Mark Kolterman
Member of the Nebraska Legislature
from the 24th district
In office
January 7, 2015 – January 4, 2023
Preceded byGreg L. Adams
Succeeded byJana Hughes
Personal details
Born (1951-03-16) March 16, 1951
Seward, Nebraska
Political partyRepublican
ResidenceSeward County, Nebraska
OccupationInsurance professional

Mark Kolterman (born March 16, 1951) is a politician from the state of Nebraska in the Midwestern United States. In 2014, he was elected to the Nebraska Legislature, representing a district in the southeastern part of the state. Kolterman is a member of the Republican Party.

Personal life and professional career

Kolterman was born March 16, 1951, in Seward, Nebraska. He graduated from Seward High School in 1969. From 1969 to 1971, he attended the University of Nebraska–Lincoln; in 1974, he received an associate degree in building construction from Southeast Community College in Milford, Nebraska. He received a bachelor's degree in industrial technology from Peru State College in Peru, Nebraska, in 1994.[1][2]

Kolterman began working as an insurance professional in 1976. In 1980, he founded Kolterman Agency, Inc., a financial-services firm specializing in employee and executive benefits, estate planning, and investments; as of 2015, he remained co-owner, with his wife, and president of the firm.[2][3]

In 1971, Kolterman married Suzanne Geis; the couple eventually produced two children.[1]

Political career

2014 election

In June 2013, Kolterman announced that he would run in the 2014 election for the Nebraska legislature from the 24th District, comprising Polk, Seward, and York Counties. The incumbent, Greg Adams, then the Speaker of the Legislature and a member of the Republican Party, was barred by Nebraska's term-limits law from running for a third consecutive term.[4][5][6]

At the time of his announcement of candidacy, Kolterman stated that he favored some sort of expansion of Medicaid, which funds medical expenses for low-income people, if it could be done cost-effectively.[4] In subsequent campaign materials and interviews, he declared that he was entirely opposed to the 2010 Affordable Care Act, and that "I do not support expanding [M]edicaid or other social welfare programs";[7] his opposition, he stated, was based in part on his belief that the federal government would eventually renege on its pledge to reimburse states for the costs of Medicaid expansion.[8]

Kolterman described himself as "solidly pro-life".[7] Beside defining his position on abortion, he said, this affected his views on capital punishment; although he regarded the death penalty as "an important tool for prosecutors", it should only be used in extreme cases.[9]

Kolterman stated that he was opposed to a proposed increase in Nebraska's minimum wage. He stated that the nation was suffering from an excess of government regulations, while declaring that a certain amount of regulation was necessary.[8]

In the nonpartisan primary election, Republican Kolterman faced Kirk Tesar, a 31-year-old Democrat and a production supervisor for a seed-corn company from York.[8] Tesar was thought to be associated with progressive organization Bold Nebraska,[10] and to have been recruited by opponents of the proposed Keystone XL oil pipeline;[11] one source described him as "outspoken against" the pipeline.[12]

When the primary election was held, Kolterman received 5147 votes, or 80% of the total, to Tesar's 1302 votes (20%). As the top two vote-getters in the primary, both candidates moved on to the general election.[13][14]

In the course of the campaign, Kolterman raised about $48,000, and spent about $42,000.[15] Tesar did not register a campaign organization with the Nebraska Accountability and Disclosure Commission;[16] candidates who raised less than $5,000 were not required to do so.[17]

Kolterman won the November 2014 general election with 7971 votes, or 80.5% of the total. Tesar obtained 1937 votes, or 19.5%.[18]

References

  1. 1 2 "Sen. Mark Kolterman—Biography". Archived May 19, 2015, at the Wayback Machine Nebraska Legislature. Retrieved May 19, 2015. Archived May 19, 2015, at Wayback Machine.
  2. 1 2 "Biography". Archived January 16, 2015, at the Wayback Machine Kolterman for Legislature. Retrieved May 19, 2015. Archived January 16, 2015, at Wayback Machine.
  3. ↑ "Mark Kolterman". Kolterman Agency. Retrieved May 19, 2015.
  4. 1 2 Young, Joanne. "Seward resident wants legislative seat". Lincoln Journal Star. June 10, 2013. Retrieved May 19, 2015.
  5. ↑ "Legislative District 24 - LB703 (2011)". Nebraska Legislature. Retrieved May 19, 2015.
  6. ↑ "Biography". Senator Greg Adams. Retrieved May 19, 2015. Archived November 16, 2013, at Wayback Machine.
  7. 1 2 "Issues". Archived March 24, 2015, at the Wayback Machine Kolterman for Legislature. Retrieved May 20, 2015. Archived March 24, 2015, at Wayback Machine.
  8. 1 2 3 Gaarder, Nancy. "Views on minimum wage, Medicaid common in eastern Nebraska legislative races". Omaha World-Herald. October 12, 2014. Retrieved May 19, 2015.
  9. ↑ "Mark A. Kolterman". Lincoln Journal Star. October 3, 2014. Retrieved May 19, 2015.
  10. ↑ "2014 Candidate Guidebook", p. 14. Nebraska Rural Electric Association. Retrieved May 18, 2015.
  11. ↑ "May 13, 2014 Legislature Primary"; expand entries under heading "District 24". American Council of Engineering Companies of Nebraska. Retrieved May 20, 2015. Archived February 2, 2015, at Wayback Machine.
  12. ↑ "State Legislature". New Energy Voter. Retrieved May 20, 2015. Archived April 1, 2015, at Wayback Machine.
  13. ↑ "Official Report of the Board of State Canvassers of the State of Nebraska: Primary Election, May 13, 2014", p. 35. Nebraska Secretary of State. Retrieved May 19, 2015.
  14. ↑ Wilkinson, Melanie. "Kolterman wins most Primary votes". York News-Times. May 14, 2014. Retrieved May 20, 2015.
  15. ↑ "Kolterman for Legislature". Nebraska Accountability and Disclosure Commission. Retrieved May 20, 2015. See "Financial Summary" tab for overall numbers; "Schedule A" for contributions by individuals; "Schedule B" for contributions by businesses and organizations.
  16. ↑ "Forms for Kirk Tesar for Legislature 24 (Not Registered)".Nebraska Accountability and Disclosure Commission. Retrieved May 20, 2015.
  17. ↑ "Candidates—General Information for the Public". Nebraska Accountability and Disclosure Commission. Retrieved May 20, 2015.
  18. ↑ "Official Report of the Board of State Canvassers of the State of Nebraska: General Election, November 4, 2014" Archived January 8, 2015, at the Wayback Machine, p. 20. Nebraska Secretary of State. Retrieved May 19, 2015.
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