Golf with the governor is costly

LINCOLN — Even though he has no announced opposition in the 2010 campaign, Gov. Dave Heineman is teeing up for an expensive race.

A campaign supporter hosted a $5,000-a-person golf outing Tuesday for the incumbent Republican at the exclusive Sand Hills Club near Mullen, Neb.

The outing — a pricey one for a state office in Nebraska — was criticized by a leading Democrat and a government watchdog group and was defended by Heineman and a GOP official.

The governor said the event was one of many that he has held as he builds toward a goal of raising $1 million by the end of the year for his re-election campaign.

“I don't know who is going to run against me, but I know there will be someone,” Heineman, 61, said Tuesday.

He said he has held 29 fundraisers across the state since February, including many low-cost ones. He cited a recent $10-a-plate dinner for young professionals in Lincoln.

“It just takes time to raise the kind of money you need to raise to run a governor's campaign,” Heineman said. “You can't raise a million overnight.”

Vince Powers of Lincoln, a member of the Democratic National Committee, said he doubted that many residents of the 3rd Congressional District, where the Mullen course is situated, can afford a $5,000 golf outing.

“It's a sad commentary on access to the governor,” Powers said. “It's certainly his choice who he wants to listen to. He can listen to those who can pay $5,000 or to those who don't have health insurance and who are struggling.”

Jack Gould, the head of Common Cause Nebraska, said that although he credits Heineman for scheduling office time for regular voters, a $5,000-per-person event sends a message that only “important people with money” can have extended access.

A dozen golfers paid to play a round and eat supper with the governor.

The event was organized by Rex Fisher, the Nebraska president of Qwest Communications Inc. and a member of the private club, which was recently ranked by Golf magazine as the 11th-best golf course in the world and the best course built in the past 50 years.

Golf fundraisers are a decidedly bipartisan means of raising money, but the $5,000-a-person cost might be a new high-water mark for them in Nebraska, according to newspaper records and interviews with political observers.

The Nebraska Democratic Party held one Aug. 31 at Omaha's Field Club that grossed $18,000, but the per-person cost was “$4,850 less” (or $150), according to Jim Rogers, executive director of the party.

Rep. Adrian Smith, R-Neb., has held fundraisers at the Dismal River Club, a private course near the Sand Hills Club, for the past three years. This year's event cost $2,500 per couple or $1,500 for an individual.

The Nebraska Republican Party recently held a golf outing for all state constitutional officers at Quarry Oaks Golf Club near Ashland. Party Chairman Mark Fahleson declined to say how much money was raised there or what it cost per person.

Fahleson said Heineman is popular and said it wasn't surprising to hear that backers would pay $5,000 to golf with him.

“The governor has tremendous support throughout the state,” Fahleson said. “I understand he's a good golfer, so these things go hand in hand.”

Campaigns are getting more and more expensive, Heineman said. “It goes up every year. It's just one of those things.”

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402-473-9584, paul.hammel@owh.com