# Nebraska Cannabis Petition Workers Left Unpaid

My name is Dustin Sexton, and I am a professional petition circulator and coordinator with nearly 20 years of experience working ballot initiatives and petition campaigns across the country.

On June 5th, 2026, I was recruited to serve as a State Coordinator and client representative for a statewide Nebraska cannabis legalization initiative. Based on repeated assurances that funding and payment were in place, I immediately began building and managing a statewide team of petition circulators.

I was repeatedly told that I would receive a $200,000 retainer as part of a proposed $1.2 million agreement to coordinate the collection of approximately 180,000 signatures statewide. Under the plan presented to me, petition circulators would be paid $5 per signature, and I was also told I would receive an override of approximately $2 to $3 per signature for recruiting, onboarding, training, managing, and coordinating petition circulators throughout Nebraska.

One of the reasons I committed fully to this project was because this initiative was taking place in my home state of Nebraska. This was not just another petition campaign to me. I believed in the cause, believed in the people involved, and believed we had an opportunity to make history by giving Nebraska voters a chance to decide this issue at the ballot box.

I was especially encouraged after meeting personally with Bill "Farmer Bill" Hawkins, the author of the initiative. During one of our meetings in Lincoln, Nebraska, he provided me with petition materials, shook my hand, and encouraged me to continue building and managing a statewide team. During our conversation, he expressed tremendous confidence in my ability to lead the effort and told me that he intended to compensate me far beyond the original terms that had been discussed because of the value he believed I would bring to the campaign.

Based on those representations, I committed myself fully to the project and immediately began recruiting workers, organizing operations, distributing petition papers, and launching what I believed was a fully funded statewide campaign.

From morning until night, my phone rang constantly with calls and messages from petition circulators wanting to join the effort. I spent days driving between Omaha, Lincoln, Fremont, Norfolk, and other Nebraska communities delivering petition materials, onboarding workers, answering questions, and helping organize operations across the state.

Workers were onboarded through the campaign's application and background check process. Every evening I received updated records showing additional petitioners joining the effort. Believing the funding and payment commitments being discussed with me were real, I continued expanding the operation.

Over several days, members of my team collected thousands of signatures. Many workers spent their own money on fuel, hotels, meals, transportation, and other expenses while working long hours in good faith. Some traveled significant distances to help support the campaign because they believed they would be paid for their work.

When our first major signature turn-in occurred, many workers expected payment based on discussions that had taken place regarding compensation schedules. Instead, confusion and uncertainty began to develop regarding funding, payment timing, housing assistance, travel support, and campaign finances.

Throughout the campaign, I communicated extensively with campaign leadership Arveta Higgs, through emails, text messages, phone calls, and in-person meetings. Based on those communications, I believed funding was available, that workers would be paid, and that the campaign was prepared to support a statewide signature-gathering effort.

Throughout the campaign, I also communicated extensively with Arveta Higgs regarding funding, worker payments, travel assistance, housing support, onboarding, and campaign operations. Based on those communications, I believed funding was available and that petition workers would be compensated for their work.

Following our first major signature turn-in, communication became increasingly difficult. I was later informed that Arveta Higgs, who was the owner of the fundraising company, that dealt with the donors, had left Nebraska and returned to Missouri. With or without an extreme amount of money. Conflicting stories between Bill, Arveta, myself, and alot of my petitioners, (as a result of me giving everyone their phone numbers , because i still didn't have solid answers for them) It was really confusing, because, Bill, told me numerous times that she can't touch a dollar without his approval. So, then, where is the money? Does she have it? Or does Bill have it? And, where is my retainer? They both kept pinning everything on each other. And, i could never get on a 3 way call, or do an in person meeting with both of them. It sure is funny that she did not want him at our turn in to meet everyone. I was also informed that campaign materials, including petitions and affidavits, had been left behind and would need to be recovered. At that point, many questions remained unanswered regarding campaign funding, payment schedules, and responsibility for compensating workers. As of today, neither I nor many of the petitioners I recruited have received the payments we expected based on earlier discussions and representations.

Following our first major turn-in, I was left with more questions than answers. I received conflicting information regarding campaign finances, donor funding, payment schedules, and who was ultimately responsible for compensating workers. Despite my concerns, I was never given direct access to donors or the opportunity to discuss funding questions with them directly.

As of today, I have not received the promised retainer, I have not been paid for my coordination work, and many petitioners who worked under my coordination remain unpaid as well.

The result has been devastating. Petitioners who trusted me and joined the campaign remain frustrated, confused, and seeking answers. In addition to the substantial out-of-pocket expenses I incurred for fuel, hotels, printing, transportation, supplies, and campaign operations, I have not received compensation for my coordination work or the override compensation that I was told would be part of the statewide operation.

Perhaps most painful of all, my professional reputation has suffered significant damage despite the fact that I was never paid myself and was relying on the same promises being made to everyone else. I have spent nearly two decades building relationships and trust in this industry, and this situation has put that reputation at risk.

This situation has also created serious personal stress. While many petitioners understand that I was also affected and support me, I have also received threats from individuals who are understandably angry and looking for answers about what happened.

I am currently gathering and organizing documentation, including emails, text messages, onboarding records, receipts, photographs, videos, witness statements, and other evidence dating back to June 2026. I am also speaking with members of the media and seeking legal guidance regarding the events that occurred.

I am creating this fundraiser to help cover campaign-related expenses, legal consultations, documentation costs, travel expenses, and to provide assistance for affected petition workers who were left in a difficult position after relying on promises that they would be compensated for their work.

Any contribution, no matter the amount, is greatly appreciated. If you cannot donate, please consider sharing this fundraiser so more people can learn about what happened and help support those affected.

Thank you for your support.

Dustin Sexton

Omaha, Nebraska