KEARNEY, Neb. — Kearney’s mayor is making his experience and ability to listen the cornerstones of his campaign for state legislature.

Stan Clouse is one of two candidates running to replace Sen. John Lowe, who is term-limited. He has served as Kearney mayor since 2006 and has been on the city council for 20 years. He thinks his experience would help the unicameral avoid making mistakes with the details.

“Some of the things that we see going on down there could really negatively impact what we’ve spent a number of years developing," Clouse said. "It’s not intentional, it’s just those unintended consequences. I think you need to have that experience, bring that to the table and say, ‘well this is a great idea, but here’s the other side to it.’”

Clouse, a Republican, talked with NCN at a campaign fundraiser on Monday. Proposals on property tax reform are among the discussions catching his attention. 

“It’s incredible the number of bills and everybody had their direction on how they’re going to solve property tax," Clouse said. "The best way you’re going to do it is sitting around the table and talking about it and having a lot of good experience to say, this is what the negative impact could be, now how do we fix this.”

Clouse doesn’t support the EPIC Option consumption tax. He’s hesitant on Gov. Jim Pillen’s 40 percent cut that could involve a sales tax hike, but thinks it’s a good place to start.

“You start off clear on one side, then everybody starts getting together and you bring it back to something that might be a little more reasonable or something that’s workable," Clouse said. "I think that’s where he’s at now.”

Clouse says his ability to understand and listen would be his greatest attribute in Lincoln.

“Too many times, we go off and we’re not listening to what the real issues are and then coming together to try to solve them," Clouse said. "That’s what we do in Kearney and that’s what Nebraskans do.”

Legislative District 37 includes Kearney, Gibbon, Shelton and surrounding areas. Fellow Republican Lana Peister is also running for the post. Any other candidates have until March 1 to file to run.