Burke Harr
Burke Harr (b. October 13, 1971) is a former Democratic member of the Nebraska State Senate, representing District 8 from 2011 to 2019.[1]
Harr was unable to run for re-election in 2018 to the Nebraska State Senate because of term limits.
Biography
Harr earned his B.A. from the University of St. Thomas in 1994 and his J.D. from the University of Notre Dame Law School in 1998. His professional experience includes working as a founding partner at Flatwater Strategies and as an attorney at Kutak Rock and Douglas County Attorney's Office.
Committee assignments
2017 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2017 legislative session, this legislator served on the following committees:
| Nebraska committee assignments, 2017 |
|---|
| • Agriculture |
| • General Affairs |
| • Revenue |
2015 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2015 legislative session, Harr served on the following committees:
| Nebraska committee assignments, 2015 |
|---|
| • Agriculture |
| • Business and Labor, Chair |
| • Revenue |
2013-2014
In the 2013-2014 legislative session, Harr served on the following committees:
| Nebraska committee assignments, 2013 |
|---|
| • Agriculture |
| • Business and Labor, Vice Chair |
| • Revenue |
2011-2012
In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Harr served on the following committees:
| Nebraska committee assignments, 2011 |
|---|
| • Agriculture |
| • Business and Labor |
| • Judiciary |
Campaign themes
2014
Harr's website highlighted the following campaign themes:[2]
Crime
- Excerpt: "Burke is firmly committed to strengthening Nebraska’s laws to make sure that those who seek to destroy our families and communities by will be met with swift and certain accountability through our criminal justice system. To honor this commitment, Burke will be introducing legislation on behalf of the Attorney General’s office to get tough on crime this current session."
Taxes
- Excerpt: "Burke has heard from many Nebraska seniors who are struggling to pay the property taxes on their homes. Some are receiving Meals on Wheels to get the food and nutrition they need. He has also heard from working families who are also struggling to make ends meet. That is why Burke will fight for solutions to high property taxes and crime with tax relief and affordable housing."
Economic Development and Job Creation
- Excerpt: "Burke also recognizes that government can play an important role in providing incentives that cultivate redevelopment and foster new job creation, helping pass important legislation that updated the Nebraska Advantage Act."
Education
- Excerpt: "Nebraska’s future lies in our children. Every child in this state, regardless of where they live or the circumstances he or she is born into, deserves a quality education."
Environment
- Excerpt: "Burke is committed to protecting Nebraska’s natural resources. Burke also understands the importance of Nebraska’s role in providing the renewable energy we need to reduce our dependence on foreign oil."
2012
Harr's website highlighted the following campaign issues:
- Crime
- Excerpt: "Burke Harr is firmly committed to strengthening Nebraska’s laws to make sure that those who seek to destroy our families and communities by perpetrating horrendous acts will be met with swift and certain accountability through our criminal justice system."
- Taxes
- Excerpt: "Burke understands that government must run more like a business. In tough economic times, businesses cut back on unneeded expenses. We must look to eliminate unnecessary positions, obtain efficiencies through innovation and technology and consolidate where possible."
- Economic Development
- Excerpt: "Burke understands the importance that small businesses play in making our economy strong. Burke also has years of experience working on legal matters for some of our country’s major businesses."
- Education
- Excerpt: "Burke understands that we are at a crossroads in education. The stakes could never be higher. Nearly two-thirds of our property tax payments goes to fund Education, but it seems that the problems in our schools are only multiplying."
- Environment
- Excerpt: "Burke understands that the existing state and federal laws are thwarting wind energy development. Burke is committed to creating legislation that will allow our public power districts and private industries to overcome the obstacles that have stymied this industry."
Sponsored legislation
The following table lists bills this person sponsored as a legislator, according to BillTrack50 and sorted by action history. Bills are sorted by the date of their last action. The following list may not be comprehensive. To see all bills this legislator sponsored, click on the legislator's name in the title of the table.
Elections
2018
- See also: Nebraska State Senate elections, 2018
Burke Harr was not able to file for re-election due to term limits.
2014
- See also: Nebraska State Senate elections, 2014
Elections for the Nebraska State Senate took place in 2014. A primary election took place on May 13, 2014. The general election took place on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for challengers wishing to run in this election was March 3, 2014, two days after the statutory deadline, which fell on a Saturday. Incumbents were required to file for election by February 18, 2014, three days after the statutory deadline, which fell on the Saturday prior to Presidents Day. Incumbent Burke Harr defeated Gwenn Aspen in the general election. Both candidates were unopposed in the primary election.[3][4][5]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent |  Burke Harr Incumbent |
55.2% | 4,834 | |
| Independent | Gwenn Aspen | 44.8% | 3,916 | |
| Total Votes | 8,750 | |||
2010
- See also: Nebraska State Senate elections, 2010
On November 2, 2010, Harr won election to the 8th District Seat in the Nebraska Senate, defeating John Comstock.[6]
| Nebraska State Senate, District 8 General election (2010) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | |||
| Burke Harr
|
3,257 | |||
| John Comstock | 3,101 | |||
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
Scorecards
A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.
Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.
Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of Nebraska scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.
2018
In 2018, the Nebraska Unicameral Legislature was in its 106th Legislature, 2nd session from January 3 to April 18.
- Holland Children's Movement: 2018 scorecard
- Legislators are scored on children's issues.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues.
- Nebraska Chamber of Commerce & Industry: 2018 Legislative Voting Record
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
2017
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2017, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2017, the Nebraska Unicameral Legislature was in its 105th Legislature, 1st session from January 4 to May 23.
|
2016
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2016, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2016, the Nebraska Unicameral Legislature was in its 104th Legislature, 2nd session from January 6 to April 20.
|
2015
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2015, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2015, the Nebraska Unicameral Legislature was in its 104th Legislature, 1st session from January 7 to May 29.
|
2014
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2014, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2014, the Nebraska Unicameral Legislature was in its 103rd Legislature, 2nd session from January 8 to April 17.[7]
|
2013
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2013, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2013, the Nebraska Unicameral Legislature was in its 103rd Legislature, 1st session from January 9 to June 5.
|
2012
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2012, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2012, the Nebraska Unicameral Legislature was in its 102nd Legislature, 2nd session from January 4 to April 18.
|
2011
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2011, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2011, the Nebraska Unicameral Legislature was in its 102nd Legislature, 1st session from January 5 to June 8.
|
Personal
Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Harr and his wife, Jennifer, have one child.
Recent news
This section links to a Google news search for the term "Burke + Harr + Nebraska + Senate"
See also
- Nebraska State Senate
- Legislature Committees
- Nebraska State Senate elections, 2014
- Nebraska state legislative districts
External links
- Profile from Open States
- Sen. Bruce Harr on Twitter
- Campaign Facebook paged
- Bruce Harr on Twitter
- Biography from Project Vote Smart
- Campaign contributions via OpenSecrets
Footnotes
- ↑ Note: Although the Nebraska State Senate elects its members in nonpartisan elections, members of the chamber generally function along party lines when it comes to voting and caucusing. Please see Nebraska State Senate partisan affiliation for more information.
- ↑ burkeharr.com, "Issues," accessed March 14, 2014
- ↑ Nebraska Secretary of State, "Official Results of Nebraska Primary Election," accessed July 7, 2014
- ↑ Nebraska Secretary of State, "Statewide Candidate List," accessed March 21, 2014
- ↑ Nebraska Secretary of State, "Official Results: General Election - November 4, 2014," accessed December 14, 2014
- ↑ Nebraska Secretary of State, "Official Report of the Board of State Canvassers of the State of Nebraska - General Election - November 2, 2010," accessed February 15, 2014
- ↑ Nebraska Legislature, "2014 Legislative Session," accessed June 27, 2014
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Tom White |
Nebraska State Senate District 8 2011–2019 |
Succeeded by Megan Hunt |
