Lana Peister, (Liz Macias, Central Nebraska Today)
KEARNEY — Lana Peister is running for the Nebraska Legislature District 37 seat.
Peister has been a lifelong resident of Buffalo County, growing up just off of the Minden interchange.
She graduated from Gibbon High School and later earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from UNK, a bachelor’s in nursing from Creighton University, and a master’s degree in nursing education from Methodist College. Peister said she is a veteran nurse with 21 years of experience.
She is also a small business owner and has been for just over seven years, owning Lucky Dog’s Place Pet Boutique.
District 37 is currently represented by Senator John Lowe who is term limited, having been elected in 2016 and reelected in 2020.
When about her qualifications, Peister said she has been involved in the Kearney community for 20 years, including the Kearney Area Animal Shelter Board. She and her husband also took part in the pet therapy program for 17 years where they would take their dogs to visit hospital patients.
Peister said she has also served on various nursing boards.
On the political side, Peister has been involved with the Buffalo County Republican Party, where she has helped arrange fundraiser and community outreach.
Peister said she is not afraid to raise her voice, having spoke at various meetings over the past several years including at the Kearney Board of Education meeting to, “protect women’s sports and spaces.”
She said she also spoke at the November Kearney City Council meeting testifying against a resolution that dealt with firearm signage and where they could be carried on city property.
“It was an infringement on our second amendment, as well as our state legislation that recently passed.”
When questioned as to why she was seeking the District 37 seat, Peister spoke to what she has observed happening on the federal, state and local government levels the past four years has made her concerned for the future generations and what type of world they are going to grow up in.
Peister said a year ago she decided to become an active citizen rather than a passive one. She added she is not a politician but a concerned member of the community who, “cares about traditional family values, our hard work ethic, protecting our children, helping our neighbors, defending the Constitution, keeping our God-given rights and keeping Nebraska exceptional for future generations to grow up in.”
When asked about her priority issues, Peister listed transparency with government first, especially when it comes to government spending.
Peister also mentioned workforce shortages, issues retaining teachers and recruiting trade workers and in the health care sector. “We need to promote more programs for rural Nebraska,” she said.
She wants to see people who move into state with work licenses from other states, message therapy was one example she cited, to have an easier time getting their Nebraska licenses, especially in work sectors that are short on workers.
Protecting children was another priority Peister listed and said they need to be taught the fundamentals and “keep social influences (out of the classroom) as much as possible.”
Peister praised Grand Island Public Schools, which implemented a no cell phone policy at the start of the current school year. “More schools should look into this,” she said.
“Lana will be the voice of conservative values. She firmly stands for freedom from vaccine and mask mandates, protecting the unborn, and advocating for available housing and local business incentives. In addition, she is a proponent of lowering tax burdens, voter integrity, and the Second amendment,” according to Peister’s campaign website.
When asked about how she would be transparent if elected, Peister said in ways its similar to nursing, where she might not have an answer right away, but after discussion with experts, she can follow up with a patient or a constituent in a similar manner.
Speaking of her decision-making process, she wants to make an effort to meet with experts and stakeholders when it comes to specific policy areas. “You have to keep a relationship with the constituents. They are the experts in their areas.”
When asked about the role of government in the lives of citizens, Peister said government was set up to work for the citizen, but she feels like this is something that has been lacking. “We need to listen, represent and fight for what will be better for our community,” she said.
She said Nebraska isn’t in a bubble anymore and that the state needs officials who will stand up for the current way of life.
In conclusion, Peister said running for election has been one of the most, “amazing and challenging,” actions she has undertaken and that she has, “become a better community servant for it.”
“I am running because I have grown increasingly concerned about the course of events in Nebraska, the United States and in the world. I don’t just want to be a conservative voice for Central Nebraska and all of Nebraska for that matter, I want to be the action that backs up that voice,” Peister’s website states.
Editor’s Note: Lana Peister appeared on 1340 KGFW and this article was written using information provided during that interview. The full interview can be found here.
