Brett Lindstrom (Courtesy photo)LINCOLN–(KFOR Aug. 16)–Independent gubernatorial candidate Brett Lindstrom on Saturday held a news conference in Omaha to talk about his name not going to be on the Nov. 3 general election ballot, after it was made known on Friday that he did not qualify because o f over one-third of the 5,700 signatures he collected on a petition drive were fraudulent. Lindstrom, a financial advisor and former Republican state senator from the western suburbs of Omaha from 2015 to 2023, said he was disappointed that he didn’t have enough valid signatures to clear the 4,000-signature threshold to get on the ballot.  He said both the Republican and Democratic parties “have gotten to the extremes.” “They’ve gone and it’s become weaponized, and everybody else is caught in the crossfire,” Lindstrom said.  “I’m not going to participate in this loyalty test or whatever it is.” For now, Lindstrom is taking a step back to get a perspective on his political career, but he didn’t rule out running as a write-in candidate for governor. On Aug. 7, five people were arrested for collecting fraudulent signatures during a petition effort aimed at changing cycles for Lincoln city elections and more arrests are possible.  It’s not clear if those same people were involved in the petition circulation for Lindstrom’s candidacy for governor. ALSO READ: Brett Lindstrom fails to qualify for Nebraska governor’s race after more than 2,000 signatures invalidated ...read more read less