The Republican ballot for the gubernatorial race is set with six candidates duking it out until the May 13 primary.

While candidates have come and gone in this race, Beau McCoy has stayed in it since September, when he announced his decision to run.

McCoy, a state senator from the 39th District, in Omaha, entered the race on the promise to change the Nebraska tax code, controlling state spending and helping form an economy to attract outside companies and create jobs.

Changing the Nebraska tax code was a big part of McCoy’s legislative agenda in 2013. He sponsored Gov. Dave Heineman’s tax package that would have helped eliminate the income tax.

“I would love to be able to get to the point where we could eliminate the personal and corporate income tax,” McCoy said when he started his campaign.

His work with Heineman’s tax package certainly made his name known around the state, at least to business owners. However, the unpopularity of this package will not help his campaign.

McCoy was born in Colorado, but went to college at Bellevue University, where he was politically active with the Young Republicans and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in leadership.

He stayed in the area, became a home improvement contractor, married and raised three children.

McCoy ran and won his seat in the legislature in 2008. He sits on the Transportation and Telecommunications and Revenue committees as well as the Committee on Committees.

It is his experience in government and as a small business owner that he believes gives him an advantage; as well as his mix of both a rural and urban background, a background which allows him to understand Nebraskans across the state.

He is running as the “proven conservative.” He is pro-life, supports Second Amendment rights, the death penalty and wants fewer taxes and less state spending. So proven conservative may be the most apt title.

McCoy has the third most funds, raising nearly $800,000 last year. However, about $550,000 came from one donor. Funds are good, but that donor still only has one vote. He also has the name recognition, but unfortunately, it’s not all positive due to his stance on income tax.

Fortunately, he still has his state senate seat as a back-up for the next two years. He might have better luck running in 2018.