Erdman visits Sidney on campaign trail

In an event hosted by Peggy Popps and Wendall Gaston at Buffalo Point, Steve Erdman encouraged Sidney residents to vote for him for Legislature 47th District during the November election.

Erdman has been a lifelong resident of Morrill County. He began his career in farming in 1972 learning first hand the hard work and responsibility that agriculture takes. Erdman has also served on numerous business and public boards both local and national.

In 1981, unhappy with the education his children were receiving, Erdman began his service career by being elected to the school board. Erdman was also elected to the Bayard board of education in 1981 and served until 2005, when he became Morrill County Commissioner where he still serves today.

Other organizations Erdman has served in or is currently serving include Panhandle Coop Board, Farmland industries Board, Nebraska Coop Council Executive Board, Scotts Bluff-Morrill County Extension Board, Morrill County Fair Board, Bayard FFA Alumni Board, 4-H and Future Farmers of America.

Some key issues Erdman discussed at Thursday evenings event were agriculture, taxes and education.

Being a farmer, Erdman says he knows first hand the industry in our district and our state. He believes farmers need fairness in taxation and regulations if citizens expect farmers and ranchers to be able to make an honest living and if citizens expect young farmers and ranchers to return to their communities to raise families.

When talking about taxes, Erdman says he is "looking to be part of the solution, not the problem."

Erdman said he would lower taxes by making cuts where he can in different programs throughout District 47. He has experience doing this in Morrill County. Erdman says he will look at different areas such as roads and parks and recreation in District 47, make sure each section is running effectively and decide what is currently exempt which could have a sales tax to help with education funding and help lower property taxes.

Erdman believes a fair funding formula is one-third income, one-third sales and one-third property taxes for education. This is different from current practice of education being largely funded by property taxes, which has aided in the high property tax in towns and farms throughout the 47th district.

Candidate Erdman is pro-life, supports the second amendment and opposes and all proposals to approve assisted suicide.

Erdman prides himself in being conservative and extremely accessible. He has shown he posts his home and cell phone number on all of his materials he hands out to the public. Erdman states, "Being conservative is not something your born with, it is something you do."