Hi, thanks for your interest in me and in the OPPD District 4 race. My approach to OPPD will Respect the past, Focus on the future, and Bet on American ingenuity.

Respect the Past. Nebraska power is public power. Changes are inevitable, even necessary. Let's build on what works, not sell the farm and start over.

Focus on the Future. The future of energy is fossil free. The challenge lies with finding the best path from now to then. Part of the solution is fuel. Public power began as hydropower. Most Nebraskans agree that more investment in renewable energy is needed. Part of the solution is business. It's time to update OPPD's business model. Improvements in transparency and cost management are still needed.

Bet on American Ingenuity. American ingenuity has already created solutions not yet adopted by OPPD. Let's choose options that contain costs, create jobs, and provide reliable energy

I'm happy to tell you a bit about myself, too. My formal announcement is here: http://www.rick-yoder.com/the_formal_announcement

I moved to Cass County, Nebraska from Alaska with my wife and two daughters in 1992. We bought a small acreage with a 100+ year old home near Murray because we love the rural lifestyle. The traditional gambrel-roofed barn has given us almost as much pleasure as the house itself, for it is there we have our daily romps with horses, cats, and dogs.

I earned my BS in mechanical engineering at Iowa State, where I met my wife. My engineering career interest began with efficient energy use and expanded to efficiency in other things, too. The fruit of waste elimination is that the onerous cost of environmental regulations can be avoided. I gained experience in environmental regulations while in Alaska and when I worked for the Lincoln Lancaster County Health Department in the Environmental Health Division. My approach has always been to work with businesses to eliminate waste rather than to spend unnecessary effort on how to best manage waste.

In 1995 I started working at the Nebraska Business Development Center (NBDC), a department of the College of Business Administration (CBA) at the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO), where I have taught. My focus there has been to continue my efforts to work with businesses to eliminate waste. I've also taught at the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) College of Public Health (COPH).

I've been busy outside of the workplace, too:

• Keep Cass County Beautiful board member.
• MINK (Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas) Economic Development member.
• Conestoga School Board board member, emeritus.

My other interests include bicycle touring and local history.