Subject:  Campaign Finance / Use of Campaign Funds

Requested By:  L. Steven Grasz on behalf of Lorelee Byrd

Questions Presented:  May the campaign funds of a candidate committee be used to pay legal expenses?

Conclusion:  No, unless the legal expenses are campaign related.

Subject:  Conflicts of Interest / Interest in a Contract

Requested By:  Dale Dvorak and Ray Branstiter, Nebraska Department of Roads.

Questions Presented:  May the Nebraska Department of Roads contract with one of its own employees to mow a section of the state right-of-way?

Conclusion:  Yes.

Subject:  Campaign Financing / Use of Public Resources

Requested By:  Jim Jensen, State Senator, District 20

Subject: Conflicts of Interest; Interest in a Contract

Requested by: Glenn D. Johnson, Joint Antelope Valley Authority and Barbara Morley, Lower Platte South Natural Resources District

Question Presented: Does a director of an NRD have an interest in a contract with her governing body if the potential contract is between the director and an Interlocal Agency of which the NRD is a member?

Conclusion: No.

Subject:        Conflicts of Interest

Requested By:        Douglas D. Christensen, Commissioner, Nebraska Department of Education

Subject:        Campaign Financing / Use of Public Resources

Requested By:        Pamela A. Redfield, State Senator, District 12

SUBJECT:  Campaign Financing / Use of Campaign Funds

REQUESTED BY:  Vicki Powell, Campaign Manager, Johanns for Governor Committee

QUESTIONS PRESENTED:  (1) When may a gubernatorial campaign pay the campaign expenses of a potential lieutenant governor candidate? (2) What expenses pertaining to the lieutenant governor’s campaign can be paid by the governor candidate committee?

CONCLUSIONS:  See analysis.

SUBJECT: Campaign Financing/Use of Campaign Funds.

REQUESTED BY: Randall Ritnour, treasurer, Defense of Marriage Amendment (DOMA) Committee.

QUESTIONS PRESENTED: (1) May a ballot question committee use campaign funds for the purpose of litigation in support of the ballot question? (2) May a ballot question committee use campaign funds for the purpose of engaging in public debate in support of the ballot question?

CONCLUSIONS: As to Question 1: see analysis.  As to Question 2: see analysis.

Subject: Conflicts of Interest/ Use of Office for Financial Gain

Requested By: Carolyn Johnsen, Reporter and Producer, Nebraska Public Radio

Question Presented: Can a reporter for a state owned radio network use information broadcast by the network to write a book as a private project?

Conclusion: Yes.

Subject: Conflicts of Interest/Use of Office for Financial Gain

Requested by: Janet L. Killiam, Field Representative, Nebraska Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing

Question Presented: Can an employee of the Nebraska Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing operate a private business which sells devices to the hearing impaired?

Conclusion: Yes, but see analysis.