Paul Hamelink, (Liz Macias, Central Nebraska Today)
HASTINGS — Paul Hamelink is currently running for the Nebraska Legislature’s District 33 seat.
Hamelink has been involved in local government since 2011 when the Hastings mayor asked him to serve on the city’s Planning Commission. He then ran for Hastings City Council and was elected, now serving as the bodies’ president.
Hamelink stated that he is involved in business, being the owner the Paul’s Cigar Bar locations in Hastings and Norfolk.
He severed as the board chair for the Hastings Area Chamber of Commerce in 2015, president of the Hastings Noon Rotary and a board member for the Hastings Community Theater.
For over 10 years, Hamelink has served as the Senior Living Administrator at Good Samaritan Village.
“I’m currently working to reduce poverty by 30% by 2030 in our four-county region by serving on the Steering Committee for the Community Impact Network. Most weeks I am focused on housing issues,” Hamelink stated on his campaign website.
“As a consultant and Senior Instructor for the National Center for Housing Management, I train housing authorities, property managers and industry professionals across the US and its’ territories. In June 2022 I was honored to be appointed by Governor Pete Ricketts to a third term on the Nebraska Commission for Housing and Homelessness,” the campaign website stated.
Hamelink said he is solid conservative and those values that conservative Republicans hold.
Around a year ago, Hamelink said friends, colleagues and elected officials began urging him to seek the District 33 seat.
District 33 is currently represented by Senator Steve Halloran, who is term limited, having been elected in 2016 and reelected in 2020.
“We’ve had a good response from the public, good endorsements from Congressman Mike Flood, (Hastings) Mayor Corey Stutte and lots of current and past office holders,” Hamelink said, “We look to do a good job representing Adams, Kearney and Phelps counties.”
Speaking to his experience, Hamelink said the boards he has serve on in the past and currently give him an advantage.
“Those kinds of experiences play a very important role in going to the Legislature,” Hamelink said, “I can speak to zoning and land issues, because I’ve spent years on the zoning commission…I can do budgets…it’s the most important thing the Legislature does.”
Hamelink said he has been through budgets, line-by-line, for the City of Hastings and Hastings Utilities.
He also cited working in areas involving housing and tax issues.
When asked why he was seeking the District 33 seat, Hamelink said if he had to pick a “hallmark” issue, it would be economic development and added he seeks to grow Nebraska.
Hamelink noted issues like property taxes have been the proverbial talk of the town for years and said expanding the tax base can be done through economic development.
In that vein, Hamelink said the state needs to ensure that current businesses are retained, and new ones are attracted. He also cited the current workforce issues and said a similar strategy needs to be done for the workers of the state.
To get workers to move here, they need homes and Hamelink said houses are in critical shortage.
“We have to address issues of affordable housing,” said Hamelink, “That’s a real need.”
Hamelink said the housing shortage is a complex issue but if people work together through economic development, that can help address issues.
Another issue Hamelink pointed out was broadband internet access for rural Nebraska, saying it has become like running water, no longer an amenity but a requirement.
“We have to fight and make sure places, like rural Phelps County, have solid broadband internet and help attract businesses,” Hamelink said.
Speaking to learning about the issues and hearing constituents, Hamelink said emails and phone calls from people are important but to get the full picture of what people think, he said you have to go out into the community and meet with people.
During his time on the Hastings City Council, Hamelink said he made it a point to get out and ask people about various issues facing the city, “taking the initiative in communication,” he said.
As a state senator, Hamelink said it is important to have the support of local government, business leaders, school superintendents, etc.
Hamelink said he is a “huge proponent for local control.”
A goal of his would be to grow the three-county area that makes up District 33. Hamelink said it’s not enough to just keep agriculture strong but to grow it by helping provide support through helping to lessen property taxes and ensure that regulation is cut back.
Housing needs to be provided for workers and the quality of life needs to be such that people want to come and live in the area, which includes affordable childcare.
“Those at the state level need to work with local cities, villages and counties to make sure we are an attractive place for workers and businesses to be,” Hamelink said.
In conclusion, Hamelink said it is a privilege to run for office and it’s one he does not take lightly.
“I am going to work hard for the people of south-central Nebraska to make things happen,” Hamelink said.
Editor’s Note: Paul Hamelink appeared on 1340 KGFW and this article was written using information provided during that interview. The full interview can be found here.
