After 45 years, O'Donnell to retire as clerk of the Legislature

Oct. 19, 2022, noon ·

Patrick O'Donnell in the legislative chamber (Photo courtesy Nebraska Legislature)
Patrick O'Donnell in the legislative chamber (Photo courtesy Nebraska Legislature)

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Patrick O’Donnell, familiar to Nebraskans as the clerk of the Legislature for the last 45 years, is retiring.

The clerk of the Legislature’s job involves maintaining an orderly process of speaking and voting among a sometimes unruly bunch of state senators. Beginning in 1978, that job has belonged to Patrick O’Donnell, a familiar figure on television seen standing behind the clerk’s desk in front of the legislative chamber.

Often, the work was routine. But sometimes, it was dramatic, as in 2016, when he announced the override of a veto on licenses for young people who’d been brought into the country illegally.

“Thirty-one ayes, thirteen nays, that Legislative Bill 947 become law, notwithstanding the objections of the governor,” O’Donnell intoned, as young people watching from the balcony erupted in applause.

In a 2019 interview, O’Donnell expressed concern about increasing partisanship in the officially nonpartisan Legislature.

“I think people don’t appreciate how lucky they’ve been to be in this state. All you have to do is look at Washington to see how destructive that can be,” he said.

O’Donnell will step down at the end of the year.