SEWARD, NE — A southeast Nebraska resident with ties to agriculture, education and manufacturing is running for state legislature.

Jana Hughes of Seward announced recently that she is running for the District 24 seat in the Unicameral. Current senator Mark Kolterman is term limited after next year.

Hughes says she is running to try to improve the communities she loves.

“My maternal family has been here for generations, my husband’s family has been here for generations and we’re hoping, likewise, generations to come," Hughes said. "So you should take what you have and make it better.”

Hughes grew up on a farm near Goehner. She graduated college with and engineering degree and married into the family that owns Hughes Brothers Manufacturing in Seward. Hughes is president of the Seward Junior Women’s Club, chair of the COVID relief fund for the Legacy fund of Seward County and a Seward school board member.

She says balancing education interests with respect for ag producers is her top priority if elected.

“Trying to help figure out - not taking any funding away but how do we get it and make it a little more equitable where it comes from,” Hughes said.

Hughes is a Republican. She also lists expanding rural broadband access is one of her goals, but she doesn’t want to build too big of an agenda in advance. She says she wants to use her analytical thinking style to solve problems.

“(I want to) dive into the issues and do the research and not make a rash or quick decision," Hughes said. "I need to see all sides of the story and there’s always more than two. Then, go back to my district and those communities and see what does that collective constituent want on that issue.”

Hughes is the first to declare for District 24, which includes Seward, York and Polk counties plus a sliver of western Butler County.