Howard ready for new adventure closer to home

Above: Sen. Sara Howard (right), who spent her teenage years flying planes, enjoys a cockpit tour with her mother, former Sen. Gwen Howard.

Omaha Sen. Sara Howard comes by her admiration for the Nebraska Legislature naturally; it’s a family affair. Having managed her mother Gwen’s first campaign for her legislative seat in 2004 – at age 23 – Howard said the Unicameral has long felt like family.

That bond became even stronger following the unexpected death of Howard’s sister, Carrie, in 2009. Howard had just taken her first job out of law school in Chicago and was unable to return immediately to Nebraska.

“Her legislative family really stepped up and took care of my Mom,” she said. “It was a good reminder that this place is as much about the people as it is about policy.”

Howard said the ability to see past political perspectives and view fellow senators as friends can helps lawmakers work toward the common goal of a better Nebraska.

“At the end of the day, you can always find an area of common ground,” she said.

After moving back to Nebraska from Chicago, Howard began work at One World Community Health Center in Omaha. Being passionate about health care access also has informed Howard’s legislative goals, she said.

“It’s an exciting time to be working in health care,” she said, adding that health care reform and access look to be major issues for lawmakers in the coming session.

But one still has to learn the ropes of being a legislator.

Howard said she sought advice from veteran senators, asking them what they wish they had known when starting their legislative careers. The answers ranged from making sure to know the location of the nearest bathroom to never signing on to a bill without having read it completely, she said.

But the best advice, Howard said, came from Sen. Brad Ashford, who she said has known her since she was a baby.

“He told me not to take myself too seriously,” she said. “If something you support doesn’t get passed this year, don’t take it personally. And remember that anything you do accomplish may be undone after you leave.”

The advice from mom was less about policy and more about practicality, Howard said. “She trusted me to make good decisions for my district,” she said, “so she just wanted to be sure that I was taking care of myself.”

That means trying to find time for hobbies, which include letterpress – a form of relief printing that has enjoyed a revival in recent years among artisan stationery and invitation makers. She also enjoys reading. The latter being a pastime Howard appears to share with many of her constituents.

Howard said many of the people she met while campaigning were reading Game of Thrones – which she recently finished – including one constituent who was enjoying it on his porch.

“I walked up and he said, without looking up from the book, ‘I’m voting for you, alright? Get out of here!’” she said, laughing.

In addition to these more tame pursuits, Howard often has been one for bold choices.

After taking flying lessons at 13 and flying planes for six years, Howard said she decided to spend all of her money and journey to Scotland, where she studied Scottish history at the University of Edinburgh and was a page in the Scottish Parliament.

It was that same sense of adventure that took Howard to Smith College in Massachusetts and then to law school in Chicago.

“I think every young person pictures themselves having an exciting life, blazing a trail out in the world,” she said. “But sometimes you realize that being there for your family is just as important, and just as satisfying.”

Howard said not being able to be in Omaha to physically support her mother following her sister’s death was a major reason that she decided to move back to Nebraska.

She said her grandmother recently questioned whether she would prefer spending more “exciting” time with friends. Howard said she assured her grandmother that she is exactly where she wants to be.

“I’d rather be here watching Downton Abbey with you,” Howard replied.