Kent Rogert
Kent Rogert (b. September 15, 1972) is a former member of the Nebraska Unicameral, representing District 16 from 2007 to 2010.
Although Nebraska state senators run for office on a nonpartisan basis with no party affiliation listed by their name on the ballot, Rogert identified himself as a Democrat.[1]
Biography
Rogert graduated from Tekamah-Herman High School and earned his B.S. in Agricultural Economics from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 1995. His professional experience includes working as a farm business consultant.[2]
Issues
Initiative restrictions
In 2009, Rogert proposed Nebraska Legislative Bill 575 (2009) which, if enacted, would require the Nebraska Secretary of State to order circulation of petitions to be suspended if the Nebraska Attorney General determines there is probable cause to prosecute someone for breaking a petition law.[3]
Rogert voted in favor of Nebraska Legislative Bill 39, to restrict initiative rights in Nebraska.[4]
Wrongful convictions
Rogert successfully sponsored a bill in the 2009 legislative session to provide compensation for those wrongly convicted of crimes in Nebraska.[1]
Alcohol in state parks
In 2009, Rogert sponsored an unsuccessful bill that would legalize alcohol in Nebraska's state parks.[1]
Elections
2010
- See also: Nebraska State Senate elections, 2010
Rogert came in first in the primary, besting Lydia Brasch by a margin of 2,495-2,268. Rogert was defeated by Brasch in the November 2, 2010, general election.[5]
| Nebraska State Senate, District 16 General election (2010) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | |||
 Lydia Brasch
|
4,796 | |||
| Kent Rogert | 4,300 | |||
2006
- See also: Nebraska State Senate elections, 2006
On November 7, 2006, Rogert won election to the 16th District Seat in the Nebraska Senate, defeating Jeff Bush.[6]
| Nebraska State Senate, District 16 (2006) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | |||
| Kent Rogert
|
6,066 | |||
| Jeff Bush | 2,956 | |||
Campaign finance summary
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Noteworthy events
Sales tax on boat
An investigation by Nebraska Watchdog in October 2009 showed that Rogert had not paid the sales tax on his high performance boat that normally would have been due when he purchased the boat, because he has a boat dealer registration number. Boat dealers in Nebraska do not have to pay sales taxes on the boats in their dealership's inventory.[7][8]
Boat dealers are not licensed in Nebraska, according to Betty Johnson , Administrator of Driver and Vehicle Records for the Nebraska Department of Motor Vehicles.[7] According to Paul Davis, who owns the Omaha Marine Center, people can walk in to the treasurer’s office, claim to be a boat dealer and walk out without paying the sales tax on a boat purchase.[7]
Questions arose about when Rogert purchased the boat. He told the Lincoln Journal Star in October 2009 that he purchased the boat in 2003. However, in a 2007 story in that same newspaper, Rogert told them, "...this particular boat I got in 2001."[9]
Rogert declined to tell either the Nebraska Watchdog or the Lincoln Journal Star what the boat cost. Boat dealers interviewed by the Nebraska Watchdog estimated that a 1996 Baja purchased in 2002 would have sold for about $40,000. The sales tax on that purchase in 2002 would have been about $3,000.[7]
Rogert, as a state legislator, was required to file a Statement of Financial Interests. His statement did not indicate that he sold boats.[10]
In the wake of the investigation, the Lincoln Journal Star said the law that allowed Rogert to avoid paying the sales tax on his boat purchase should be changed: "But Rogert has reaped one sizable benefit from “dabbling” – his word – in boat dealing, Joe Jordan reported on the Internet site Nebraska Watchdog. By filing as a dealer, Rogert was able to avoid paying sales tax on the 1996 310-horsepower Baja 272 he purchased in 2003."[11]
Recent news
This section links to a Google news search for the term "Kent + Rogert + Nebraska + Senate"
External links
- Kent Rogert's official campaign website
- Legislative profile from Project Vote Smart
- Biography from Project Vote Smart
- Kent Rogert on Wikipedia
- Campaign Contributions: 2010, 2008, 2006
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Omaha World Herald, "Sen. Rogert will seek re-election," October 9, 2009
- ↑ Project Vote Smart, "Biography of Sen. Kent Rogert," accessed November 18, 2014
- ↑ www.1011now.com, "Hearing Set on Neb. Bill on Petition Circulators," March 7, 2009
- ↑ Nebraska State Legislature, "LB39 - Provide restrictions relating to petition circulation and change campaign reporting provisions," accessed May 13, 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 Secretary of State, "2006 General Election Results," accessed April 10, 2014
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Nebraska Watchdog, "Lawmaker Blasts News Report as Questions Grow," October 27, 2009
- ↑ Lincoln Journal Star, "Watchdog report: Senator did not pay sales tax on boat," October 26, 2009
- ↑ Lincoln Journal Star, "Fresh faced: Kent Rogert," March 24, 2007
- ↑ Nebraska Watchdog, "Exclusive: State Lawmaker and His Speedboat Slip the Taxman," October 25, 2009
- ↑ Lincoln Journal Star, "Close boat-sized loophole," October 29, 2009
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Matt Connealy |
Nebraska State Senate District 16 2007–2010 |
Succeeded by Lydia Brasch |
