Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts has appointed prominent bank executive Mike Jacobson to fill a vacancy in Legislative District 42.
Jacobson assumes the seat of former state Sen. Mike Groene, who resigned following accusations that he took inappropriate photos of a female legislative aide without her knowledge, according to the Associated Press.
A Nebraska native, Jacobson began his banking career in 1980 as an ag lending officer at Hastings-based City National Bank. Four years later, he moved to Lincoln and worked as the senior vice president/division manager of The National Bank of Commerce. In 1994, he relocated to North Platte, Neb., to serve as chair, president and CEO of Western Nebraska National Bank. He eventually became the founder and principal shareholder of NebraskaLand Bank in North Platte and played a leading role in the bank’s growth to a more than $850 million institution with branches in Kearney, Neb., and Rock Springs, Wyo.
Jacobson is the past chair of the Nebraska Bankers Association and past president of the Agriculture Builders of Nebraska, Inc. He’s been a board member of the Nebraska Independent Community Bankers and served on various committees with the American Bankers Association. Jacobson has a Bachelor of Science degree in agricultural economics/agricultural education from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Jacobson expects to serve the remainder of Groene’s four-year term, which ends Jan. 4, 2023, before running for reelection.
“As a state senator, I’ll advocate for limited government and conservative fiscal policy,” Jacobson said. “I’ve built a community-minded culture in my business, and I look forward to strengthening Nebraska.”