My Mission
Focused initiatives for community safety and betterment.
JUVENILE JUSTICE CENTER
The Juvenile Justice Center is one of the largest “cram-down” projects ever forced on Douglas County taxpayers: $114 million in bonds, repaid by you, for a gleaming new building with modern offices and juvenile courtrooms.
In their rush to impose “restorative justice,” Commissioner Borgeson and the Douglas County Board omitted operations and staffing costs from the $114M budget—now estimated at $4M–$7M annually.
Borgeson drove the project with a “trauma-informed” vision to shrink detention via diversion. The Sherwood Foundation, led by Susie Buffett, pledged $5 million in construction funds—making it a key decision-maker—and demanded a smaller facility to steer the county from incarceration.
Experts like the Omaha Police Officers Association and Douglas County Sheriff warned of the need for 90 beds. Borgeson and Sherwood overruled them, betting $27 million on just 55–60 beds and unproven diversion.
Three years later, the $27 million detention center sits empty, costing $20,000+ monthly in utilities. Sherwood pulled its $5 million pledge when the facility—built to its specs—failed to open.
Borgeson merits scrutiny for prioritizing theory over reality. But the deeper failure is the board’s entrenched groupthink, embodied in her 30-year tenure.
This isn’t personal. It’s about $29 million in accountability—plus millions more in ongoing costs—for District 6 voters and every taxpayer footing the bill.
SOLUTIONS
Make opening the Juvenile Justice Center a top priority. Short-term: lease the 60-bed facility to the U.S. Marshals Service ($2.8M/year) and ICE ($1.14M/year), flipping a taxpayer drain into revenue until the Board funds operations as intended.
The Douglas County Board must prioritize taxpayers and pursue these—or other—revenue options immediately.
Chris Baker will request the Sherwood Foundation honor its $5 million pledge—we need those funds.
Thirty years in office can blur vision and kill urgency. I’ve seen it my entire career.
JUVENILE JUSTICE REFORM
“Programming”—or as Chris calls it, “magic programs”—focuses on counseling juveniles to process feelings and trauma. Chris sees this as a vague, endless process.
We need action now: while incarcerated, teach juveniles basic social skills and crime alternatives. Bring in trade unions and military recruiters.
Apprenticeships can save many—delivering real jobs, solid pay, and a path forward.
COUNTY SPENDING
Officials obsess over “new revenue” but ignore cutting costs.
Chris urges the Board to audit Douglas County operations: eliminate redundancies, merge or cut positions vacated by retiring long-term employees.
Taxpayers aren’t an ATM.