Lathrop Announces He Will Step Aside at End of His Term
A leading Democrat in the Nebraska Legislature, state Sen. Steve Lathrop of Omaha, confirmed Monday that he isn’t running for reelection.
Lathrop, a 64-year-old attorney, has served 12 years in the Legislature, returning to the Unicameral in 2018 after sitting out four years because of term limits. Lathrop said it was time to “let someone else step in and have an opportunity.”
“It’s a very personal decision,” Lathrop said. “I’ve been doing it for 12 years. That is a long time. It’s a lot of sacrifice to come down here.”
Lathrop, who chairs the Judiciary Committee, has been a lead senator on issues surrounding the state’s overcrowded state prison system.
He has been involved in several of the major compromises struck in the Legislature, and has several times been mentioned as a candidate for higher office.
The senator, who represents a district that includes the Ralston and Millard areas, has also expressed frustration about the growing partisan divide in the 49-seat unicameral Legislature, compared to his first eight years in office, from 2006 to 2014.
Lathrop is part of a group of moderates, both Republicans and Democrats, who have worked across the aisle on issues. But he declined to comment on any frustrations.
“I feel privileged to have served and to represent my district,” Lathrop said. “We’ve been able to get some things done. I look forward to working on the Crime and Justice Institute reforms, and square away a long-term strategy for Corrections.”
The Crime and Justice Institute, at the invitation of Gov. Pete Ricketts, Lathrop and others, studied the state’s criminal justice system, which led to recommendations on how to reduce Nebraska’s prison overcrowding, the nation’s worst.
“I’m looking forward to going back to the office, maybe taking a few more trips and spending some more time on my pastimes,” he said.
Two candidates have so far filed for election to Lathrop’s District 12 seat.
Lathrop said that he has talked to one candidate about running.
This story was originally published by Nebraska Examiner, an editorially independent newsroom providing a hard-hitting, daily flow of news. Find more at nebraskaexaminer.com.
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