Jefferson County commissioner calls for unity in face of political discord

In the midst of persistent political animosity and unrest, an elected official in Southeast Nebraska took time to speak out against what he described as disagreement and discord.

Jefferson County board chairman Mark Schoenrock began this week's county board meeting by issuing a statement speaking out against political unrest.

In an address that, structurally at the very least, hearkened back to some famous speeches from the U.S. Civil Rights era, Schoenrock stressed that there's a way to disagree with peers and with government without being disagreeable.

The ten-year member of the Jefferson County board told NCN his remarks were "reflective of the political unrest currently being experienced in our nation" and that "it is vital that these principles start at the local level of elected government."

Click on the video to watch the full remarks from the commissioner, who is also a candidate for a seat in the state senate next year. It has also been reprinted in full below. 

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In a world that can be dark at times, and we have seen a lot of darkness in various ways, all of us in this room this morning can be a point of light. We have that capacity to be a point of light and bring light to an otherwise dark place. And especially for those of us who have the privilege to serve in public office, it's very, very important.

So where there is discord, let us have discussion. And where there is accusation, let us have understanding. Where there's hate, let us have love. And let us build bridges of understanding and tear down walls of anger and prejudice.

Now, we can disagree on various issues. Those of us who are in elected office, we certainly understand that. We can disagree. But we don't have to be disagreeable. And we can still stand strong for our principles. At the end of the day, we're all daughters and sons of a loving God. And all of us, all of us, we were called for this time.