08 May Don Stenberg
Nebraska Treasurer 2011-2019
Don Stenberg is a native Nebraskan who grew up in Tekamah, Nebraska. His parents owned and operated a small business out of their home. To earn money for college Don detasseled corn, hauled bales, mowed lawns and life guarded at the local swimming pool. At the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Don walked on to the track team where he lettered and won an athletic scholarship.
After graduating from Harvard Law School and Harvard Business School, Don practiced law in Lincoln, Nebraska, until, in 1979, he was named Legal Counsel to the Governor of Nebraska. Don has also served as Director of the Governor’s Policy Research Office, Assistant to the Governor and Director of the Department of Administrative Services of the State of Nebraska, where he saved Nebraska taxpayers more than $1 million by implementing cost saving measures.
As Nebraska’s Attorney General from 1991 to 2003, Don led the fight for tough anti-crime legislation to protect Nebraska families. He fought in court to protect Nebraska’s irrigation water. And he personally argued in favor of Nebraska’s ban on partial birth abortion in the Supreme Court of the United States. Don effectively and efficiently operated Nebraska’s Attorney General’s Office on the third smallest budget in the United States.
Stenberg took off office as State Treasurer in 2011. During his time as Treasurer, Don cut the State Treasurer’s office budget by more than 14 percent, saving Nebraska taxpayers more than $2.8 million. He also reduced the size of the office staff and made improvements to the StateSpending.Nebraska.gov website that raised its rating by the U.S. Public Interest Research Group (U.S.PIRG) from D to the B range. Under his direction, Nebraska’s 529 College Savings Plan was recognized by Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine for the variety of its options, and two of the savings plans have received the highest “5-Cap” rating by the nationally recognized website, savingforcollege.com.
Don served as President of the National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators and Midwest Vice President of the National Association of State Treasurers.
Don is married to the former Sue Hoegemeyer of Hooper, Nebraska. Don and Sue Stenberg have been married 43 years and have four children.