State Senator Ernie Chambers won reelection 11 times in total, including a write-in candidacy in 1988 when he made a simultaneous bid for U.S. Senate.
Below are some facts and figures from Ernie Chambers' career in the Nebraska Legislature.
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In short
» First elected in 1970.
» Won reelection 11 times in total, including a write-in candidacy in 1988 when he made a simultaneous bid for U.S. Senate.
» Left the Legislature in 2009 when he was term limited.
» Returned to the Legislature in 2013 after sitting out one term.
» Longest-serving Nebraska state senator.
Among his accomplishments
Wrote laws that:
» Instituted district elections to foster black representation on the Omaha City Council, the Douglas County Board and the Omaha school board.
» Banned corporal punishment in Nebraska schools.
» Eliminated the sales tax on groceries.
» Required grand jury investigations of deaths of people in law enforcement custody.
» Established government liability for innocent bystanders injured in police chases.
» Narrowed capital punishment’s application with bills barring execution of juveniles and those with mental disabilities.
Demanded investigations of alleged wrongdoing, including:
» Mock lynching of a Black Nebraska National Guardsman in 1976.
» 1984 shooting death of Cairo, Nebraska, farmer Arthur Kirk in a State Patrol standoff.
» Allegations about the business dealings of former Attorney General Paul Douglas with the failed Commonwealth Savings Co. that led to Douglas’ impeachment in 1983.
» Sexual misconduct allegations arising after the 1988 failure of Franklin Community Credit Union in Omaha.
» Campaign finance violations that led to the 2006 impeachment and removal of NU regent David Hergert.
» Use of legislative computers for cybersex that led to the 2017 resignation of Sen. Bill Kintner of Papillion.
Photos: Ernie Chambers through the years
Ernie Chambers picketed a dinner on July 15, 1963, for then-Postmaster John Munnelly at a downtown Omaha hotel. He wore a sign that says "I spoke against discrimination in the Omaha post office and was fired." Chambers had been fired from his job as a distribution clerk earlier that year for alleged insubordination. Chambers maintained that he was fired because he complained about a white supervisor who had called him "boy."
Civil rights activist Ernie Chambers on Dec. 7, 1967 with Dr. A. Stanley Trickett, chairman of the Omaha University history department.
Ernie Chambers outside of the Crime Commission office. He appeared before the Citizens Crime Commission law and order committee in August 1967. Mayor A.V. Sorenson requested him to make a "grass roots appraisal" of Omaha's model cities application.
Ernie Chambers at Horace Mann Junior High on March 5, 1968. Students at the school broke windows and started a small grass fire after George Wallace spoke the night before and a teen was shot as Omaha's 1968 race riot began. The students calmed down after Chambers showed up and told them to disperse. "You are putting on a show for the crackers," Chambers told the students, according to an article at the time. "They are are going to make it look like you are a bunch of thugs. Don't let them make a show out of you."
Civil rights activist Ernie Chambers at a State Board of Education Meeting, April 11, 1969.
Ernie Chambers is handcuffed and booked in the central police station, June 29, 1969. Chambers was arrested on suspicion of carrying a concealed weapon. The arrest came during unrest in north Omaha following the shooting of a 14-year-old black girl by a white police officer. Chambers was vocal in calling for criminal charges against the officer, who was eventually cleared of wrongdoing and returned to the force. The weapons charge against Chambers was dismissed 10 months after this photo.
Ernie Chambers accepts congratulations outside headquarters in 1970 after defeating George W. Althouse to become the only African American senator in the 1971 Legislature.
Ernie Chambers in December 1970.
David Rice, hands in pockets, and Pitmon Foxall, arms folded, wait for an elevator in the police station lobby after Rice surrendered on Aug. 27, 1970. Ernie Chambers is in the background in a dark sleeveless shirt. David Rice (later known as Mondo we Langa) and Edward Poindexter were charged and convicted of the murder of Omaha Police Officer Larry Minard. Minard died when a suitcase bomb containing dynamite exploded in a North Omaha home on Aug. 17, 1970.
Eddie Chambers at microphone, with with Sen. & Mrs. Chambers looking on at Chamber's 34th birthday celebration, July 1, 1971.
Civil rights activist Ernie Chambers and Dan Goodwin on Aug. 27, 1971. Chambers is holding sign that reads "Joe Hart does not support this community." Hart was president of the Omaha school board.
Sen. Ernie Chambers speaks to students at Benson High School on Nov. 3, 1974.
Ernie Chambers looks on as the Rev. Marian Jones reads vows to Joe Jordan and JoAnn Gordon. The couple got married at the forth annual Stone Soul Picnic at Carter Lake Park on July 4, 1974.
A 1975 caricature of Ernie Chambers by Jim Horan.
Ernie Chambers with his son David, then age 4, on Oct. 10, 1975.
Ernie Chambers talks to the media on Aug. 22, 1977, after calling a meeting to discuss what he saw as a series of excessive force incidents involving Omaha police. The gathering site was the home of one of those who said he was a victim, at 48th and Q Streets.
Ernie Chambers in May 1979. He told The World-Herald his corn-rowed hairstyle was cooler and easier to manage during hot weather than his familiar afro.
Ernie Chambers speaks to students at Ord Elementary School on "Law Day", May 1, 1981.
Ernie Chambers in 1981 wearing a "Stop North Omaha Freeway" shirt.
Ernie Chambers with Mayor Mike Boyle on July 23, 1981.
Sen. Ernie Chambers speaks to a crowd on the Douglas County Courthouse steps on May 1, 1982. He carried a sign that said "Injustice and Racism Reign in the U.S."
Sen. Ernie Chambers dresses like a Nebraska football player on May 23, 1983, in the Legislature to stress a point about how they should be paid as state employees.
Ernie Chambers carries a sign in front of Central Police Headquarters on Oct. 22, 1987, that read "Killing is not valorous - to reward it is immoral". He was protesting the presentation of the Medal of Valor to Police Officer Kris Jacobson. Jacobson killed Kevin Watson, who had grabbed another officer's revolver in a struggle.
Ernie Chambers with New Alliance presidential candidate Lenora Fulani on Sept. 15, 1988.
Ernie Chambers pushes his stalled car out of a flooded intersection in Lincoln on Sept. 8, 1989. He loaned the car to his secretary who became stranded after 2-4 inches of rain fell in a three hour period.
Sen. Ernie Chambers at his desk with a TRMN8TR sign on June 8, 1995.
Nebraska State Sen. Ernie Chambers listens to Chris Beutler on the floor of the Legislature, Jan. 14, 2002.
Sen. Ernie Chambers jokes with Sen. Matt Connealy about his sign declaring him the dean of the legislature, on April 19, 2002.
Sen. Ernie Chambers lifts weights in January 2004 in his State Capitol office. Chambers said he lifts whenever he can between committee hearings and floor debate. It helps keeps his body as sharp as his mind, he said.
Sen. Ernie Chambers takes a break from weight lifting in his State Capitol office in January 2004.
Ernie Chambers speaks during a January 2004 rally held by the north Omaha community on the steps of the Douglas County courthouse to protest the grand jury's descision in the Jerad Kruse case. Kruse was an Omaha police officer who shot and killed George Bibins after a stolen vehicle pursuit.
Sen. Ernie Chambers gets a nose squeeze on April 11, 2006, from Jacentha Scarlock, 5, the grand-niece of his legislative aide.
Sen. Ernie Chambers on April 9, 2007, at the Legislature.
Sen. Ernie Chambers testifies on an education bill in 2007 as superintendents John Mackiel of Omaha Public Schools and Chuck Chevalier of South Sarpy Community Schools listen.
A death penalty repeal bill introduced by Sen. Ernie Chambers is debated in March 2008.
Sen. Ernie Chambers walks through his outer office on April 17, 2008, the final day of the Legislature for the 2007-08 year.
Chairperson Sen. Brad Ashford, left, and Sen. Ernie Chambers speak quietly before a Judiciary Committee Hearing in Lincoln Nov. 17, 2008.
Sen. Ernie Chambers packs nearly four decades of memories into boxes on Jan. 5, 2009, at the State Capitol.
Ernie Chambers, vacating his office due to term limits, packs nearly four decades of memories into boxes on Jan. 5, 2009.
Ernie Chambers protests in June 2012 at the Douglas County Courthouse after an independent labor arbitrator ruled to reinstate Omaha officer Jackie Dolinsky. The officer was involved in the controversial arrest of Robert Wagner outside the Creighton University Medical Center.
Ernie Chambers is greeted on election night 2012 by Cheryl Weston and Bill Anderson. People gathered to watch election returns and cheer on Chambers on Nov. 6, 2012.
Flanked by Gannie Clark, left, and Marilyn Johnson, right, Ernie speaks at a re-election rally at 16th and Lothrop Streets on Nov. 2, 2012.
Ernie Chambers speaks at a re-election rally at 16th and Lothrop Streets on Nov. 2, 2012.
Sen. Ernie Chambers talks with his daughter Gayla Chambers as the Nebraska Legislature convenes, Jan. 9, 2013.
Sen. Ernie Chambers talks with fellow Sen. Scott Lautenbaugh on March 6, 2013, at the Capitol.
Sen. Ernie Chambers talks with assistant sergeant-at-arms Lois Vandeventer as Chambers returns to the Nebraska Legislature on Jan. 9, 2013. "We were friends when he was here before the term limits." Vandeventer said, adding, "I'm glad to have him back. We were friends, and I missed him."
Sen. Ernie Chambers bumps elbows with Sen. Rick Kolowski after the Legislature voted to override the Governor's veto of the death penalty repeal bill on May 27, 2015.
State Sen. Ernie Chambers poses in October 2016 with the mountain lion license plate created after he sponsored legislation.
Sen. Ernie Chambers raises a hand to another senator while asking for a simple yes or no answer at the Nebraska State Capitol on May 18, 2017.
Sen. Ernie Chambers looks on during the final day of the 105th Nebraska Legislative session, April 18, 2018, at the Nebraska State Capitol.
Sen. Ernie Chambers of Omaha makes comments during a hearing about Legislative Bill 110, Nebraska's medical cannabis bill, on Jan. 25, 2019, at the State Capitol in Lincoln.
