WC Successfully Launches Its First Civic Engagement Forum in Nebraska City
The Heartland Workers Center (HWC) successfully held the first event in a series titled “Breaking Down Your Ballot with HWC – Candidate Edition,” aimed at informing and motivating civic participation ahead of the upcoming presidential elections on November 5. The forum, held on August 20 at the Morton-James Public Library in Nebraska City, brought together local community members and seven state and local candidates, who shared their platforms with the attendees.
Among the candidates were Dan Osborn, candidate for U.S. Senate; Bryan Bequette, current mayor of Nebraska City, running for re-election; Timothy Morgan, candidate for mayor of Nebraska City; Robert Hallstrom, candidate for State Senate in District 1; John Hodges, candidate for the Nebraska City School Board; Jim Nemec, running for re-election to the School Board; and Patrick Wehling, running for re-election as Parks and Recreation Commissioner. Although Sally Schreiner, a candidate for the School Board, was unable to attend due to unforeseen circumstances, a summary of her platform was read to the audience to ensure her vision was shared with the community.
Andrea Hincapié, HWC’s community organizer in Nebraska City and the event’s coordinator, emphasized the importance of these activities, especially for the Spanish-speaking community. “We were motivated to introduce the candidates to the community because, in some of our countries, ballots include the candidate’s photo, making it easier to identify them. Here in the United States, it’s completely different, and we want to help our community understand the differences, be well-informed when voting, and know how the democratic process works in this country,” Hincapié remarked.
During the forum, the candidates addressed key issues that will be on the November ballot, including the U.S. Senate race, the Nebraska City mayoral election, the State Senate, and the School Board elections. Additionally, the paid sick leave proposal was discussed, an initiative that directly affects workers across the state. Attendees showed great interest and asked questions on important topics like affordable housing for low-income individuals. This highlighted the need for more educational events like this to inform the community about the role of their local representatives and the power they hold as voters.
Nebraska City Mayor Bryan Bequette explained how local government works and the crucial role commissioners play in approving city projects. The “Breaking Down Your Ballot with HWC” event underscored the commitment and passion of the candidates for their community, as they answered questions from attendees with sincerity and transparency, demonstrating their dedication to the well-being of Nebraska City.
HWC will continue organizing these events in other Nebraska cities, including Omaha, Columbus, West Point, Fremont, and Schuyler, with the same goal of empowering voters and encouraging informed civic participation.