Shawna Meyer, (Central Nebraska Today, KGFW)
KEARNEY — Shawna Meyer is one of the eight candidates who is running for a seat on the Kearney city council this election season.
Meyer said she founded and helps to run the Nest: Space, a hybrid, community focused office space for freelancers, entrepreneurs, etc. and is located in downtown Kearney.
She also operates 24 Hour Tees, located on 3rd Ave. and operates Shawna Meyer Design and is a lead interior designer and project manager.
Meyer said she is married to her high school sweetheart, Chase Meyer, for 21 years and has resided in Kearney since 1989, moving to the community when she six-years-old. Meyer said she is a mother and has two young daughters.
While she doesn’t have direct experience with municipal government, Meyer said she has “diverse” experience from operating four businesses. She said it has given her respect for entrepreneurship, economic growth and how to create a space for a business to thrive.
As a business leader, she said she knows what it means to handle risk management, how to work with finances, how to foster growth. Meyer said Kearney has had great leaders and if she was elected, she would be standing on the shoulders of those who led before her.
Meyer is also motivated to show what it means to be a leader to her daughters. As a woman running, if elected, she would be the second woman in 25 years to sit on the city council.
She said it’s important to have a voice who could represent the women of the community.
When asked about her motivation to run for a seat on the city council, Meyer said she loves to listen and talk with people and likes to solve problems as a business leader or as a mother by talking through an issue.
Meyer feels her ability to listen and empathize with people would be a strength she could bring to the council.
When asked about the most pressing issues affecting Kearney, Meyer listed affordable housing first and said while the problem cannot be resolved overnight, there are many ideas out there to help address the lack of housing in the community.
To address issues in general, Meyer said it would be important for her to listen to constituents about the issues and be willing to ask hard questions when necessary. She added that she might always have the answer to questions, but she is willing to search for those answers.
In conclusion, Meyer said, “I am really passionate about helping Kearney thrive, we are in a beautiful place with great leadership…I am just excited to continue to provide the footsteps…that leaders have created.”
Editor’s Note: Shawna Meyer appeared on 1340 KGFW and this article was written using information provided during that interview. The full interview can be found here.
