Domina outlines his differences with opponent – Fremont Tribune

It doesn’t take Dave Domina long to explain what makes him different than his opponents in the race to become Nebraska’s next U.S. senator.

“I’m a completely different kind of candidate than my opponent,” said Domina, the Democratic candidate in the Senate race. “I’m not financed by outside interests. I haven’t accepted money from huge organizations that spend it in exchange for commitments to an issue. I’ve never left Nebraska. I stayed here and spent my life here except for my military service. I’ve represented and dealt with Nebraska, Nebraskans and Nebraska issues.

“My agenda at this age and stage in my life is not career orientated, it’s strictly about service,” he added. “I’ve had enough fascinating opportunities to perform service as a lawyer that I don’t need, don’t aspire to and frankly would prefer not to have a title. It’s an important job; it has to be done effectively.”

Domina was the keynote speaker at a Dodge County Democrats dinner on Tuesday. He spoke exclusively with the Fremont Tribune prior to the event.

The Democrat faces Republican Ben Sasse and independents Jim Jenkins and Todd F. Watson in the Nov. 4 general election.

“I really think there are four things that separate me from my opponent, so I’ll tell you what I’m for and he’s the opposite,” Domina said while sitting under a picnic shelter on the Izaak Walton grounds just west of Fremont. “I think that one or more of these touch every Nebraskan. I firmly believe Social Security should remain the safe government system it is and it should not be privatized.

“I believe Medicare should remain the system that it is without restrictions and not be made a voucher system.

“I think all presently serving and current veterans should get the benefits they were promised when the joined the volunteer armed forces of the United States and we should not cut their benefits or pensions to balance the budget.

“And I do not believe under any circumstances Nebraskans should elect someone to office who is financed by outside interests that oppose the adoption of a farm bill.

“In addition to all of that, I have 40 years of experience serving the people of Nebraska, handling the most difficult problems that have come along in public life,” Domina said. “… I want people to evaluate whether I’ve done that with any distinction for themselves.”

Domina said he has an idea to fight the partisan gridlock that has become a staple in Congress over the past couple of years.

“If one is elected without a commitment to deep partisan division, one has a chance,” he said. “My opponent has had the most extreme figures in political life in the United State appear for him already in this campaign. I’ve had none of those kinds of appearances and I’ll have none.

“I would identify early an issue upon which I can disagree with my political party effectively in the interest of Nebraska and look to the chance to agree with the other (party) effectively and in the interest of Nebraska,” he added. “… I would also solicit and work very hard to get the bi-partisan support of senators – especially the new ones from our adjoining states – to solve common problems.”

Discussing the current military strikes against the Islamic State in Iraq, Domina said the U.S. needs to define its objectives.

“We should use a very thoughtful and careful approach so that we know exactly what our objective is before we move,” he said. “That objective can’t be a reaction, even to the kind of graphic and barbaric images that we have seen, because we might charge in, accomplish something for the moment and make matters worse.

“There is strong evidence that already has happened in Iraq and we can’t risk having that happen again,” Domina added. “We have to build a coalition. Our coalition should be to duplicate what the first President Bush did in Kuwait.”

Campaigning across the state, Domina has heard some of the concerns of potential voters.

“They want to be sure that this next United States senator does believe in the need for a farm bill and they want to be sure that farm bill doesn’t put all of the risk of production on the producers of the food supply for the first time since Franklin Roosevelt,” he said.

“People recognize that I’m the moderate in the race,” Domina added. “I don’t have to say that any more. People are saying that for me.”