NATE JENKINS / Lincoln Journal Star | Posted: Tuesday, August 16, 2005 7:00 pm
A Lincoln legislative seat that will be open because of term limits has attracted two candidates recently.
Danielle Nantkes and Carol Brown, both Democrats, have announced they will compete for the District 46 seat occupied by Sen. David Landis since 1978. Term limits will force Landis, also a Democrat, out after the 2006 legislative session.
While both Nantkes and Brown have been active in political circles, neither has sought elected, public office before. Nantkes works as an attorney for the Nebraska Appleseed Center for Law in the Public Interest. A licensed nurse, Brown is helping develop an interpreter-services program at Lincoln Action Program.
Brown's advocacy for Lincoln neighborhood groups has made her a familiar face in local politics and at Lincoln City Council meetings. She helped form an umbrella organization, the Lincoln Neighborhood Alliance, that gives neighborhood groups one voice on city issues, is chair of the Mayor's Neighborhood Roundtable and served on a mayoral committee that devised ways to finance city infrastructure such as streets and sewer lines.
If elected to replace Landis, Brown said she would continue to focus on issues that affect neighborhoods, which she called "the soul of our cities and state."
Brown, 53, declined to mention what specific issues relative to neighborhoods she will focus on in her campaign.
"I think I've always been a champion for neighborhoods and I want to continue championing their issues," Brown said.
Nantkes, who received her law degree from the University of Nebraska in 2003, has served in a variety of positions with the Democratic Party, including first associate chair of the Lancaster County Democratic Party. She is president of the Nebraska Young Democrats. Outside the party, she has been involved with groups including the YWCA, where she sits on the board of directors.
During the past few years, Nantkes, 28, has helped draft and promote legislation considered by the full Legislature. Among the bills she helped craft was a measure designed to provide economic relief to low-income families going through Chapter 7 bankruptcy. The bill was introduced by Landis, and approved by the Legislature.
Nantkes had considered running for Lincoln City Council, "but my heart is really at the state level, with policy."
"I think it has the greatest potential to touch lives," she added.
Brown had also considered running for the Lincoln City Council, as well as mayor.
Promoting responsible economic growth in the state and public education, Nantkes said, are of particular interest to her.
Reach Nate Jenkins at 473-7223 or njenkins@journalstar.com.