Kent Rogert

Kent Rogert
Nebraska State Senator, District 16
Former member
Term in office began January 2007
Term in office ended 2011
Political party	Non-partisan
Profession	Real estate

Kent Rogert (b. September 15, 1972) is a former member of the Nebraska Unicameral. He represented District 16 from 2007 to 2011. On October 22, 2009, he announced that he intends to seek a second four-year term.

Although Nebraska state senators run for office on a non-partisan basis with no party affiliation listed by their name on the ballot, Rogert identifies himself as a Democrat.

Rogert is a graduate of Tekamah-Herman High School and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He works as a farm business consultant.

Positions

Initiative restrictions

In 2009, Rogert proposed Nebraska Legislative Bill 575 (2009) which, if enacted, would require the Nebraska Secretary of State to order circulation of petitions to be suspended if the Nebraska Attorney General determines there is probable cause to prosecute someone for breaking a petition law.

Rogert voted in favor of Nebraska Legislative Bill 39, to restrict initiative rights in Nebraska.

Wrongful convictions

Rogert successfully sponsored a bill in the 2009 legislative session to provide compensation for those wrongly convicted of crimes in Nebraska.

Alcohol in state parks

In 2009, Rogert sponsored an unsuccessful bill that would legalize alcohol in Nebraska's state parks.

Controversy over sales tax

Rogert owns a 1996 Baja 272, a 28 foot long, high performance boat with a 310 horsepower engine. An investigation by Nebraska Watchdog in October 2009 showed that Rogert had not paid the sales tax that normally would have been due when he purchased the boat because he has a boat dealer registration number. Boat dealers in Nebraska do not have to pay sales taxes on the boats in their dealership's inventory.

Boat dealers are not licensed in Nebraska, according to Betty Johnson , Administrator of Driver and Vehicle Records for the Nebraska Department of Motor Vehicles. According to Paul Davis, who owns the Omaha Marine Center, people can walk in to the treasurer’s office, claim to be a boat dealer and walk out without paying the sales tax on a boat purchase.

Questions arose about when Rogert purchased the boat. He told the Lincoln Journal Star in October 2009 that he purchased the boat in 2003. However, in a 2007 story in that same newspaper, Rogert told them, "...this particular boat I got in 2001."

Rogert has declined to tell either the Nebraska Watchdog or the Lincoln Journal Star what the boat cost. Boat dealers interviewed by the Nebraska Watchdog estimated that a 1996 Baja purchased in 2002 would have sold for about $40,000. The sales tax on that purchase in 2002 would have been about $3,000.

Rogert, as a state legislator, is required to file a Statement of Financial Interests. His statement does not indicate that he sells boats.

In the wake of the investigation, the Lincoln Journal Star said the law that allowed Rogert not to pay the sales tax on his boat purchase should be changed: "But Rogert has reaped one sizable benefit from “dabbling” – his word – in boat dealing, Joe Jordan reported on the Internet site Nebraska Watchdog. By filing as a dealer, Rogert was able to avoid paying sales tax on the 1996 310-horsepower Baja 272 he purchased in 2003."

Senate District 16

Nebraska legislative districts

Senate District 16 is in northeastern Nebraska and includes Burt, Cuming, Stanton, Thurston and part of Washington counties.

Elections

2010

See also: Nebraska State Senate elections, 2010

Rogert came in first in the primary, besting Lydia Brasch by a margin of 2,495-2,268. Rogert was defeated by Brasch in the November 2, 2010 general election.

Nebraska State Senate, District 16 General election (2010)
Candidates		Votes
Lydia Brasch		4,796
Kent Rogert		4,300

2006

On November 7, 2006, Rogert won election to the 16th District Seat in the Nebraska Senate, defeating Jeff Bush.

Nebraska State Senate, District 16 (2006)
Candidates		Votes
Kent Rogert		6,066
Jeff Bush		2,956

Campaign donors

2008

In 2008, a year he was not up for re-election, Rogert collected $43,245 in donations.

His five largest contributors in 2008 were:

Donor	Amount
Nebraska State Education Association	$3,324
Union Pacific Railroad	$2,750
A Brotherhood Aimed Towards Education of Nebraska	$1,930
Nebraska State AFL-CIO	$1,324
Nebraska Chamber Of Commerce and Industry	$1,124

2006

In 2006, Rogert collected $70,334 in donations.

His five largest contributors in 2006 were:

Donor	Amount
Kent Rogert	$19,574
Nebraska Chamber Of Commerce and Industry	$3,219
Nebraska Association of Trial Attorneys	$3,000
Nebraska Bankers Association	$2,250
Nebraska Realtors Association	$2,000

Contact information

Sen. Kent Rogert
Room 2011, State Capitol
Lincoln, NE 68509
Phone: (402) 471-2728
E-mail: krogert@leg.ne.gov

External links

Suggest a link

• Kent Rogert's official campaign website
• Kent Rogert's official Nebraska State legislature website
• Project Vote Smart biographical profile
• Campaign Contributions: 2010, 2008, 2006
• Kent Rogert on Facebook
• Kent Rogert on Twitter

References

Political offices
Preceded by -	Nebraska State Senate District 16 January 2007–2011	Succeeded by Lydia Brasch