Donald Dworak

Dvorak was born in 1934 in David City, Nebraska.^[2] He graduated from the University of Nebraska,^[2] and worked in insurance and real estate.^[3]

In 1974, State Senator Herb Nore declined to seek re-election to a fourth term, instead launching a brief campaign for Congress.^[4] Dworak ran to succeed him in the 22nd district, which included Blaine, Nance, and Platte counties.^[5]

In the nonpartisan primary, he faced farmer Kenneth Torczon and Columbus City Councilwoman Everlyn Kusek.^[3] In the primary election, Torczon placed first with 43 percent of the vote, Dworak placed second with 42 percent,^[6] and they both advanced to the general election.^[7] Dworak defeated Torczon in a landslide, winning his first term, 60–40 percent.^[6][8]

During Dworak's first term in the legislature, he sponsored the Nebraska Habitat Stamp Act, which imposed a hunting license fee to fund the acquisition and preservation of new wildlife areas.^[9][10] The Nebraska Wildlife Federation named Dworak the "outstanding conservationist of the year" for his efforts to pass the bill.^[11]

In 1978, Dworak considered running for higher office, but ultimately opted to seek a second term in the legislature.^[12] He was challenged by Harry Schumacher, an insurance agent.^[13] In the primary election, Dworak placed first by a wide margin, receiving 77 percent of the vote to Schumacher's 23 percent.^[14] However, on August 22, 1978, Schumacher withdrew from the race, observing that Dworak was "an exceptionally fine competitor that I'm afraid I can't beat."^[13] Dworak was re-elected unopposed.^[14]

Dworak switched to the Democratic Party in 1981, explaining that "the Nebraska Democratic Party has a broader diversity of people and ideas" and "provides an infinitely broader forum for new ideas and concepts to be openly and freely discussed."^[1] Though Dworak's party switch was seen as an effort to seek the Democratic nomination for Governor in 1982, he ultimately declined to run, and did not seek re-election to the legislature.^[15]

Rather than seek re-election in 1982, Dworak announced that he would run for the 3rd district seat on the University of Nebraska Board of Regents.^[16] In the nonpartisan primary, he faced substitute teacher Judy Larsen, corporate executive Margaret Robinson, and banker Jerry Schiermeyer.^[17] Dworak placed second in the primary, winning 28 percent of the vote to Robinson's 38 percent, and they advanced to the general election.^[18] Robinson ultimately defeated Dworak in a landslide, 63–37 percent.^[18]

In 1983, following the election of Governor Bob Kerrey, Dworak was named the director of the Nebraska Department of Economic Development.^[19] He announced that he would resign in 1985,^[20] and was appointed by Kerrey to the state Liquor Commission.^[21] He resigned from the Liquor Commission in 1992 after undergoing heart surgery.^[22]

In 2014, the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission named the Don Dworak Wildlife Management Area, which is located near Monroe, after Dvorak.^[10]

Dvorak died on September 17, 2018.^[10]