The Secretary of State Should Mind the Store, Not the Safari

GUEST CONTRIBUTOR

By Kirk Penner

While Nebraskans are back home working to balance their own books and navigate a tightening economy, Secretary of State Bob Evnen has seemingly been more interested in expanding his frequent flyer miles and his sense of self-importance. His recent trade missions to Kenya have revealed a disturbing pattern: a state official operating outside his legal authority, spending taxpayer-associated funds with reckless abandon, and making promises he has no power to keep.

The optics from Nairobi are, frankly, shameful. While the Secretary’s office claims these trips were focused on "agriculture," Kenyan media stories and official government portals tell a different story. The State Department for Diaspora Affairs in Kenya hailed a "partnership" aimed at "labor mobility," specifically targeting the recruitment of Kenyan workers to fill workforce shortages in Nebraska.

Most egregious was the "CDL controversy." Despite having absolutely zero authority over driver licensure or immigration—a fact Governor Jim Pillen was forced to publicly clarify—Evnen was quoted in Kenyan media suggesting that "labor mobility with commercial driver’s licenses" was a primary pillar of the deal. He allegedly spoke of Kenyan drivers finishing their training in Nebraska, a claim that sent shockwaves through the Nebraska trucking community and forced companies like Werner Enterprises to issue public denials. For a Secretary of State to overstep his constitutional bounds and essentially "trade" Nebraska jobs he doesn’t control is the height of presumption.

Then there is the matter of the bill. Reports of members of Evnen's delegation enjoying a safari and staying in luxury hotel rooms have sparked a state audit. While Evnen hides behind the technicality of federal grants, the principle remains: government officials should not be treating international trade missions like personal luxury vacations. It is a waste of resources and a slap in the face to every Nebraskan who expects their leaders to act as sober stewards of the public trust.

Even Governor Pillen has distanced himself, stating clearly that the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed in Kenya is exclusively between Secretary Evnen and the Kenyan government. When the Governor has to issue a "not my problem" statement regarding a fellow constitutional officer, it is clear the situation has gone off the rails.

Nebraska deserves a Secretary of State who focuses on the "State" part of the title, not the "Secretary of Global Travel." Fortunately, a change is on the horizon.

Candidate Scott Petersen is running to take the office back to its core mission. With over 30 years of small business experience, Petersen understands what it actually means to make payroll and balance a budget without the safety net of a government checkbook.

Petersen has promised to manage the Secretary of State’s office with a "DOGE-style" attitude, referencing the Department of Government Efficiency. He intends to conduct a top-to-bottom audit to eliminate the kind of waste and "safari-style" spending that has characterized the current administration.

It is time to return the office to a leader who respects the limits of his authority and prioritizes transparency over tourism. Nebraska needs a business-minded professional who will keep his eyes on our local economy rather than luxury hotel stays in East Africa.

Please go vote in the May 12th Primary to ensure your voice is heard and to hold our state's leadership accountable.