Doug Kristensen

Doug Kristensen
Chancellor of University of Nebraska at Kearney
In office
July 1, 2002 – May 31, 2024
Preceded byGladys Styles Johnson
Succeeded byNeal Schnoor
Speaker of the Nebraska Legislature
In office
January 7, 1998 – June 30, 2002
Preceded byRon Withem
Succeeded byCurt Bromm
Member of the Nebraska Legislature from the 37th district
In office
January 7, 1987 – June 30, 2002
Preceded byJerry D. Miller
Succeeded byJoel T. Johnson
Personal details
Born (1955-01-04) January 4, 1955
Kearney, Nebraska, US
PartyRepublican
SpouseTerri S. Harder
Children2 (Morgan, Paige)
EducationUniversity of Nebraska–Lincoln (B.A.)
Drake University Law School (J.D.)
OccupationAttorney, higher education administrator

Douglas A. Kristensen (born January 4, 1955) is a Republican politician and university administrator from Nebraska who served as Chancellor of University of Nebraska at Kearney from 2002 to 2024, as Speaker of the Nebraska Legislature from 1998 to 2002, and as a member of the Nebraska Legislature from the 37th district from 1987 to 2002.

Early life

Kristensen was born in Kearney, Nebraska, in 1955, and grew up in Minden.[1] He graduated from Minden High School in 1973, and then attended the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, receiving his bachelor's degree in economics and political science in 1977.[1] Kristensen then attended the Drake University Law School, graduating in 1980.[1]

In 1982, Kristensen ran for Kearney County Attorney.[2] He defeated Rebecca Miller in the Republican primary, receiving 833 votes to Miller's 459 votes.[3] In the general election, Kristensen defeated Democratic nominee David Wondra in a landslide, winning 64 percent of the vote to Wondra's 36 percent.[4] He was re-elected without opposition in 1986.[5][6]

Nebraska Legislature

Kristensen ran for the state legislature in 1988, challenging Democratic State Senator Jerry D. Miller for re-election in the 37th district, which was based in Buffalo, Franklin, Kearney, Nuckolls, and Webster counties.[7] Kristensen faced Miller and souvenir shop owner Nicholas Ponticello in the nonpartisan primary, and was supported by the state Republican Party.[8][9] Kristensen narrowly placed second in the primary, winning 47 percent of the vote to Miller's 51 percent and Ponticello's 2 percent.[10] Kristensen and Miller advanced to the general election,[11] where Kristensen defeated Miller by a wide margin, winning 65–35 percent.[10][12]

In 1992, Kristensen ran for re-election,[13] and was chalelnged by Ponticello.[14] Kristensen placed first over Ponticello in the primary election, winning 87 percent of the vote to Ponticello's 13 percent.[15] He won the general election by the same margin, defeating Ponticello, 87–13 percent.[15][16]

Kristensen was re-elected to a third 1996 without opposition.[17][18] In 1997, Speaker Ron Withem resigned from the legislature, and Kristensen ran to succeed him.[19] He ultimately defeated State Senator David Landis by a 26–21 vote.[20][21]

In 1999, Kristensen was re-elected as Speaker without opposition.[22] He ran for a fourth term in 2000, and was re-elected unopposed,[23][24] and was re-elected Speaker without opposition in 2001.[25]

University of Nebraska at Kearney

Kristensen applied to serve as the Chancellor of the University of Nebraska at Kearney in 2002.[26] Despite concerns about his inexperience as a university administrator,[26] he was named as the next chancellor by L. Dennis Smith, the president of the University of Nebraska system.[27] He was apparoved by the University of Nebraska Board of Regents on June 1, 2002, by a 7–1 vote.[28] Kristensen resigned from the legislature, effective June 30, 2002,[29] and was sworn in as Chancellor on July 1, 2002.[30]

In 2023, Kristensen announced that he would step down as Chancellor effective on July 1, 2024, stating that "now is the right time for me to step away and allow a new leader to carry on UNK’s vital work in providing education and economic development for central and western Nebraska."[31][32]

References

  1. ^ a b c Kerber, Kasey, ed. (2001). Nebraska Blue Book 2000-01 (PDF). Clerk of the Nebraska Legislature. Retrieved April 15, 2026.
  2. ^ "KSC's Security Chief Is Unopposed As Kearney Co. Sheriff Candidate". Kearney Hub. March 15, 1982. p. 5. Retrieved April 15, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "Area Election Results Listed". Kearney Hub. May 12, 1982. p. 5. Retrieved April 15, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "KSC Security Chief Wins Sheriff's Race". Kearney Hub. November 3, 1982. p. 6. Retrieved April 15, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Two Kearney County incumbents face opposition". Kearney Hub. May 12, 1986. p. 3. Retrieved April 15, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ Anderson, Carolyn (October 21, 1986). "Candidates present views". Kearney Hub. p. 3. Retrieved April 15, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ Gould, Tom (January 5, 1988). "Kristensen 'in' 37th District race". Kearney Hub. p. 3A. Retrieved April 15, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ Spencer, Craig (May 4, 1988). "Miller faces challenge in 37th District voting". Kearney Hub. p. 3A. Retrieved April 15, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ Kotok, C. David (March 12, 1988). "Lack of Opponents Called Frustrating By Party Leaders". Omaha World-Herald. p. 17, 22. Retrieved April 15, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ a b Beermann, Allen J. (1988). Official Report of the Nebraska State Canvassing Board, Primary Election, May 10, 1988, General Election, November 8, 1988 (PDF). Nebraska Secretary of State. Retrieved April 15, 2026.
  11. ^ Cordes, Henry J. (May 12, 1988). "Nebraskans Give a Double Shot Of Confidence to State Legislators". Omaha World-Herald. p. 7. Retrieved April 15, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ Cordes, Henry J. (November 9, 1988). "Election Returns Force Retirement on Some Outstate Legislators". Omaha World-Herald. p. 13. Retrieved April 15, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ Uhrmacher, Carrie (February 10, 1992). "Kristensen kicks off campaign". Kearney Hub. p. 3A. Retrieved April 15, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ "Two People Announce Bids for Legislature". Omaha World-Herald. February 7, 1992. p. 17. Retrieved April 15, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ a b Beermann, Allen J. (1992). Official Report of the Nebraska State Canvassing Board, Primary Election, May 12, 1992, General Election, November 3, 1992 (PDF). Nebraska Secretary of State. Retrieved April 15, 2026.
  16. ^ Lovitt-Psota, Janis (November 4, 1992). "Kristensen: Unicam's new faces mean change". Kearney Hub. p. 9A. Retrieved April 15, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ^ "Vote thins Unicam field". Kearney Hub. May 15, 1996. p. 9A. Retrieved April 15, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ^ Moore, Scott (1996). Official Report of the Nebraska State Canvassing Board, Primary Election, May 14, 1996, General Election, November 5, 1996 (PDF). Nebraska Secretary of State. Retrieved April 15, 2026.
  19. ^ Stoddard, Martha (December 21, 1997). "Senators facing leadership void". Lincoln Journal Star. p. 1B. Retrieved April 15, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. ^ O'Donnell, Patrick J., ed. (1998). Legislative Journal of the State of Nebraska: Ninety-Fifth Legislature, Second Session (PDF). Vol. 1. p. 141–42. Retrieved April 15, 2026.
  21. ^ Hord, Bill (January 7, 1998). "Kristensen Is Speaker of Legislature". Omaha World-Herald. p. 1. Retrieved April 15, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  22. ^ Tysver, Robynn (January 6, 1999). "Kristensen Defends Legislature as Session Opens". Omaha World-Herald. p. 1. Retrieved April 15, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  23. ^ Moore, Scott (2000). Official Report of the Nebraska State Canvassing Board, Primary Election, May 9, 2000, General Election, November 7, 2000 (PDF). Nebraska Secretary of State. Retrieved April 15, 2026.
  24. ^ "Nebraskans OK term limits, ban on same-sex marriages". Kearney Hub. November 8, 2000. p. 7A. Retrieved April 15, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  25. ^ Hicks, Nancy (January 4, 2001). "Term limits have effect on opening day". Lincoln Journal Star. p. 2B. Retrieved April 15, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  26. ^ a b O'Connor, Michael (April 8, 2002). "Lawmaker is wild card in the field to lead UNK". Omaha World-Herald. p. 1B. Retrieved April 15, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  27. ^ Rice, Vicki (May 18, 2002). "Chancellor Kristensen: New UNK chancellor announced". Kearney Hub. p. 1A. Retrieved April 15, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  28. ^ "Only one NU regent opposes Kristensen". Grand Island Independent. June 2, 2002. p. 1A. Retrieved April 15, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  29. ^ O'Donnell, Patrick J., ed. (2002). Legislative Journal of the State of Nebraska: Ninety-Seventh Legislature, Second Special Session (PDF). Vol. 1. p. 7. Retrieved April 15, 2026.
  30. ^ Rice, Vicki (July 1, 2002). "First Day of School: New chancellor ready to work on budget, hire administrators". Kearney Hub. p. 1A. Retrieved April 15, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  31. ^ Wendling, Zach (December 6, 2023). "UNK chancellor announces retirement 22 years after taking Central Nebraska role". Nebraska Examiner. Retrieved April 15, 2026.
  32. ^ Wendling, Zach (June 22, 2024). "Retired UNK chancellor reflects on 42 years of public service as 'living proof' of NU mission". Nebraska Examiner. Retrieved April 15, 2026.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.