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Connie Petersen
From Ballotpedia
This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.
Connie Petersen ran for election to the Nebraska State Senate to represent District 16. She lost in the general election on November 8, 2022.
Petersen completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2022. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Connie Petersen was born in Fremont, Nebraska. She earned a bachelor's degree from Wayne State College in 1999, a graduate degree from New Mexico State University in 2021, and a Ph.D. from Wichita State University in 2007. Her career experience includes working as a clinical psychologist and clinical director.[1]
Elections
2022
See also: Nebraska State Senate elections, 2022
General election
General election for Nebraska State Senate District 16
Incumbent Ben Hansen defeated Connie Petersen in the general election for Nebraska State Senate District 16 on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Ben Hansen (Nonpartisan) | 70.3 | 9,744 |
 | Connie Petersen (Nonpartisan)  | 29.7 | 4,123 | |
| Total votes: 13,867 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Nonpartisan primary election
Nonpartisan primary for Nebraska State Senate District 16
Incumbent Ben Hansen and Connie Petersen advanced from the primary for Nebraska State Senate District 16 on May 10, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Ben Hansen (Nonpartisan) | 74.0 | 6,470 |
| ✔ | | Connie Petersen (Nonpartisan) | 26.0 | 2,276 |
| Total votes: 8,746 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Campaign themes
2022
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Connie Petersen completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2022. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Petersen's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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My name is Connie Petersen (also known as Connie Depperman). I was born and raised in Washington County, NE and currently live in rural Stanton County, NE. I am a wife and mother of 5. I am a Psychologist and Clinical Director for a behavioral health and addiction treatment program in Northeast Nebraska. My husband and I own a small gun store in northeast Nebraska. I grew up a farm kid. The Depperman’s were involved in 4-H, agriculture and raising animals in Washington County. I continue this passion today with my own children. They are in 4-H, I am a 4-H leader for the Springbranch 4-H club. I want to see our rural youth have a strong voice across this state and give them the opportunities within agriculture. I am a psychologist by trade and want to make the health and safety of our citizens a high priority in order for us to be a sustainable state.
- ADDRESS RURAL HEALTH NEEDS: The health and safety of our citizens needs to be of highest priority in order for us to be a sustainable state. We need to support our workers in public safety, healthcare, and human services. In the rural settings, the needs are plentiful and the resources are scarce. We need improved services and access to care. We need creative plans to address the workforce shortage in our hospitals, our small clinics, our nursing homes, our volunteer fire and rescue departments, and our behavioral health and addiction treatment programs. We need young professionals with passion in various health professions, sites to train them, and then to retain them here in Nebraska and preferably in our rural areas.
- REDUCE TAX BURDEN: We all can agree we need to live within our means and decrease overspending in order to promote a stable economy. I would expect the same of our government. Nebraska is seen as a “high tax state.” A black mark if we want to see economic growth and prosperity in our state. High tax rates reduce economic growth and create outbound migration to lower-tax states. This must change. We need to move in line on a number of levels with our northern neighbor, South Dakota. Their tax system makes sense and supports a prosperous state.
- ENHANCE YOUTH LEADERSHIP, FARMING AND AGRICULTURE: Growing up, our family was involved in 4-H, agriculture and raising animals I continue this passion on my own farm and with my own children. We are actively involved in 4-H. I have a desire to develop youth leadership skills. After all, they are the future of agriculture and farming. We must be good stewards of our land, support our farmers and agriculture. Much of the land in Nebraska is passed down from generation to generation, is very fertile, and can allow for a prosperous state for agriculture. We must support our economy by "Buying Local" to continue to sustain our small towns. We need strong telecommunication capabilities to improve efficiency and services.
Second Amendment Rights, Constitutional Rights, Drug Policy, Criminal Justice Reform, Taxes, Parental involvement in Education, Health Services
I have always looked up to Connie Barnes, previous Executive Director for Behavioral Health Specialists. Connie was a strong supporter of behavioral health and addiction services across rural Nebraska. She spoke up about the needs within our rural areas and was a strong voice for those who otherwise did not feel their voices were heard. Connie was actively involved in Nebraska Association of Behavioral Health Organizations and offered a breath of knowledge about providing comprehensive behavioral health and addiction services.
Integrity, Openness, Dependability, and Valuing Differences
Integrity, Openness, Dependability, and Valuing Differences
To represent the values and beliefs of their constituents.
Am I the Only One by Aaron Lewis
State representatives are responsible for being the voice of the constituents of their district. The constituents communicate their values, thoughts, and beliefs to the representative, and the representative has a responsibility to represent their district's values, thoughts, and beliefs. As a result of this relationship and communication strategy, the governor is able to understand the values, thoughts, and beliefs across the state of Nebraska in order to make a final decision about laws.
Based on watching a number of debates over this last legislative session, it appears a number of representatives have a personal agenda and may not be representing the total values, thoughts, and beliefs of their district. The heightened emotional reactions of some representatives in open session does not represent the state of Nebraska very well. It appears additional conversations are necessary prior to debate to allow for a more unified unicameral.
I do not believe state legislators need to have previous experience in government or politics in order to be an effective and efficient representative of their district. In fact, being able to be more similar to the constituents of their district may allow for more open lines of communication and better representation.
It is incredibly beneficial to build healthy relationships with as many legislators as possible in order for their to be a unified voice in the unicameral.
DHHS Committee would be a preferred committee.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
See also
2022 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on April 18, 2022
Current members of the Nebraska State Senate
Leadership
Senate President:John Arch
Senators
District 1
Robert Hallstrom (R)
District 2
Robert Clements (R)
District 3
Victor Rountree (N)
District 4
R. von Gillern (R)
District 5
Margo Juarez (D)
District 6
District 7
Dunixi Guereca (D)
District 8
Megan Hunt (N)
District 9
John Cavanaugh (D)
District 10
Wendy DeBoer (D)
District 11
Terrell McKinney (D)
District 12
Merv Riepe (R)
District 13
Ashlei Spivey (D)
District 14
John Arch (R)
District 15
Dave Wordekemper (R)
District 16
Ben Hansen (R)
District 17
Glen Meyer (R)
District 18
District 19
Rob Dover (R)
District 20
John Fredrickson (D)
District 21
Beau Ballard (R)
District 22
Mike Moser (R)
District 23
Jared Storm (R)
District 24
Jana Hughes (R)
District 25
Carolyn Bosn (R)
District 26
George Dungan (D)
District 27
Jason Prokop (D)
District 28
Jane Raybould (D)
District 29
Eliot Bostar (D)
District 30
Myron Dorn (R)
District 31
Kathleen Kauth (R)
District 32
Tom Brandt (R)
District 33
Dan Lonowski (R)
District 34
Loren Lippincott (R)
District 35
Dan Quick (D)
District 36
Rick Holdcroft (R)
District 37
Stanley Clouse (R)
District 38
Dave Murman (R)
District 39
Tony Sorrentino (R)
District 40
Barry DeKay (R)
District 41
Daniel McKeon (R)
District 42
Michael Jacobson (R)
District 43
Tanya Storer (R)
District 44
Teresa Ibach (R)
District 45
Rita Sanders (R)
District 46
Danielle Conrad (D)
District 47
Paul Strommen (R)
District 48
Brian Hardin (R)
District 49
Bob Andersen (R)
Republican Party (33)
Democratic Party (14)
Nonpartisan (2)
