Former educator announces bid to succeed Penner on Nebraska State Board of Ed
LINCOLN — A former educator announced a campaign Wednesday for the Nebraska State Board of Education to succeed Kirk Penner of Aurora, who helped conservative candidates organize and win more races for the board in recent years.
Angie Eberspacher of Beaver City, a former member of Educational Service Unit 6, seeks to represent District 5 on the Board of Ed. While on the ESU board, Eberspacher said, she was a strong voice for fiscal responsibility and an advocate for students and teachers. She eventually served as chair. She said she is dedicated to ensuring a 'quality education' for all students.
Eberspacher is a graduate of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with dual degrees in elementary education and early childhood education.
'I'm committed to supporting today's students and helping ensure the next generation has every opportunity to succeed,' Eberspacher said in a statement.
District 5 on the State Board consists of Butler, Clay, Fillmore, Franklin, Gage, Hamilton, Jefferson, Nuckolls, Pawnee, Polk, Richardson, Saline, Saunders, Seward, Thayer, Webster and York Counties, as well as portions of Lancaster County (south Lincoln and surrounding communities including Denton, Sprague, Hallam, Roca, Hickman, Firth, Bennet and Waverly).
The eight members of the State Board of Education generally oversee the Nebraska Department of Education. Terms in office are for four years.
Eberspacher said she plans to visit communities across her district to listen and focus on how to improve literacy and proficiency scores, recruit and retain quality teachers and strengthen academics. She said she also wants to be 'a voice for all parents' and promote spending restraint.
In 2023, Eberspacher testified at the Nebraska Legislature in support of a handful of conservative-led proposals, including opening up teachers or librarians to possible criminal penalties for distributing 'obscenity,' prohibiting certain medical care for minors with gender dysphoria, outlawing drag shows for minors, creating a 'Parents' Bill of Rights' in education and allowing public dollars to follow students to private K-12 schools (the 'My Student, My Choice Act').
Eberspacher and her husband of 36 years, Curt, own a farming operation in rural Beaver Crossing. The family has three adult daughters, a son-in-law and a granddaughter.
Penner on Wednesday confirmed to the Examiner that he is not seeking reelection. He has given his 'full endorsement' to Eberspacher and said her experience and dedication 'make her the right choice to continue advocating for students, parents and educators across the district.'
The race is officially nonpartisan, but Penner and Eberspacher are both Republicans. She previously worked as a spokeswoman for the Nebraska Republican Party. Penner was appointed to the State Board in December 2021 and won election in 2022 with 55% of the vote.
The State Board of Education is currently split 4-4 between Republicans and Democrats. The split has led some to advocate for giving the governor more control over the education bureaucracy. A January vote for board chair required 54 votes in January.
'I am excited to run for the Nebraska State Board of Education and hear from voters across District 5 about their vision for education in Nebraska,' Eberspacher said. 'I'm running to support Nebraska's students, teachers and parents, and to work toward a stronger education system for everyone.'
SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
11-07-2025
- Yahoo
Gudes ends bid for old job, Tampa city council race remains crowded
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — On Thursday, former Tampa Councilman Orlando Gudes filed a handwritten note officially withdrawing his name from the candidate pool to represent District 5. The seat was opened following the passing of Councilwoman Gwendolyn Henderson. Community advocate Yvette Lewis is a well-known name in East Tampa, which makes up most of District 5. 'We're going to get those body cams': Bartow city leaders vow changes are coming after controversial traffic stop 'We're looking for someone that can bring a voice of calm and a voice of peace,' Lewis said. Lewis is also the president of the NAACP's Hillsborough County chapter. She was born and raised in that district. It's where she currently resides. The organization does not make political endorsements. 'We're also looking for someone who can actually have a working relationship with city administration because that's important as well,' Lewis said. Gudes declined an on-camera interview. However, in a statement sent by the former candidate, he addressed previous claims over his conduct and political scandals during his time on council. 'Allegations were made attacking my character — allegations that I firmly deny and do not reflect the truth,' Gudes said. As of the publishing of this story, 11 hopefuls remain in the race to replace the late councilwoman. 'District 5 is different. District 5 has highs and lows of income (and) different personalities here,' Lewis said. A question over whether Gudes lives in the district was also raised, since his voter registration was recently updated. In Tampa, council candidates must reside in the district for at least six months. 'I, on the other hand, interpreted the charter's residency requirement to where a person physically lives, not what is on the voter registration card or when it might have been updated,' Gudes said. Candidate qualifying is not until next month. That's when voters know who will appear on the ballot. The election is set in September and a runoff, that's likely needed, will be in October. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
10-07-2025
- Yahoo
Orlando Gudes withdraws from Tampa City Council race over residency questions
Orlando Gudes, a former Tampa City Council member, withdrew from the race for the vacant District 5 seat late Wednesday night amid questions over his eligibility to run. County records obtained by the Tampa Bay Times show that Gudes changed his residency into the district last month, two weeks before he announced his candidacy. According to the county elections supervisor, candidates must have lived in their district 'for six months immediately preceding the commencement of their term of office.' The special election to fill the seat, which opened after the sudden death of council member Gwen Henderson last month, is set for Sept. 9, with a likely runoff in late October. Had Gudes won in either month, he would have resided in the district for fewer than five months. 'After thoughtful consultation with legal counsel, I've determined that although this matter is winnable, the financial and logistical strain of pursuing it during a condensed campaign timeline is not prudent,' Gudes said in a news release announcing his withdrawal. 'The City Clerk's interpretation of residency relies on the date a voter registration is changed—not on where one has physically lived," Gudes said in the statement. 'I, on the other hand, interpreted the Charter's residency requirement to be where a person physically lives.' He explained that he moved out of his 'personal home' after a family catastrophe and lives with his mother. He did not specify the district of either residence. Ten candidates remain in the race as of Wednesday. This is a developing story and may be updated. Check back at
Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Yahoo
Tampa City Council candidate Orlando Gudes may violate residency rules
Orlando Gudes, a former Tampa City Council member now running for the vacant District 5 seat, may not meet residency requirements to hold the office, according to county records obtained by the Tampa Bay Times. A recent voter audit report from the Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections shows that Gudes requested to change his address from District 7 to District 5 on June 17, two weeks before he announced his candidacy. Per the county elections supervisor, candidates must have lived in their district 'for six months immediately preceding the commencement of their term of office.' The special election to fill the vacant District 5 seat, which opened after Council member Gwen Henderson died suddenly last month, is set for Sept. 9, with a likely runoff in late October. The winner will assume office immediately. If Gudes wins in either month, he will have lived in the district for fewer than five months. The candidate did not respond to multiple emails and calls for comment. Gudes' full address is protected from public disclosure because he is a former police officer. The District 5 seat serves downtown, East Tampa, Ybor City and parts of West Tampa. Henderson had more than 15 months left in her term when she died. Gerri Kramer, spokesperson for the Hillsborough Supervisor of Elections, said the elections office plays a ministerial role in accepting candidate qualifying documents and does not have the authority to determine their accuracy. 'This ultimately may need to be decided by a court,' said Adam Smith, spokesperson for the City of Tampa. Gudes was originally elected to the Tampa City Council in 2019 to represent District 5. In 2020, a legislative aide — Henderson's sister — accused Gudes of making lewd remarks and creating a hostile work environment. A monthslong investigation found most of the claims to be credible, but a lawsuit filed by the aide was dismissed and the city announced a separate $200,000 settlement with her. Gudes denied the allegations, and the city agreed to pay the legal fees he incurred defending himself against the suit. In 2022, Gudes faced questions about his address. While on the council, Gudes, who said he was living in his East Tampa childhood home, received an improper tax break for a property he owned in North Tampa. Gudes requested that the homestead exemption be removed and paid the Hillsborough County Appraiser's Office more than $13,000 for the 2019, 2020 and 2021 tax years. 'Once we heard about it, we took care of the problem,' Gudes told the Tampa Bay Times in 2022. 'We took care of all the issues.' Gudes lost his bid for reelection in 2023 to Henderson. This year, Gudes is one of 11 candidates to enter the race as of July 9. The winner will serve until the next City of Tampa municipal election in 2027.
