19 Dec 2018
Gov. Pete Ricketts appointed Andrew La Grone, '16, to fill the District 49 vacancy in the Legislature on Monday, Dec. 17.
La Grone, 28, is the legal counsel for the Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee, chaired by current District 49 state Sen. John Murante.
Murante was elected state treasurer and will be sworn into that office early next year.
La Grone, who advised the committee on legal matters and worked out of Murante's office, will begin his appointment representing Gretna and western Sarpy County on Jan. 9.
"I am deeply honored by the governor's appointment," La Grone said in a statement. "The people can count on me to put District 49's conservative principles to work to help deliver new property tax relief, hold the line on state spending, and stand up for Nebraska's unborn children."
La Grone holds a bachelor of arts degree in political science from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and also graduated from Nebraska College of Law.
He is the president of the Gretna Optimists, a member of St. Patrick's Catholic Church, the Gretna Chamber of Commerce, and the Nebraska chapter of the Federalist Society.
Ricketts said La Grone's work as a private-practice attorney, as well as his work within the Legislature made him well-prepared to serve in the body.
"He is a solid conservative who will push to cut taxes, protect public safety, and champion pro-life policy," Ricketts said in a statement. "I look forward to working with Andrew to help grow our state in the coming years."
Ricketts will appoint another state senator, this one replacing Sen. Dan Watermeier, who won election to the Public Service Commission in the November election, before the beginning of the 2019 session.
Story from Lincoln Journal Star.