FAIRBURY - One of Nebraska's next state senators could come from Jefferson County: Jefferson County Commissioner Mark Schoenrock formally announced his candidacy for the Nebraska Legislature on Thursday morning in Fairbury.


District 32, covering multiple counties in Southeast Nebraska, is currently represented by Tom Brandt, whose time in the senate is term-limited but was in attendance Thursday to evaluate a potential successor.


A former Army logistician who has spent the last ten years as a commissioner in his native Jefferson County, Schoenrock said he would tap into those experiences to guide him in this new endeavor.

"One of the things that I learned in all those years in a leadership position is it’s not about you as the leader, it’s about your team. I was told my team – wherever it was and whatever we were doing – each of us has an oar to pull in this boat. My oar as the commander is no less or more important than your oar, whether you’re a cook, or a transporter or an ammo humper, whatever you’re doing...each of those oars has to be pulled in the boat in order for us to be successful," Schoenrock said in his address Thursday. "That’s been my approach as a county commissioner, working together with my fellow commissioners here in Jefferson County, and with fellow county commissioners all across the state."

During his official campaign launch announcement in front of a strong crowd at On The Bricks in Fairbury, Schoenrock was flanked by some of those fellow officials from neighboring counties such as Thayer and Gage, state officials, prominent players in state politics such as reps from NACO and the Nebraska Republican Party, and current state senators such as Brandt, Stan Clouse and Kathleen Kauth.

"If there’s one thing that Mark understands deeply, it’s service. His lifetime of military commitment isn’t just something on a resume, it’s a reflection of who he is: discipline, integrity, and sense of duty have been the foundation of his leadership," Gage County Commissioner Emily Haxby said. "Whether in uniform or at a county board meeting, he brings that same steady hand, thoughtful presence, and willingness to stand up for what’s right in everything he does."

"He’s going to have the right approach to work with people. You can’t just come in and say my way pr the highway, whether it’s life, or business, or certainly in the Nebraska legislature, you have to find ways to work with people, and Mark has that,' said Nebraska attorney general Mike Hilgers. "In a world of term limits, it’s really hard to have the [necessary] institutional knowledge. Mark understands the systems, he understands the processes. Mark’s going to hit the ground running in ways a lot of new freshmen won’t be able to."

"I’ve been down in the statehouse for 23 years now. I’ve seen a lot of people come and go through that legislature, and each in their own way, they make a contribution to the state, some in larger ways, some in smaller. And I always like to quiz these folks as they launch their candidacies and put them through the paces and ask them the tough questions about where they stand, what are their values?" said Nebraska Auditor Mike Foley. "And I was instantly impressed with Mark Schoenrock. This guys is going to be a rockstar in that legislature."

In a potential future role in the state senate, Schoenrock said he will prioritize fixes to property tax concerns, access to mental health resources and hospitals in rural communities, local control of education, and strong relationships between state and local governments.

"I will never forget who I am entrusted to serve. It’s not about me, it’s about you. And I’m only the vehicle," he concluded. "I pledge to maintain a strong relationship with each of you in the room today, and with all of our citizens, to do the best job to represent us in the Nebraska legislature."


No word yet on if there will be any other contestants for this soon-to-be-open Senate seat.