Pete Ricketts

John Peter "Pete" Ricketts is the former Chief Operating Officer of Ameritrade cite news
last = Cordes
first = Henry J.
coauthors =
title = For Ricketts, it's about earning what you get
work =
pages =
language =
publisher = Omaha World Herald
date = March 19, 2006
url = http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_pg=1673&u_sid=2136058&u_rnd=5261989
accessdate = 2006-10-13 ] . He was the Republican nominee for the 2006 U.S. Senate race in Nebraska cite news
last = Cordes
first = Henry J.
coauthors =
title = High-spending race for Senate ahead
work =
pages =
language =
publisher = Omaha World Herald
date = May 10, 2006
url = http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_pg=1673&u_sid=2166938
accessdate = 2006-10-13 ] which he lost to incumbent Ben Nelson.

Ricketts was born in Nebraska City, Nebraska, and now lives in Omaha . He attended the University of Chicago for both his bachelor and graduate studies, and received an MBA in marketing and finance from the University's Graduate School of Business .

Ricketts and his wife Susanne have three children, Margot, Roscoe, and Eleanor. Ricketts' father is J. Joseph Ricketts, founder of Ameritrade .

2006 campaign for the U.S. Senate

Ricketts was the 2006 Republican nominee for the U.S. Senate seat held and retained by Democrat Ben Nelson. His opponents in the primary were former Nebraska Attorney General Don Stenberg and former state Republican chairman David Kramer. Ricketts spent nearly $5 million of his own money out-of-pocket, outspending his opponents 10-1 in winning the nomination .

Ricketts was running on a conservative platform, emphasizing fiscal responsibility , immigration reformcite news
last = Gonzalez
first = Cindy
coauthors =
title = Ricketts criticized for immigrant idea
work =
pages =
language =
publisher = Omaha World Herald
date = October 13, 2006
url = http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_pg=1673&u_sid=2260456
accessdate = 2006-10-13 ] , and agriculturecite news
last = Walton
first = Don
coauthors =
title = Ricketts proposes new agricultural savings accounts
work =
pages =
language =
publisher = Lincoln Journal Star
date = March 2, 2006
url = http://www.journalstar.com/articles/2006/03/02/local/doc4406572970a7c813307055.txt
accessdate = 2006-10-13 ] , as well as championing a socially conservative platform opposing gay marriagecite news
last = Norman
first = Andrew
coauthors =
title = GOP The Prelims: Candidates Spar Over the Details
work =
pages =
language =
publisher = The Reader
date =
url = http://www.thereader.com/index.php?subaction=showfull&id=1146843931&archive=&start_from=&ucat=3
accessdate = 2006-10-13] and abortioncite news
last = Walton
first = Don
coauthors =
title = Ricketts pokes Nelson's pro-life credentials
work =
pages =
language =
publisher = Lincoln Journal Star
date = September 19, 2006
url = http://www.journalstar.com/articles/2006/09/19/elections/2006/november/doc451061c1b38ed272715553.txt
accessdate = 2006-10-13 ] . In all, he contributed $11,302,078 million of his own money to his campaign, triggering the Millionaire's Amendment which allows his opponent to raise larger amounts from each donorcite news
last = Bratton
first = Anna Jo
coauthors =
title = Ricketts' bid for office hits nearly $10M out of pocket
work =
pages =
language =
publisher = Columbus Telegram
date =
url = http://www.columbustelegram.com/articles/2006/09/21/news/news3ricketts.txt
accessdate = 2006-10-13 ] cite news
last = Tysver
first = Robynn
coauthors =
title = In last debate, Ricketts attacks Nelson tie to Columbus firm
work =
pages =
language =
publisher = Omaha World Herald
date = October 16, 2006
url = http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_pg=1673&u_sid=2262191
accessdate = 2006-10-16 ] . He spent more money than any Senate candidate in Nebraska history cite news
last = Tysver
first = Robynn
coauthors =
title = Ricketts digs deeper into wallet
work =
pages =
language =
publisher = Omaha World Herald
date = September 21, 2006
url = http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_pg=1673&u_sid=2246624
accessdate = 2006-10-13 ] .

References

External links

* [http://www.opensecrets.org/pressreleases/2006/PostElection.11.8.asp Press release of 2006 Campaign Funding]