KEARNEY, Neb. - Stan Clouse is leaving city government but isn't exiting politics.

Clouse served on the Kearney City Council for 21 years and spent 18 of those years as mayor. Kearney uses a council-manager form of government in which the voters elect the council and the council members designate one member as mayor.

Clouse won election to the Nebraska state legislature in 2024 and will start his term on Wednesday in Lincoln. News Channel Nebraska's Michael Shively talked with Clouse about his time leading Kearney and his views on state government.

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KEARNEY, Neb. — The city of Kearney is going through a transition time in the new year, as is the city’s most prominent public official.

After more than two decades on the city council and 18 years as mayor, Stan Clouse didn’t seek reelection this cycle. Instead, he campaigned and won a spot in the state legislature. But before he takes his seat at the capitol, he’s reflecting on his time in city hall.

“It’s part of your legacy. Some people it’s their family… or they put their name on something. For me, it’s up here. Yeah, I had a part in that.”

Clouse oversaw massive change in Kearney. Some projects include the construction a second interstate exit, renovation of the airport, the creation of the Central Nebraska Veterans Home and Patriot Park, a new hospital, two in-progress cancer centers, the promise of a new medical school, the expansion of the hospitality district and the anticipated arrival of the Kearney SportsPlex.

“I’ve always been one of those — don’t tell me we can’t do it. Let’s figure out what we can do.” 

Those projects came while Kearney maintained the lowest property tax levy of any Class 1 city in Nebraska.

“Valuations have increased, but when you still have a low levy, you don’t get the windfall that people think you do. You’re going to get your increase, there’s no question about that, but you’re also a growing city.”

Clouse says he evolved over his tenure to lead with more empathy. He says he always worked to be aware that each agenda item could have a negative impact.

“I’m more sensitive to that. Like if we do this, then what’s going to happen here. And then also looking at the long-term impact of any decisions we make. What are the unintended consequences? What are some things, that if this goes wrong, how do we deal with that?”

Setbacks included the devastating 2019 flood, losing the bid for a Facebook data center and changes in the city’s air service provider.

But Clouse wasn’t alone in tackling the issues. Randy Buschkoetter and Bruce Lear started on the council around the same time and Mike Morgan served as city manager for 19 years. All but Buschkoetter recently stepped down.

“It’s always upon us to make sure that culture carries forward. I said, 20 years ago, they turned it over to Bruce and me and Randy and said, ‘here you guys go.’ We hired a new city manager and they trusted us. Now it’s our turn to trust the next group of leaders.”

Those new leaders include mayor Jonathan Nikkila and city manager Brenda Jensen, who just finished her first year in the role.

Clouse says he already misses being involved in city affairs but thinks that feeling will fade as he dives in at the state level.