BPS Board president withdraws from school board election

Beatrice Public Schools Board of Education President Dave Niedfeldt announced Tuesday that he has removed himself from this year’s school board election.

“It came sooner than what I was hoping. I was not planning to leave the board at this time, although I might not have won in the election,” he said.

Niedfeldt said he had hoped to let voters decide whether he should serve another four years, but a technicality raised by four other candidates pushed him to pull out of the race.

By law, candidates can request equal amounts of broadcast time, and Niedfeldt is an on-air personality for KWBE radio in Beatrice.

Two weeks ago, he said, candidate Jon Zimmerman went to the station and asked for time equal to Niedfeldt’s.

“The next day board candidate Michael Fakler came in wanting his equal time on the radio,” Niedfeldt said.

Two days later, candidate Randy Coleman asked for his equal time, followed by candidate Pamela Kemp Jones.

Niedfeldt said he knew the rule existed, but after 12 years on the board and two elections he hasn’t run into the issue.

Fakler, an architect and owner of Fakler Architects in Beatrice, said he was told after he announced his candidacy by someone in the district’s main office that he would no longer be able to do work for the district.

“I thought that was kind of underhanded,” he said.

After that, he said, he decided to ask for equal time with Niedfeldt.

“I think anyone would agree to the fact that the more someone is in the public eye, it gives them an unfair advantage,” he said.

“I am disappointed Dave dropped out of the race. I didn’t expect him to do that.”

Niedfeldt also expressed disappointment.

“I am disappointed this all happened. I’ve never used the radio to further my political cause,” he said.

Niedfeldt said he has worked with radio station staff to keep a distance from reporting on Beatrice Public Schools issues and programs.

“We made particular efforts to separate me from that in our programs,” he said.

After meeting with his employer and talking with legal counsel, he concluded he had three options.

One would have been to stay on the air.

“That means every time I speak on the air we would have to give equal time to the others,” he said.

“Another option would be for me to remove myself from the airwaves between now and election time,” he said.

Niedfeldt said that while his coworkers were supportive he did not feel that option would be fair to other radio staff or to his employer.

“I’m paid to be on the air,” he said.

The third option was to remove himself from the ballot.

Niedfeldt said he’ll continue to serve on the board until his term expires at the end of December, but he’s already gone to the courthouse to get his name removed from the ballot.

He has served on the board since being appointed to fill an opening in June 1996.

“I will definitely miss it,” he said.