Janssen lines up his support

Dodge County has been represented in the Legislature by a Janssen for the past 15 years.

If Ray Janssen, the man who currently holds the 15th District seat, has his way, a Janssen will continue to serve in the Legislature.

“I look forward to being replaced by my nephew (Charlie Janssen),” the current state senator said Thursday at a packed Love-Larson Opera House. “That's going to happen. I could not have hand-picked a better person.”

Charlie Janssen, who represents Ward 1 on the Fremont City Council, officially kicked off his campaign for the 15th District seat on Thursday. His uncle will not be able to run because of term limits approved by voters.

Janssen is launching the campaign about 11 months before a possible primary and already he has the backing of several key leaders - Fremont Mayor Skip Edwards, Speaker of the Legislature Mike Flood, Attorney General Jon Bruning and, obviously, his uncle.

“I appreciate the support this county has given me over the years,” Ray Janssen said. “I look at Charlie - young, aggressive, good looking - and I see the same enthusiasm that I acquired after doing some campaigning.

“We need young, aggressive people who want to work, not only in state government but in your local communities, county boards,” he added. “We need those kind of people.”

Edwards said Janssen has the attributes to make his “a great state senator.”

“I know he's got big shoes to fill,” Edwards said. “But I'll tell you what, he's a good listener. He's been a great city councilman. He's a great communicator.”

Flood, who became Speaker of the Legislature in just his second year as a senator, said voters in Dodge County - which makes up the entire 15th District - have a great opportunity.

“Charlie has the enthusiasm to get working, to get running on the ground, to make connections, to make friends, to get busy in the Legislature,” he said. “You need somebody who wakes up each day and says, ‘What am I going to do not just for Fremont, but for Dodge, Snyder, Nickerson, Hooper.' It's a countywide effort.”

Bruning said the district needs somebody in the Legislature looking out for what's good for Dodge County.

“Dodge County is going to end up with a guy who is going to fight for you, who's going to make sure you're represented well, who's not only going to make Dodge County proud but Nebraska proud,” Bruning said. “You've picked the right guy in Charlie Janssen.”

For his part, Janssen said there are good reasons to kick off the campaign this early. There has not been an open seat in the district for the past 15 years and he believes there will be plenty of competition for it.

“I think those who want to serve Dodge County for the next four years and beyond have a duty and a responsibility to get their name out, to get to know people, to know what people are thinking,” he said. “I didn't want it to come down to January, February of next year and try to cram a campaign into a three- or four-month window.”

Janssen said he will use this time to talk to area residents, listening to their concerns.

“I want to get a chance to meet the people to figure out what concerns you,” he said. “I want to get to know the issues beyond the headlines. I could sit here today and tell you I want to be part of the movement to limit government, that offers tax relief and control state spending, because I really do. But I really want to talk to people in Dodge, Scribner, Hooper, Nickerson, Fremont to find out how we do that. Those are easy things to say, but how do we do that and what's the best way to do that.”

Janssen is chairman and chief executive officer of RTG Medical Inc., a national temporary placement company based in Fremont.

Born in Fremont, he was raised in Nickerson where his mother was the village clerk for more than 20 years. He is a 1989 graduate of Logan View High School.

After high school, Janssen served in the U.S. Navy as a search and rescue swimmer. He served during the Persian Gulf War and earned several awards and commendations during his enlistment.