Petersen Calls for Full Financial Disclosure of Evnen’s Pre-Primary “Transparency Tour”

LINCOLN, NE – With early voting underway and the May 12 primary just weeks away, Secretary of State Bob Evnen has launched a five-day “Election Transparency Tour” across Nebraska.

Scott Petersen, Republican candidate for Secretary of State, is calling for full public disclosure of how the tour is being funded.

“If Nebraska truly has the ‘gold standard’ of elections, then why the sudden need for a statewide ‘transparency tour’ weeks before a primary?” Petersen asked. “And more importantly... who is paying for it?”

The campaign is raising straightforward, logical questions:

1. Are travel, lodging, meals, and staff time being paid by taxpayers?

2. Are any expenses being covered by the campaign or outside groups?

3. Are in-kind contributions being properly reported?

Under Nebraska Accountability and Disclosure Commission (NADC) rules, any activity that benefits a campaign must be disclosed. The next required campaign finance filing covering activity through April 27, is due May 4.

“That means voters will soon see whether this tour is truly official business, or something else,” Petersen said.

Taxpayer-Funded Campaigning?

“If this is a campaign tour, it must be reported,” Petersen said. “If it’s official business, taxpayers deserve to know the full cost.”

There is no gray area. Every dollar must fall into one of two categories:

1. Campaign expense

2. Taxpayer-funded government activity

“Nebraskans deserve receipts, not rhetoric,” Petersen said.

The Petersen campaign is calling on State Auditor Mike Foley to ensure full transparency and compliance. The timing of the tour, just weeks before Election Day, raises additional concerns.

“If voters already trust the system, this tour is unnecessary,” Petersen said. “If they don’t, then we should be having a serious conversation and not staging a pre-election tour. This office belongs to the people of Nebraska, not to incumbents using taxpayer resources or blurred lines to promote themselves. Nebraskans deserve transparency, not a transparency tour.”