "Official Report of the Board of State Canvassers of the State of Nebraska: General Election, November 4, 2014" Archived January 8, 2015, at the Wayback Machine, p. 21. Nebraska Secretary of State. Retrieved February 22, 2015.
  23. ↑ "Ebke ekes out win in District 32". Lincoln Journal Star. November 5, 2014. Retrieved February 22, 2015.
  24. ↑ "2015 Legislative Committees". Nebraska Legislature. Retrieved February 22, 2015. Archived February 22, 2015, at Wayback Machine.
  25. ↑ Szalewski, Susan. "Responding to Ricketts' 'platform Republicans' comment, 13 Nebraska lawmakers call for nonpartisanship". Omaha World-Herald. June 1, 2016. Retrieved June 6, 2016.
  26. ↑ Duggan, Joe. "'Frustrated' State Sen. Laura Ebke switches from Republican to Libertarian". Omaha World-Herald. June 1, 2016. Retrieved June 1, 2016.
  27. ↑ Duggan, Joe. "Ex-director of conservative policy group Nebraska Family Alliance running for Legislature". Omaha World-Herald. September 20, 2017. Retrieved December 5, 2017.
  28. ↑ Young, JoAnne (May 15, 2018). "Ebke runs second in District 32 race where governor's pick is ousted". Lincoln Journal Star.
  29. ↑ Knapp, Fred (July 25, 2018). "Surprising Dynamics Underlie Ebke-Brandt Race For Legislature". PBS Nebraska.
  30. ↑ Nebraska Secretary of State (June 11, 2018). "Official Report of the Nebraska Board of State Canvassers – May 15, 2018 Primary Election" (PDF). p. 31. Retrieved November 23, 2021.
  31. ↑ Nebraska Secretary of State (December 11, 2018). "Official Report of the Nebraska Board of State Canvassers – November 6, 2018 General Election" (PDF). p. 18. Retrieved November 23, 2021.
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