State treasurer resigning, will be replaced by Fremont mayor

Gov. Jim Pillen’s plan Monday to announce the resignation of state Treasurer Tom Briese and name his replacement became a bit complicated by other events.

Briese, whom Pillen appointed in 2023 after former Treasurer John Murante resigned, said he wants to spend more time with his wife and grandchildren on his farm, which is more than 100 miles from Lincoln.

“It really is time for me to spend more time there. Although if called upon, I will consider further public service,” Briese said. “At this time, it’s time for me to spend more time at home. I want to be home more. I need to be home. I owe it to my wife to be home more, so that is the plan going forward.”

Briese’s replacement will be Joey Spellerberg, the current mayor of Fremont.

“As treasurer, my mission will be to represent the people of Nebraska to the highest standard,” Spellerberg said. “I will work tirelessly to be the best steward of the resources and duties that have been entrusted to this office, and I will give my all for the betterment of our people and the advancement of our state.”

Spellerberg said he will run for election next year to keep the treasurer’s job, and Pillen endorsed him.

But Spellerberg already has an opponent for the Republican primary in the form of former state Sen. Julie Slama, who announced her candidacy Monday a couple of hours before Briese made his resignation public.

Slama was appointed by former Gov. Pete Ricketts to represent southeast Nebraska’s first legislative district in 2018. She won a full term in 2020, but announced she would not run for reelection in 2024, citing a desire to spend more time with her infant son.

As a registered Republican in the officially nonpartisan Legislature, Slama compiled a conservative record including opposition to abortion and proposing tighter requirements for voter ID. She promised to “work tirelessly to deliver conservative wins” as treasurer.

Though Briese resigned as treasurer, his mention of being willing to “consider further public service” could be significant.

That’s because Briese happens to live in Legislative District 41, currently represented by Dan McKeon, who was cited last week for public indecency stemming from an incident in May where he was accused of groping a woman at a party. McKeon has not commented on the allegations.

Pillen said Monday he asked the first-term senator from Amherst to resign.

“I'm just waiting for his resignation. It's got to take place,” Pillen said. “It's unacceptable. It's best for his family. It's unacceptable for the people of district 41 and for the state of Nebraska. He has to resign.”

In a statement, attorney Perry Pirsch said McKeon denies "accusations made by a legislative staffer regarding a light-hearted exchange following the Legislature’s Sine Die gathering in May 2025."

“Senator McKeon is a devoted husband, father of four (two daughters and two sons), a proud Christian, coach, farming consultant, and a public servant of the highest integrity who has never engaged in any activity that could constitute ‘public indecency’ or wrongdoing of that nature,” Pirsch said in an email “The claims are intentionally false or misguided and will be met with a full legal defense, including a possible countersuit for defamation. These allegations are unfounded and appear shamefully politically motivated by individuals — including some elected officials — that are attempting to exploit it for personal or political gain.”

The Lincoln Journal Star reported Monday that McKeon sent his accuser an apology letter that said he was, "deeply sorry for my actions at the end of the session when we were visiting that offended you."