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RANDOLPH – Nebraska is an exceptionally large state, but one might not realize just how large it is until starting a gubernatorial campaign.
“It’s difficult to get everywhere,” said Sheila Korth-Focken on her decision to schedule video conferences to get her campaign messages out.
She started with a video conference targeted at those in Cedar and Pierce counties last week.
“I started out with what I consider my home – Cedar County, Pierce County,” the Randolph native said. “I’ve campaigned everywhere from minimum maintenance roads to grocery stores, plus a lot of phone calls, Facebook messages, emails, website messages and Zoom meetings.”
Korth-Focken is a 2004 Randolph High School graduate who earned a degree from the University of Nebraska at Omaha in economics and management information systems. She received the Truman Scholarship in 2007, which took her to D.C. and then a fellows program where she worked for former Congressman Jeff Fortenberry. In 2009, Korth completed her master’s degree in environmental policy from The London School of Economics and Political Science.
Korth moved to the Omaha area next and went to work for budget watchdog group Taxpayers for Common Sense (TCS) for two years. Motherhood ushered in a handful of years doing consulting work for agriculture and energy policy focused nonprofit organizations before returning to work for TCS while living in Omaha and for a time in Scotland.
In 2024, she came back home to Randolph where she worked as the city administrator for a year. She was fired after a dispute with Mayor Dwayne Schutt. She has since moved to the Sandhills area and is currently working as a consultant for non-profits aimed at saving taxpayer dollars and improving opportunities for Nebraska's farmers and ranchers.
She’s always known she would run for office and was encouraged by a mentor who has also worked in state and national politics.
“I’ve talked about this for a very long time. It’s not a surprise to anyone who knows me well,” she said. “It wasn’t until recently that I decided I couldn’t wait any longer to join the race.
She said over the past five years she’s sought help from taxpayer-funded police, Child Protective Services, schools, courts, and even Gov. Jim Pillen to protect children from being abused at school and home.
“The system is failing miserably and wasting millions of dollars in the process,” she said.
Korth-Focken used the video conference to talk briefly about key issues including the need to bolster veterans’ care and services, as well as reduce wasteful spending but she mainly wanted to hear from the people about their specific issues.
At last week’s Pierce and Cedar County focused videoconference, concerns were raised about a carbon pipeline running through northeast Nebraska and companies wanting to use eminent domain. There’s currently a bill being considered by the Legislature’s Natural Resources committee that would ban eminent domain for such pipelines.
Other issues raised from across the state include payment cuts to those with disabilities, and the state not following through with voters’ wishes related to medical marijuana, and high taxes, especially inheritance tax.
She’s heard from leaders in small towns worried about population loss. “Small towns can attract families who work from home or start small businesses, but it is hard now with such high taxes in our state,” Korth-Focken said. “Every small town has its strengths, and every strategy will be different but protecting Nebraskans and putting more money in people's pockets are priorities No. 1 and No. 2.”
Korth-Focken said it’s not easy running a campaign while also being a mom, animal caretaker and self-employed, but it’s been a worthwhile endeavor. The only thing that’s surprised her so far is the lack of acknowledgment she even exists from her opponent – Gov. Jim Pillen – and some of the media.
“I believe we need a significant change in leadership in our state now, or our kids and grandkids won't know the good life,” she said.
Korth-Focken said she hopes her campaign speaks to her character as a leader.
“As governor, I'll pick up the phone, meet with Nebraskans, and help them,” she said. “I will work for Nebraskans. They are who pays my salary and I will work tirelessly for them.”
