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Rick Kolowski
Rick Kolowski (b. December 26, 1944) is a former Democratic member of the Nebraska State Senate, representing District 31 from 2013 to 2021.[1] Kolowski did not file to run for re-election in 2020.
Biography
Kolowski's professional experience includes working as a teacher and founding principal of Millard West High School. Kolowski served in the U.S. Marine Corps.
Committee assignments
2019-2020
Kolowski was assigned to the following committees:
- Education Committee
- Nebraska Retirement Systems Committee
- Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee
2017 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2017 legislative session, this legislator served on the following committees:
| Nebraska committee assignments, 2017 |
|---|
| • Education |
| • Natural Resources |
2015 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2015 legislative session, Kolowski served on the following committees:
| Nebraska committee assignments, 2015 |
|---|
| • Education, Vice Chair |
| • Natural Resources |
| • Nebraska Retirement Systems |
2013-2014
In the 2013-2014 legislative session, Kolowski served on the following committees:
| Nebraska committee assignments, 2013 |
|---|
| • Education |
| • Natural Resources |
| • Nebraska Retirement Systems |
Campaign themes
2016
Kolowski's campaign website highlighted the following issues:
| “ |
Ending the Common Levy Rick Kolowski helped lead the battle to eliminate the Learning Community 'Common Levy'. The work he has done on behalf of the students and families of Millard Public Schools is unmatched. Securing Resources for Our Schools Rick worked to maintain and protect our Millard and Elkhorn School District boundaries. He fought hard for and won additional state resources for our schools. Holding the Line on Property and Income Taxes Rick helped to increase the Property Tax Credit Program to $204 million per year--allowing for a property tax credit of $95 per $100,000 of property valuation. Rick supported LB987 which indexes income tax brackets and creates a Social Security tax exemption for many Nebraskans. Rick will fight tooth and nail for additional property tax relief and the removal of state income taxes on Social Security.[2] |
” |
| —Rick Kolowski[3] | ||
2012
Kolowski's website highlighted the following campaign themes:[4]
...I will work tirelessly to promote education, create high-tech jobs, eliminate wasteful government spending and balance Nebraska’s budget. Having owned a home in our community for over 40 years, I understand the need for expanding Nebraska’s property tax relief programs.
Sponsored legislation
The following table lists bills this person sponsored as a legislator, according to BillTrack50 and sorted by action history. Bills are sorted by the date of their last action. The following list may not be comprehensive. To see all bills this legislator sponsored, click on the legislator's name in the title of the table.
Elections
2020
- See also: Nebraska State Senate elections, 2020
Rick Kolowski was not able to file for re-election due to term limits.[5]
2016
- See also: Nebraska State Senate elections, 2016
Elections for the Nebraska State Senate were held in 2016. The primary election took place on May 10, 2016. The general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was February 16, 2016, for incumbents. Challengers were required to file by March 1, 2016.[6]
Incumbent Rick Kolowski defeated Ian Swanson in the Nebraska State Senate District 31 general election.[7][8]
| Nebraska State Senate, District 31 General Election, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
 Rick Kolowski Incumbent |
52.07% | 9,762 |
| Ian Swanson | 47.93% | 8,985 |
| Total Votes | 18,747 | |
| Source: Nebraska Secretary of State | ||
Ian Swanson and incumbent Rick Kolowski defeated Peter Mayberry in the Nebraska State Senate District 31 primary.[9][10]
| Nebraska State Senate, District 31 Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
| Ian Swanson |
49.65% | 2,911 |
| Rick Kolowski Incumbent |
41.45% | 2,430 |
| Peter Mayberry | 8.90% | 522 |
| Total Votes | 5,863 | |
2012
- See also: Nebraska State Senate elections, 2012
Kolowski won election in the 2012 election for District 31 of the Nebraska State Senate. Kolowski was unopposed in the May 15 primary election and defeated Acela Turco in the general election, which took place on November 6, 2012.[11][12]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nonpartisan | Rick Kolowski |
52% | 9,121 | |
| Nonpartisan | Acela Turco | 48% | 8,413 | |
| Total Votes | 17,534 | |||
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
Scorecards
A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.
Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.
Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of Nebraska scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.
2020
In 2020, the Nebraska State Legislature was in session from January 8 to August 13.
- Legislators are scored on children's issues.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
2019
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2019, click [show]. |
|---|
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In 2019, the Nebraska Unicameral Legislature was in its 107th Legislature, 1st session from January 9 through May 31.
|
2018
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2018, click [show]. |
|---|
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In 2018, the Nebraska Unicameral Legislature was in its 106th Legislature, 2nd session from January 3 to April 18.
|
2017
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2017, click [show]. |
|---|
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In 2017, the Nebraska Unicameral Legislature was in its 105th Legislature, 1st session from January 4 to May 23.
|
2016
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2016, click [show]. |
|---|
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In 2016, the Nebraska Unicameral Legislature was in its 104th Legislature, 2nd session from January 6 to April 20.
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2015
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2015, click [show]. |
|---|
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In 2015, the Nebraska Unicameral Legislature was in its 104th Legislature, 1st session from January 7 to May 29.
|
2014
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2014, click [show]. |
|---|
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In 2014, the Nebraska Unicameral Legislature was in its 103rd Legislature, 2nd session from January 8 to April 17.[13]
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2013
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2013, click [show]. |
|---|
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In 2013, the Nebraska Unicameral Legislature was in its 103rd Legislature, 1st session from January 9 to June 5.
|
See also
External links
- Official campaign website
- Profile from Open States
- Biography from Project Vote Smart
- Legislative profile from Project Vote Smart
- Rick Kolowski on Facebook
- Campaign contributions via Follow the Money
Footnotes
- ↑ Note: Although the Nebraska State Senate elects its members in nonpartisan elections, members of the chamber generally function along party lines when it comes to voting and caucusing. Please see Nebraska State Senate partisan affiliation for more information.
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Vote Kolowski, "Issues," accessed September 29, 2016
- ↑ Rick Kolowski for Legislature, "Home page," accessed October 18, 2012(Archived)
- ↑ Nebraska Secretary of State, "Statewide Candidate List," accessed February 19, 2020
- ↑ Nebraska Secretary of State, "Official Election Calendar," accessed December 7, 2015
- ↑ Nebraska Secretary of State, "Statewide Candidate List for general election," accessed August 19, 2016
- ↑ Nebraska Secetary of State, "General election results, 2016," accessed December 21, 2016
- ↑ Nebraska Secretary of State, "Statewide Candidate List," accessed May 16, 2016
- ↑ Nebraska Secretary of State, "Primary Election May 10, 2016," accessed October 14, 2016
- ↑ Nebraska Secretary of State, "Statewide Candidate List," accessed February 14, 2014
- ↑ Nebraska Secretary of State, "Official Report of The Board of State Canvassers of the State of Nebraska - Primary Election, May 15, 2012," accessed May 13, 2014
- ↑ Nebraska Legislature, "2014 Legislative Session," accessed June 27, 2014
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Rich Pahls (R) |
Nebraska State Senate District 31 2013–2021 |
Succeeded by Rich Pahls (R) |
