Sen. Coash revs up for the Unicameral

Above: Sen. Coash and his wife Rhonda pause for a photo with his 1974 Corvette Stingray.

This senator’s early love of cars was the key to his first involvement with the Legislature. Thirteen-year-old Bassett native and future state Sen. Colby Coash took a job at a local restaurant.

“The whole goal was to wash dishes to earn money for a car,” Coash said. “I was probably earning $3.50 an hour. It was a terrible job.”

His dream ran off-course, however, when his employer proposed cutting his hours in anticipation of a law before the Legislature that would limit the number of hours teens were allowed to work.

Coash returned home and shared his woes with his father, who then facilitated what would be the future senator’s first interaction with state government.

“Rather than saying, ‘Well that’s just tough — that’s the way it is,’ he got on the phone with our state senator,” Coash said. His father gave him the phone and instructed him to explain his situation.

Subsequently, the bill threatening Coash’s dream of purchasing a car failed to pass.

Twenty years later, Coash is still involved in legislative issues and still appreciates his cars, which he drives to cars shows with his wife, Rhonda. He said his prized vehicle is the first classic car he purchased: a banana-yellow 1974 Corvette Stingray.

Not all of Coash’s interests are fueled with gasoline, however. The son of an agronomist, he enjoys planting and gardening — especially mint, which he uses in mint juleps served at his annual Kentucky Derby party. The gardener also enjoys heavy metal music.

His passion for all things fast will come in handy as he juggles his role as a Nebraska state senator with his work for a disability services agency. While he said the work pulls him in many directions, both jobs share a commonality.

“My life is not necessarily my own anymore. I share my time with my constituents and the state,” Coash said. “My work was already in advocacy for people with disabilities, so in a lot of ways, my public service is just an extension of my work.”

The senator’s life is about to shift into high gear, however, as he and his wife are expecting their first child.

“I found out that I was going to be a senator and a dad in the same couple of weeks. So it’s been a big year for my wife and me,” Coash said.