Lt. Governor Sheehy: Allegations of Scandal and Consequences? More than Smoke?

We want to make it clear that we like Lt. Governor Rick Sheehy. We think it’s a personal tragedy that a twenty-eight year marriage appears to be ending. We frankly think (thought) he’d make a good governor when Governor Heineman leaves.  
But having admitted to the above we feel the obligation to tell our readers what is going on and it appears that it isn’t pretty. Just today we’ve heard allegations from several sources that Sheehy’s personal life may be under investigation by the news media if not the state itself. We’ve talked to sources in both state government and in private industry who are telling us pretty much the same thing. That is that there may be numerous documented cases of infidelity across the state of Nebraska during Sheehy’s duties and travels as Lt. Governor. That would mean that taxpayers and the state through expenses paid on behalf of Sheehy’s travels have abetted such activity. It would bring into question the need and reason for his travels across the state and the expenses related to such.

Earlier today, it was suggested to us that the governor upon his return from China might sit down with Sheehy, confront him with the facts (allegations)and ask for his resignation in hope that those facts wouldn’t need to be made public. Now it appears that those in the media have or are pursuing the story and Sheehy may have to deal with the them rather than the governor although we believe the end result, if our information is accurate, will be the same--resignation.

But there is more to the story. What happens if the allegations are true and Sheehy does resign? The governor will have to appoint his replacement. Who would that be? Senator McCoy’s name has been part of that conversation.   So has Senator Tony Fulton.  Speaker Flood, who intends on running for governor anyway (hope that’s no surprise to anyone) voted on the wrong side of the pre-natal issue and hasn’t seemed to be a favorite of the governor although he certainly and capably accomplished much of the governor’s agenda over recent years.

Some will say, so what does it matter who the governor appoints should the Sheehy resign? Well, it could matter a great deal for two reasons. First, if Mitt Romney becomes the president there is much speculation he’d want Heineman serving him in the cabinet or in some high position which would very possibly result in Heineman’s resignation. So all of this becomes EXTREMELY important. That appointee might just quickly become Nebraska’s governor!

But there’s more. Word continues to circulate around Lincoln that U.S. Senator Mike Johanns is sick. We’ve reported that a couple of months ago. The ‘c-word’ was mentioned to us today. Again, should something happen in that regard, the governor would appoint a replacement, maybe himself for an interim term again meaning the appointment of a new Lt. Governor would have great consequence.

At this point these are allegations, rumors and speculation but they seem to be coming from increasingly reliable sources. We hope it’s just smoke, not fire. We hope that’s all there is, but you heard it first on the Objective Conservative….

P.S. We updated this on August 1 to correct an error in the original piece suggesting that Senators Fulton and McCoy had voted for the override of LB 599.   They didn't.