Kevin Stocker (politician)
Kevin Stocker | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Nebraska Public Service Commission from the 5th district | |
| Assumed office January 5, 2023 | |
| Preceded by | Mary Ridder |
| Personal details | |
| Born | November 7, 1960 |
| Party | Republican |
| Spouse | Mary Starkey |
| Education | University of Nebraska–Lincoln (B.S.) |
Kevin Stocker (born November 7, 1960) is an American Republican politician and businessman currently serving as a member of the Nebraska Public Service Commission from the 5th district.
Early life
Stocker was born in Scottsbluff, Nebraska, and graduated from Scottsbluff High School in 1979. He then attended the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, graduating with his bachelor's degree in agriscience in 1982.[1]
Nebraska Public Service Commission
Stocker ran for the Public Service Commission in 2022, challenging incumbent Commissioner Mary Ridder in the Republican primary.[2] He self-funded his campaign and significantly outspent Ridder, who had not raised or spent enough to file a state campaign finance report.[3] Stocker ultimately defeated Ridder in a 3 way race by winning 41 percent of the vote.[4][5] He was unopposed in the general election.[6]
Several months into Stocker's term, he and fellow Commissioner Christian Mirch were censured by the Commission for an undisclosed personnel issue.[7] Stocker and Mirch issued a joint press release in response to the censure, which they characterized as a "politically motivated attack" by the Commission's Chairman, Dan Watermeier, which was meant "to distract the media and the public from the commission's repeated failures and dereliction of duty."[7]
References
- ^ Heltzel, Kate, ed. (2023). Nebraska Blue Book, 2022-23. Office of the Clerk of the Nebraska Legislature. p. 678. Retrieved February 14, 2025.
- ^ KNEB News (2022-02-19). "Stocker Declares for Dist. 5 Public Service Commission Seat". Retrieved February 14, 2025.
- ^ Von Kampen, Todd (July 6, 2022). "Hardin spent over $55,500 in primary race". Star-Herald. Scottsbluff, Nebraska. p. A1, A3. Retrieved February 25, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Gale, John A. (2022). Official Report of the Nebraska Board of State Canvassers, Primary Election, May 10, 2022 (PDF). Nebraska Secretary of State. Retrieved February 11, 2026.
- ^ von Kampen, Todd (May 11, 2022). "No recount necessary: Kevin Stocker pulls away to unseat Mary Ridder in District 7 PSC race". North Platte Telegraph. Retrieved February 25, 2026.
- ^ Robert B. Evnen. Official Report of the Nebraska Board of Canvassers, General Election, November 8, 2022 (PDF).
- ^ a b Dunker, Chris; Wegley, Andrew (October 3, 2023). "Nebraska Public Service Commission votes to censure two members". Omaha World-Herald. Retrieved February 25, 2026.