Charles Herbster’s run to be Nebraska’s next governor kicked off Monday south of Fremont with a ringing endorsement from a former New Jersey blueberry princess.
Kellyanne Conway, who served as a senior counsel to President Donald J. Trump, won the princess title as a teenager in the 1980s, Herbster told the Heartland Country Barn crowd. Her code name from the Secret Service was “Blueberry.”
Prior to Herbster’s speech, Conway said that the Falls City rancher and agri-businessman is the right choice as the state’s next governor.
“The thing I really admire about Charles Herbster is he believes in liberty and justice for all,” she said. “He does believe in equality of opportunity for all. He also does believe in making and keeping the good life great for all Nebraskans.”
Conway also lauded Herbster’s choice of former Douglas County Republican Party chairwoman Theresa Thibodeau as his running mate.
“Theresa and Charles are a great team,” Conway said. “They will be a great governor and lieutenant governor for the state of Nebraska because they are doing it for the right reasons. They are one of you and I ask you today to think very deeply about the leadership moving forward for your great state. I know you will agree that it should be Charles Herbster and Theresa Thibodeau.”
The GOP candidate operates Herbster Angus Farms in Falls City and is the owner and CEO of Conklin Company — a Kansas City-based agriculture and manufacturing distribution company.
Herbster talked about his experience as an agriculture advisor for Trump, calling him “the greatest president of my lifetime.” He said he would rather be loyal to Trump than win by being disloyal to him.
The businessman didn’t get into great detail about his campaign, but said he and Thibodeau are prepared to make state improvements.
“Today is a day of celebration,” Herbster said. “We’re not going to get into heavy things, but I can tell you this … you already saw a sampling on how my lieutenant governor and I are going to fight for the best Nebraska we’ve ever had tax-wise, education-wise, immigration (and) all the things that are important to all of us.”
Herbster is confident he can influence voters to choose him as the successor to Gov. Pete Ricketts. The current governor can’t run in 2022 due to term limits.
“I want you to know that I love this state,” Herbster said. “Here is what I want you to think about today as you go out and talk to your friends and family. I really believe with the team that we’ve put together, we can win.”
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