RICK KOLOWSKI BULLIES ON NRD BOARD

There is much national attention focused now on bullies in our public schools.  Many school districts are implementing policies voluntarily or because of state mandate to stem the tide of students bullying other students.  But what about bullies who used to run the schools?  Case in point: Rick Kolowski, former principal at Millard West High School in Omaha, NE.  As chairman of the Papio-Mo. River Natural Resources District board, he runs the meetings like a dictator wielding an iron fist.  As one typical example, at the October monthly board meeting, he shouted and shut down a fellow board member and called him out of order, when that board member sought to question the expenditure of tax dollars on an unneeded dam that would confiscate productive farm land, as the affected landowners politely sat in the audience.  On a later agenda item, he “conveniently” forgot to ask for public comment on his willingness to splurge additional tax dollars unnecessarily to enhance a proposed UNMC Cancer Center with rain gardens, pools, and playgrounds.  We protested his oversight, and fellow board members embarrassingly informed him of his error, which we believe was intentional.  His attempt to bully us during our testimony that evening was transparent.  Someone of this temperament, who taxes and spends like a wild liberal, is not a fit candidate for our state legislature and should not win election this November.