Ricketts defends his protest (Rep US Senate candidate Ne.)

[Omaha Steve]

Full story reg req: http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_pg=1673&u_sid=2209986



Published Friday
July 21, 2006

Ricketts defends his protest

BY ROBYNN TYSVER

WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER

Smarting from what he called personal attacks from Democrats, Pete Ricketts defended his decision to protest his home valuation, saying Thursday that it is his right as a taxpayer.

The Republican U.S. Senate candidate said he has no regrets about the timing of his protest - four months before the fall election in which he hopes to unseat Democratic U.S. Sen. Ben Nelson.

"A lot of people protest their property valuation. I'm not alone," Ricketts said.

Ricketts spoke about his valuation protest a day before the Douglas County Board was to decide whether to lower his Omaha home's valuation to $900,000 - about $120,000 less than what he paid for it seven years ago.

Also Thursday, Ricketts unleashed a new television advertisement in which he accuses Nelson of breaking a promise while governor to lower property taxes and of voting 23 times in the Senate to raise taxes.

"He broke that promise and our taxes soared," Ricketts' ad says.

Nelson's camp quickly fired back, saying Ricketts misunderstood Nebraska's tax system and was misrepresenting Nelson's record.

"Everyone knows that property taxes are controlled by local government officials," said Marcia Cady, a Nelson spokeswoman.

Cady said that Nelson's tax cut record in the Senate is clear and that he voted for two of President Bush's key tax cut proposals.

[zbdent]

1. So, Ricketts is "protesting" the de-valuation of his home, which would

lower his property taxes ... weird ...

unless he's planning on selling his home for a huge profit in the near future ... well, maybe ONE of his "homes" ...

[Omaha Steve]

2. He is protesting saying it isn't worth what he pd 4 it several years ago

With property values skyrocketing, it should be vaulted at least what he paid for it. But then he spent $4 million of his own bucks so far to run for the Senate. So I'm sure he can afford to pay on the full value of his house.

[zbdent]

3. sounds like the Cunningham defense

where he sold his ship for x million $$$, and then it was re-sold shortly for less than $200K ... not really capable of de-valuing that quickly without an accelerant ...

[acmavm]

4. What an asswipe. I paid (am paying) 52,500 - bought ten

years ago. They've upped the value to 90,000 because someone went and laid linoleum in the attic. Because you don't see 'rafters' that means I have a finished upstairs.

[Freddie Stubbs]

5. No one is going to beat Ben Nelson this year

Ricketts can just pack it in and go home.