Elected to Nebraska Legislature: 2024

Born Dec. 4, 1956, in North Platte.

Education: Graduate of Brady Public Schools, 1975; Mid-Plains Community College (associate degree), 1996.

Family: Married LaVon Cole, Sept. 16, 2023; two children: Rebecca and Kent Simpson.

Occupation: Retired

Former: Kearney mayor, 2006-24

Member: Kearney Noon Rotary Club; Kearney Area Chamber of Commerce; Gibbon Chamber of Commerce; Economic Development Council of Buffalo County; University of Nebraska Medical Center Nursing Advisory Council; League of Nebraska Municipalities Legislative Committee; board, The Archway; Nebraska Diplomats; Kearney Eagles Club; Kearney Elks Club; Kearney Woodcarvers Club; Mid-America Woodcarvers Association; New Life Church.

Former member: Kearney City Council, 2003-24; Greater Nebraska Chief Elected Officials Board, Nebraska Department of Labor, 2007-24; Nebraska Natural Resources Commission, 2011-24; North Platte Planning Commission; Shelton Village Board; North Platte Sunrise Rotary Club; board, Kearney Senior Center; board, Make-A-Wish Foundation of Nebraska; board, University of Nebraska at Kearney Center for Entrepreneurship and Rural Development; chairman, Governor’s Task Force on Human Trafficking; executive board, League of Nebraska Municipalities.

Honors and awards: Cope Cornerstone of Excellence Award, University of Nebraska at Kearney; Regional Diplomat of the Year, Nebraska Diplomats; Service to Mankind Award, Kearney Sertoma Club; Distinguished Alumni Award, Leadership Kearney; Friend of Social Work Award, University of Nebraska at Kearney; Rotary Paul Harris Fellow; graduate, Leadership Nebraska (Class 1); graduate, Leadership Kearney (Class 7).