Local officials excited about President Trump’s Oct. 5 visit to Grand Island

GRAND ISLAND – Four local officials said Sept. 29 they are excited about President Donald Trump’s visit to Grand Island on Monday, Oct. 5. 

Mary Berlie, president of the Grand Island Chamber of Commerce and Grand Island Area Economic Development Corporation; Hall County Commissioners Karen Bredthauer and Gary Quandt, both Republicans; and David Plond, chairman of the Hall County Republican Party, talked Sept. 29 about the importance of President Trump’s visit to Grand Island. 

Berlie is a community leader and promotes Grand Island as part of her job.

“The City of Grand Island, our community, our citizens, are incredibly excited to welcome United States President Donald Trump to Grand Island, Nebraska, on Monday. This is an incredible opportunity to show President Trump and his federal delegation that Grand Island, Nebraska, is rooted in family and agriculture and in meeting people’s needs through business, industry, and products that reach a global market.”

She said that she wants President Trump to see “how special Grand Island is.”

“We’re excited to welcome him to the community,” she said.

“Grand Island is a humble Midwest community. It’s open for business,” Berlie said.

She said that Omaha is known for its philanthropy, Lincoln is known as the site of the Legislature and University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and Grand Island is known because products and food come from Grand Island to feed the rest of the world.

Berlie described Grand Island as a “best-kept secret” and a “gem.”

Grand Island business and industry has a global market, she said. “They sell their products not only nationally but globally.”

“To be able to have a federal representative such as the President of the United States come to Grand Island is an incredible opportunity,” she said.

“I hope that during President Trump’s visit to Grand Island, he sees a Midwest community that supports one another, supports our diversity, and supports our businesses and industries,” Berlie said.

“We know that Grand Island, Nebraska, is probably the world’s best-kept secret. It will be a very great opportunity to show President Trump and his federal delegation how special Grand Island is,” she said. “We’re excited to welcome him to the community.”

Bredthauer said that Max Oberg, who is deputy campaign manager for Pete Ricketts for Senate, contacted her Sept. 16 to get some information about Grand Island pertaining to President Trump’s visit.

“I think this is so exciting. It’s an amazing time for Grand Island. With our population, we don’t see a big official like this come to Grand Island,” she said.

“He’s our Commander in Chief. To see that come to Grand Island, Nebraska, is amazing,” Bredthauer said.

Quandt was also contacted in mid-September in advance of the official announcement of Trump’s Oct. 5 appearance in Grand Island. He said he was asked questions about the Central Nebraska Regional Airport and the Nebraska State Fair property.

Quandt said that when President George W. Bush visited Grand Island in 2006, his family had a farm on the east side of the Central Nebraska Regional Airport and could view what was occurring at the airport the day that President Bush arrived.

“It’s not every day that a community gets to have the President of the United States visit. It’s an honor,” Quandt said.

He said regardless of people’s political affiliation (whether it’s Republican, Democrat, or Independent), “we should be proud. We elect our President.”

David Plond has been chairman of the Hall County Republican Party for 14 years and has been active in the group for 20 years. He was present when President George W. Bush visited Grand Island in 2006.

“This is important for us to generate support for Republican candidates,” Poland said. “The fact that he’s coming to Grand Island is even better. It means a lot to us as Republicans.”

He said that it’s really “something special” that President Trump is visiting the Third Congressional District in Nebraska. 

Plond said that when President George W. Bush visited Grand Island in 2006, “It was a fun atmosphere.” He said that it was “exciting to be in the same building as the President of the United States.”