Tony Vargas has devoted his career to public service and advocacy. Elected to the Nebraska Legislature in 2016, Vargas has spent the last three years successfully fighting for economic justice and opportunity, including equity in education, technology and innovation, juvenile justice and corrections, college affordability, and healthcare access. As a member of the Appropriations Committee, he has led efforts to prioritize state funding to support the most vulnerable in our communities, especially children and families from low-income backgrounds. He proudly serves as the Vice Chair of the Executive Board and Chair of the Legislative Planning Committee. Previous to his election to the Legislature, Vargas was a school board member of the Omaha Public Schools Board of Education, serving more than 52,000 students and 86 schools across Omaha. Tony began his career as a public school teacher. In 2018, he was named a Presidential Leadership Scholar by the Presidential Libraries of President George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George H.W. Bush, and Lyndon B. Johnson. Earlier this year, Tony and his partner, Lauren, became parents and welcomed their daughter, Ava Kaye, into the world.
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In Nebraska, which has some of the worst racial disparities when it comes to Covid-19 cases in the country, the state's sole Latino lawmaker tried to strengthen protections for meatpacking workers, all while confronting his own personal tragedy. It was a battle against time that revealed much about race, politics and workers' rights in the pandemic.
Vargas, who lives in South Omaha, lost his father to the coronavirus in New York, and others in his family have tested positive and recovered. The trials, this one through Meridian Clinical Research, are struggling to recruit people of color to participate, he said.
Latino Victory Fund announced the endorsement of Tony Vargas for Nebraska State Senator. Vargas made history in the 2016 election by becoming the first Latino elected to the Nebraska Legislature.
Vargas has consoled. He has received consolation. But he would rather help people avoid the sickness, death and grief that the pandemic has brought to so many families. Even though it hurts to revisit his own grief, he uses his family’s experience to persuade people to take the virus seriously and take precautionary measures.
