The battle for District 39 is becoming one of the hottest local races ahead of the Tuesday primary.
A barrage of claims and attacks in mailers as well as flyers in people’s mailboxes mocking the opponent have flooded the legislative district.
The district spans from west Omaha, Elkhorn to Valley and beyond. The seat is currently held by Senator Beau McCoy but he’s term limited out. Now three candidates are vying for a spot in the primary. Lou Ann Linehan, Patrick Borchers and Bill Armbrust are all campaigning in the district to clinch at least the top two spots to move on to the general election.
“I was prepared for it and we've responded the way we need to respond,” said Borchers.
Borchers is talking about a flyer showing him and a pig with words saying ‘Attorney Pat Borchers is running a dirty campaign’.
“It wasn't very flattering,” said Borchers.
So Borchers responded, sending out a flying bashing Linehan with ‘I’ve moved!’, “I’m new to the neighborhood”. On the back of the flyer it says ‘I’m back in Nebraska after all these years being a Washington D.C. insider, bureaucrat and lobbyist.
Linehan said those are unfair attacks.
“My husband and I have owned property and been taxpayers in Nebraska ever since we got married in 1980, the only time I haven't I was working for Nebraska or in Iraq,” said Linehan.
Borshers said the only reason he sent the flyers out is because Linehan threw out the first punch, but that’s something Linehan denies.
“No,” simply said Linehan.
The lone Democrat in the race, farmer Bill Armbrust is watching from afar, trying to stay out of the mudslinging.
“I'm not going to get involved in any of that-even if they do dig up something I don't think that's important I think the issues are what's important in the race,” said Armbrust.
So why are these two going at it before the general election-they want to get past the primary first.
“It's because we are at the end, October doesn't count until you get through May so this always happens-it's not unexpected-everyone wants to win,” said Linehan.
“I think she views me as competing for the same sector of voters so I wasn't surprised,” said Borchers.
Even after this bitter battle, the hope is to not let the sting linger.
“It's sillyness at the end,” said Linehan.
“I hope we all come out of this as friends,” said Borchers.
The primary is May 10th.
