Slattery brings secretary of state campaign to Lexington
Nebraska native Sarah Slattery stopped by Madeline’s Café and Bakery in Lexington on Friday, Oct. 23, to hear from voters and put a face to the name on their ballots.
Slattery, a Democrat competing in the four-way race for Nebraska secretary of state, is a mother, business owner and chef.
A longtime Cass County resident who resides in Plattsmouth, she holds degrees in graphic design and culinary arts.
Ellie Slattery, left, with her mother Sarah Slattery at Sarah’s campaign stop at Madeline’s in Lexington on Friday, Oct. 23. Ellie is a Junior in high school and Sarah said she is using the opportunity to explore Nebraska while helping with her mother’s campaign
She said her campaign focuses on educating voters about the secretary of state’s responsibilities, building public trust, protecting votes and supporting business growth.
Slattery said she became interested in running for secretary of state after a dispute involving a school board member in her hometown. According to Slattery, residents petitioned to remove the board member, but problems with the paperwork hindered the effort.
She said frustration grew as the board member sought to remove 54 books from school shelves.
“She was villainizing the librarian and accusing parents of grooming their children,” Slattery said.
Slattery said she had previously run for secretary of state, but lacked the support she needed after her local Democratic Party organization fell apart. She said she lost to Robert Evnen, who had the backing of Pete Ricketts.
Despite the loss, Slattery said the experience gave her the tools to help organize a second petition to recall the school board member. The process reinforced her belief that voters need to research candidates.
She said some residents told her they voted for the board member because she was a woman without knowing what she stood for.
“This is why I’m a huge supporter of researching the candidates on your ballot. Don’t just vote for a woman because she’s a woman or the letter by their name. Because not all candidates are created equal,” Slattery said.
Slattery went on to help reestablish her local Democratic Party organization. With its backing, she is competing in this year’s race for secretary of state.
“Running for office is unlike anything else you’ve ever done. It’s like working on the biggest project of your life and then you either have something to show for it or you don’t,” she said.
Slattery believes the next secretary of state should approach the office without a personal political agenda.
She described the role as primarily administrative and said its responsibilities, including service on several boards and commissions, require putting Nebraskans’ interests ahead of party priorities.
“It’s so much more than just elections,” she said.
She said much of her campaign involves explaining the office’s responsibilities to voters.
“By design, it’s administrative. You’re the secretary of the business of the state, and if you’re doing the job right people don’t know that you’re doing it at all. You’re behind the scenes. So I want to get back to that. I want to get back to business as usual, following the rules and bringing back some neutrality,” she said.
Slattery described responsibilities that include overseeing elections and business services, representing Nebraska in international trade, helping forge international partnerships, supporting civic education and serving on state boards and commissions.
She said improving economic development and attracting businesses should be priorities. Modernizing business services and making it easier to open a business in Nebraska would support those goals, she said.
She also emphasized that the secretary of state is responsible for helping count votes and they need to do so without a biased political agenda.
“It’s important that we elect someone to this office that understands the full scope of the job and knows what the implications are if they don’t tackle everything with the attention it deserves,” Slattery said.
She encouraged voters to research each candidate on their ballots and consider who could best do the job.
Regardless of the election’s outcome, Slattery said she plans to remain involved.
“No matter what happens I’m not done showing up for my community.”
For more information about Slattery, go to slatteryfornebraska.com.
