Community servant takes state seat

Above: Sen. Langemeier helps brand cattle on his wife’s family ranch near Brewster. In his free time, Langemeier enjoys riding horses and helping with ranch chores.

Sen. Chris Langemeier of Schuyler asked his 5-year-old son Jakub if he would like to attend the Legislature’s swearing-in ceremony in January on the first day of the session, a Wednesday.

“Dad, I have preschool on Wednesdays,” was his reply.

Apparently he had a change of heart, Langemeier said, because Jakub and Aaron, his 2-year-old son, managed to take the day off to see their father sworn in as the new state senator for the 23rd district.

“Jakub thinks it’s cool that I work in the Capitol building,” Langemeier said. “He thinks the whole building is my office.”

Langemeier said he has always been motivated by a desire to serve his community. Before running for the Legislature, he was active in Schuyler’s Chamber of Commerce, Economic Development Committee, Rotary Club, Sertoma Club, Knights of Columbus, St. Augustine’s Catholic Church, the Lower Platte North Natural Resources District and Colfax County 4-H.

The senator is proud of his hometown and the progress that Schuyler has made in recent years.

“We’re the only rural town in the state whose population is growing, not shrinking,” he said.

The town has recently started expansion projects for its hospital and golf course, and local residents have organized to renovate the old theater downtown into a modern movie theater for residents to enjoy.

Langemeier said he decided to run for senator to have the opportunity to look at the big picture.

“I have a real concern for the direction that Nebraska is going, especially for the lack of young people staying in rural Nebraska,” he said.

One highlight of his role as senator was attending the inauguration ceremony of President George W. Bush in January. He enjoyed the opportunity to meet people and hear about national issues. Regardless of political beliefs, he said, it is interesting to see such a spectacle.

“I advise anyone to go once in their life,” he said. “But I don’t think you’d have to do it twice.”

Langemeier is a graduate of Schuyler Central High School and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He has been married to his wife Kerri for 11 years. He is a real estate broker and owns Land Mark Management and Realty Inc. in Schuyler.

In his spare time, Langemeier is a big fan of horseback riding. His wife’s family has a ranch north of Brewster, which the senator’s family visits monthly to help with projects such as branding or moving the cattle to pasture.

Carpentry also is a hobby for the senator, though he hasn’t much time for that lately.

“I may need it as a stress reliever after this,” he joked.