Brad Ashford

Brad Ashford
Nebraska State Senate District 20
Incumbent
In office
1987-1995, 2007-Present
Term ends
January 7, 2015
Years in position (current service)	6
Years in position (previous service)	8
Party	Non-partisan
Compensation
Base salary	$12,000/year
Per diem	$123/day for those living 50+ miles from capitol, otherwise $46/day
Elections and appointments
Last election	November 2, 2010
First elected	2006
Next election	November 4, 2014
Term limits	2 four-year terms
Education
Bachelor's	Colgate University, 1971
J.D.	Creighton University School of Law, 1974
Personal
Birthday	November 10, 1949
Place of birth	Omaha, NE
Profession	Co-Owner, Nebraska Clothing Company
Websites
Office website

Brad Ashford (b. November 10, 1949) is a member of the Nebraska Unicameral representing District 20. He was first elected to this office in November 1986, serving from the time he assumed office in 1987 through early 1995. After a break, Ashford against sought election to the senate and was elected on November 7, 2006.

Ashford voted in favor of Nebraska Legislative Bill 39, to restrict initiative rights in Nebraska.

Born November 11, 1949 in Omaha, Nebraska, Ashford is a graduate of Westside High School, Gustavus Adolphus College, Colgate University, and the Creighton University School of Law. Ashford works as both an attorney and businessman.

Ashford earned his Bachelors degree from Colgate University in 1971 and his Juris Doctor from Creighton University School of Law in 1974.

Ashford began his professional experience in 1974 as an attorney for the General Counsel's Office of the Federal Highway Administration which lasted for one year. In 1975, Ashford began working as an attorney for Bradford and Cohen and he would continue to work there until 2003. In the mean time, starting in 1983, he began to work as a hearing examiner for the Nebraska Department of Education until 1984. In that year, he became a judge for the Nebraska Court of Industrial Relations for two years, his serivce ending in 1986. In 1998, he became the vice president and business development investor of Discoverwhy.com and he is currently the co-owner of the Nebraska Clothing Company, which began in 1993.

Ashford was a senator for the Nebraska Legislature from 1987 to 1995.

Ashford was involved in a number of organizations, including the Omaha Housing Authority, American Arbitration Association, American Bar Association, Downtown Omaha, Incorporated, Minnesota Bar Association, Nebraska Bar Association, Nebraska Bar Foundation, Nebraska Court of Industrial Relations, Old Market Association, Omaha Bar Association, Omaha Housing Authority, Omaha Suburban Rotary, RACECO, Salvation Army Advisory Board, and the Westside High School Open Enrollment Committee.

Ashford served on a few non-legislative committees, including the Commission of Industrial Relations, Douglas County Efficiency Committee, Downtown Business Improvement District, and the Metropolitan Omaha Convention Sports Entertainment Authority.

Committee assignments

2013-2014

At the beginning of the 2013 legislative session, Ashford served on the following committees:

Nebraska Committee Assignments, 2013
• Business and Labor
• Judiciary, Chair
• Urban Affairs

2011-2012

In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Ashford served on these committees:

Nebraska Committee Assignments, 2011
• Business and Labor
• Judiciary, Chair
• Urban Affairs

2009-2010

In the 2009-2010 legislative session, Ashford served on these committees:

Nebraska Committee Assignments, 2009
• Education
• Judiciary

Issues

Tax reform

On January 22, 2013, Ashford and Senator Beau McCoy introduced two tax reform bills on behalf of Governor Dave Heineman which were referred to the Revenue Committee. LB 405 would repeal the state personal and corporate income taxes while also eliminating $2.4 billion worth of sales tax exemptions. The more limited LB 406 would repeal just the corporate income tax and eliminate $400 million worth of sales tax exemptions while also exempting up to $12,000 of retirement income from the income tax. The Platte Institute for Economic Research, a pro-market think tank, supported eliminating both the personal and corporate income taxes. On February 13, after his tax reform proposals had met with significant opposition from businesses and others who would have been affected by eliminating the sales tax exemptions, Heineman said he wanted the bills pulled so that Revenue Committee Chairman Galen Hadley could develop a more comprehensive tax reform plan. McCoy agreed with the governor's request, but Ashford only wanted to do so if the legislature adopted a moratorium on new sales tax exemptions during the development of the new plan.

Endorsement

On September 21, 2011, Senator Deb Fischer announced that Ashford is one of thirteen State Senators in the Nebraska Unicameral that have endorsed her candidacy for the U.S. Senate.

Elections

2010

See also: Nebraska State Senate elections, 2010

On November 2, 2010, Ashford was re-elected to the 20th District Seat in the Nebraska Senate. Ashford ran unopposed in the general election..

2006

On November 7, 2006, Ashford won re-election to the 20th District Seat in the Nebraska Senate, defeating Carol Casey.

Nebraska State Senate, District 20 (2006)
Candidates		Votes
Brad Ashford		6,913
Carol Casey		4,920

Campaign donors

Comprehensive donor information for Ashford is available dating back to 2006. Based on available campaign finance records, Ashford raised a total of $174,827 during that time period. This information was last updated on May 22, 2013.

Brad Ashford's Campaign Contribution History
Year	Office	Result	Contributions
2012	Nebraska State Senate, District 20		$2,500
2010	Nebraska State Senate, District 20		$48,125
2008	Nebraska State Senate, District 20		$39,100
2006	Nebraska State Senate, District 20		$85,102
Grand Total Raised			$174,827

2012

Ashford was not up for election to the Nebraska State Senate in 2012. During that election cycle, Ashford raised a total of $2,500.

Nebraska State Senate 2012 election - Campaign Contributions
Top contributors to Brad Ashford's campaign in 2012
Yanney, Michael	$1,000
Nebraska Cooperative Council	$500
Nebraska Dental Association	$500
Reynolds American, Inc.	$500
Total Raised in 2012	$2,500
Source:Follow the Money

2010

Ashford won re-election to the Nebraska State Senate in 2010. During that election cycle, Ashford raised a total of $48,125.

Nebraska State Senate 2010 election - Campaign Contributions
Top contributors to Brad Ashford's campaign in 2010
Nebraska Association Of Trial Attorneys	$4,000
Holland, Richard D.	$3,500
Union Pacific Railroad	$2,500
Ag Processing	$2,000
Nebraska Association Of Insurance & Financial Advisors	$2,000
Total Raised in 2010	$48,125
Source:Follow the Money

2008

Ashford was not up for election to the Nebraska State Senate in 2008. During that election cycle, Ashford raised a total of $39,100.

Nebraska State Senate 2008 election - Campaign Contributions
Top contributors to Brad Ashford's campaign in 2008
Richard Holland	$2,500
DCB, Inc.	$2,500
Nebraska Association of Trial Attorneys	$2,000
Union Pacific Railroad	$2,000
Rogers, Thompson & Jane	$1,500
Total Raised in 2008	$39,100
Source:Follow the Money

2006

Ashford won election to the Nebraska State Senate in 2006. During that election cycle, Ashford raised a total of $85,102.

Nebraska State Senate 2006 election - Campaign Contributions
Top contributors to Brad Ashford's campaign in 2006
Smith Roy	$5,000
Greater Omaha Chamber Of Commerce	$5,000
Nebraska Realtors Association	$3,000
Rogers Thompson	$2,500
Estate Trust Herman	$2,500
Total Raised in 2006	$85,102
Source:Follow the Money

Judiciary Committee activities

Ashford is the chairman of the Legislature’s Judiciary Committee.

In June 2010, a controversial piece of immigration legislation found arrived on the Judiciary Committee's desk. The ordinance passed.

Ashford said the courts are far more likely to look favorably on the “employment piece of the Fremont ordinance than the renter piece.”

Ashford also downplayed allegations by some of Fremont’s critics who contend the vote was a racist attack against Hispanics. According to Ashford he “can’t look into the hearts of everybody,” but he is convinced the majority of Nebraskans want the federal government to protect the borders and enforce the immigration laws already on the books.

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Contact information

Sen. Brad Ashford
Room 1103, State Capitol
Lincoln, NE 68509
Phone: (402) 471-2622
E-mail: bashford@leg.ne.gov

Personal

Ashford and his wife, Ann, have three children

External links

Suggest a link

• Brad Ashford's official campaign website
• Brad Ashford's official Nebraska State legislature website
• Project Vote Smart biographical profile
• Campaign Contributions: 2010, 2008, 2006

References

Political offices
Preceded by -	Nebraska State Senate District 20 1987–1995, 2007-present	Succeeded by NA