Chris Peterson, a top aide to Mike Johanns during his governorship, will manage Johanns’ campaign for the 2008 Republican Senate nomination.

Peterson resigned as director of government affairs at Union Pacific to lead the campaign.

“I would not have left a great job in the private sector to manage this campaign if I didn’t believe Mike Johanns is going to be an outstanding U.S. senator,” Peterson said.

“I want to do everything possible to help elect him.”

After serving as press secretary during Johanns’ successful 1998 gubernatorial general election campaign, Peterson joined the governor’s staff as communications director and emerged as his leading spokesman.

After Johanns was re-elected in 2002, Peterson was named deputy chief of staff.

In 2003, Peterson resigned to become executive director of the Nebraska Republican Party, helping  guide it through the 2004 election.

Peterson joined UP after the election, working at its corporate headquarters in Omaha while commuting from Lincoln.  He managed the railroad’s state and local government relations in 8 states.

A 1993 graduate of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Peterson worked for the state GOP and as a legislative aide to state Sen. Dave Maurstad of Beatrice earlier in his career.  He managed Maurstad’s successful 1998 primary campaign for the Republican nomination for lieutenant governor.

Johanns resigned as U.S. secretary of agriculture last month to return to Nebraska to seek the Senate seat being vacated by Republican Sen. Chuck Hagel at the end of next year.

Reach Don Walton at 473-7248 or at dwalton@journalstar.com.