Jana Hughes

Jana Hughes was born in Friend, Nebraska. She earned a bachelor's degree from Texas A&M University in 1993. Her career experience includes working as a substitute teacher and group exercise instructor.[1]

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I was born and raised on a farm near Goehner and graduated from Seward High. I attended college out of state and received an engineering degree. I worked for an engineering consulting firm and lived in a variety of states where the projects were. I then moved back to Nebraska and married John Hughes. His family owns a manufacturing firm in Seward. Once our oldest was born I became a full-time mother. We have three children (2 in college and one in high school). Our kids attended St. John Lutheran K-8 and then went to Seward High. I also volunteer in the community through our Lutheran church, 4-H, Seward Jr Women's Club, Heartfelt, Inc, The Legacy Fund of Seward County Covid Relief committee, the Seward Wellness Center Planning committee, and I serve on the Seward Public School board. When covid hit I got my substitute teachers license. I am running for this position because I think it should be regular people that represent the District - not career politicians. My family has been here for multiple generations and will hopefully be here for many to come. We need to keep Nebraska the special place that it is and I aim to support legislation that will ensure that. When you think of Nebraskans you think of a strong work ethic, good Christian morals and someone that cares about their neighbor. I will uphold those values.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Conservative Common Sense Approach: I was raised on a farm with a strong Christian faith where hard work was expected. I will take this legislator position seriously and will give it my all. With my engineering background I tend to approach things analytically and thoughtfully and will ask many questions to get to all sides of an issue. My Christianity is the "lens" in which I look at things and that cannot be set aside. My approach also involves developing relationships. Relationships with the people of District 24 so when legislation crosses my desk I have connections made so I can ask "how does this affect you or your business?". I will also make relationships with the other senators so we can work together to accomplish goals.The Future: My brother is now 4th generation farmer of Luebbe Farms, my husbands family is 3rd generation of Hughes Brothers Manufacturing. We have been in this area for over 100 years and hopefully will be for the next 100 years or more. The future is our children and we are tasked with making things better for them. That means strong schools, good family supporting jobs, and no excessive government regulation and taxation. (I believe in local control whenever possible).Upholding the Constitution: The supreme federal law in the land is the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. At the state level it is the Nebraska Constitution. The elected legislators have a special trust to only enact moral laws that are in harmony with the constitution. The constitution protects us from governmental abuse and overreach. I will uphold our constitution and bill of rights. So will protect the right to life (unborn to the elderly) and protect the right to bear arms. I am endorsed by an "A" rating by the National Rifle Association

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I am very interested in addressing the property tax issue in this state which is really a school funding issue. If we truly value education then every student across the state should get some state aid. Currently we keep "band aiding" the property tax issue with rebate credits, limits, etc.

I am also very interested in broadband access. Covid has provided Nebraska a unique opportunity. People can work from anywhere and we can attract some people back to the "good life" as well as attract businesses to our state and specifically our rural areas. This cannot happen if we don't have reliable, affordable and high quality internet access. USDA study says that 39% of rural areas lack access to good broadband. This must change - it is essential.

Rural economic development is another area that needs to be focused on. We need to make sure existing businesses stay strong and can make improvements as well as encouraging entrepreneurs and new businesses to grow in our district.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

Honest

Ethical

Organized

Analytical

Listener

Relational

Fiscally Conservative

Level headed

Sensible

Good communicator

Efficient

Civic minded

Moral

Pragmatic

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

Engaging with their constituents so you are aware of their values and beliefs and will represent them when voting.

Being available for meetings/events so you can keep updated with things going on in the district.

Communicating to the district legislative updates so everyone is aware of what is going on.

Being transparent about the issues being addressed on the floor. Communication can take the form of updates on the legislative webpage, newspaper articles and holding local area meetings.

Analyzing and investigating issues so that "all sides" are understood before making a decision.

Enacting good sound policy that upholds the constitution.

Upholding strong Christian values.

Working hard to do what's best for the district and Nebraska.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

My very first job like a lot of farm kids was to detassel. I started when I was 12 years old and did it every summer during high school. Working in the fields teaches a kid the value of a dollar and what hard work is! It also helps a person develop some confidence and self respect. When we worked the fields we did not have porta pots, hats with nets, safety glasses and gloves. Half the time we went barefoot in the field! Amazing how time and "government regulations" have changed things!

What is your favorite book? Why?

Fiction: A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman - because it made me laugh out loud and everyone knows a curmudgeon that has a heart of gold.

Non-fiction: Eat Move Sleep by Tom Rath - it discusses the three pillars of health and how small choices in each area can make big changes in your overall health. I found it to have very "doable" suggestions. You don't have to radically change your lifestyle to have a positive effect.

What do you perceive to be your state's greatest challenges over the next decade?

Economically I think one of the biggest challenges we are going to face is our employment or "lack of". We have one of the lowest unemployment percentages across the country and yet have the highest percentage of people working. So keeping our people here (including our children) will be a must. We need to provide quality education to do that and make sure we are "attractive" to keeping people here and encouraging people to move here. We will need affordable, accessible broadband, affordable and available housing and good amenities in our towns to attract people to the quality of life you can have in Nebraska.

Do you believe that it’s beneficial for state legislators to have previous experience in government or politics?

I think having previous experience can help in terms of navigating the system. So in that way it's a benefit. However I think we are better off having "non politicians" so that they can come in with no preconceived notions of "how things are done" or that are set in a certain way of doing things. Looking at processes with a fresh eye can make them more streamlined.

Do you believe it’s beneficial to build relationships with other legislators? Please explain your answer.

Yes I do. Each district just has one vote and there are 48 others. Relationships need to be made so the legislators can work together to pass good policy. On the committees the legislators need to work together as well. A functioning body is one that respects each other and can "agree" to disagree but will work together toward a common goal. I do believe everyone in the legislature has good intentions which should be to do the best for our fellow Nebraskans.

If you are not a current legislator, are there certain committees that you would want to be a part of?

Education

Transportation & Telecommunications

Are you interested in running for a different political office (for example, the U.S. Congress or governor) in the future?

No.