An Omaha agribusiness investor is mulling a bid for governor, according to sources with ties to the Nebraska Democratic Party.
Mark Lakers, president of Ag and Food Associates, did not return several phone calls Thursday.
Lakers, 50, is the latest candidate being wooed by the Democratic Party to run against Republican Gov. Dave Heineman. He is a registered Democrat who lives in far west Omaha.
“He's serious,” one Democratic Party insider said Thursday.
The party has less than two weeks to find a candidate in order to meet the March 1 filing deadline.
Lakers was formally with McCarthy & Co., an Omaha investment banking company. He also has worked for First National Bank of Omaha and Ralston Purina, a major food company.
His current company was formed in 2003 to help clients with mergers, acquisitions and other financial matters.
The Democratic Party has pinned high hopes on finding a businessman who has the financial resources to run a campaign against Heineman, who has stockpiled a campaign war chest of $1.2 million. That candidate would have eight months to put together a statewide campaign.
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