Governor Dave Heineman says he’s already getting suggestions from the public about possible successors to Lt Governor Rick Sheehy…who resigned Saturday amid a scandal over using his state cell phone to make some 2,000 late night personal calls to women who weren’t his wife.

Heineman won’t release any of the names that have been given to him because he’s not sure if those individuals know they’ve been suggested, and because state law won’t allow him to pick a current member of the legislature while the Unicameral is in session.

Sheehy had been the overwhelming favorite in next year’s governor race…when Heineman is term-limited. The election will play a role in his selection for Lt Governor because Heineman says it wouldn’t be fair to pick someone who would be running and give them “a leg up” in the election.

Heineman doesn’t have any set number of applicants or finalists he will consider, but expects the number to round 12-to-15 initially with one or two that he’ll interview in depth before making his choice.

Heineman doesn’t know how long it will take him to do that, but indicates it won’t be before next month at the earliest…especially since he needs to focus attention right now on testifying before the legislature’s Revenue Committee on his tax reform plan this Thursday.

Although Heineman is looking for a “caretaker” in terms of not running for office next year, he says his choice won’t be a caretaker when it comes to filling the job and serving the people of Nebraska.  He expects the person to be active in all roles of the job including head of Homeland Security for the state and helping him push tax reform.

Should something happen to Heineman before he picks Sheehy’s successor, Speaker of the Legislature Greg Adams of York would become governor.