Gov. Ricketts introduces Dover as new Dist. 19 state senator

LINCOLN, Neb. (WOWT) - Gov. Pete Ricketts announced his appointment to fill the Nebraska legislature’s Dist. 19 vacancy on Friday morning.

Ricketts appointed Rob Dover, who was immediately sworn in by Nebraska Secretary of State Bob Evnen as his family watched. Dover, who was moved to tears during his comments that followed, is a realtor in Norfolk and a member of the state’s Chamber of Commerce.

With Mike Flood sworn into Congress to serve out the remainder of Jeff Fortenberry’s term, Gov. Pete Ricketts took applications for the newest Nebraska state senator representing.

Dist. 19 includes all of Madison County as well as some communities in Pierce County. It includes the communities of Norfolk, Battle Creek, Madison, Meadow Grove, Newman Grove, Hadar, and Pierce.

Applications for the executive appointment, which will serve out the legislative term that ends January 2025, were due Friday, July 8.

“The governor reserves the right to seek out additional qualified candidates,” the news release states.

Ricketts said during a news conference last month that he would be seeking a pro-life candidate “because that would reflect what the people of that district and certainly reflects Mike Flood’s beliefs.”

Mike Flood is the founder and an owner of Flood Communications and News Channel Nebraska. All stories about him and any declared candidates in the Nebraska First Congressional District race during the remainder of his campaign and/or ensuing tenure in office have been and will be written by outside media outlets.