Education
Asbury University, Wilmore, KY BS in Secondary Education with emphases in Math and Physical Education
Current Public Office, dates
NA
Past Public Office, dates held
NA
Military experience
NA
Volunteer experience
United Way Community Investment Review Team 2012-2019, Civil Air Patrol EMS Instructor 2016-2024, Tribe Church Advisory Board 2024-present, Nebraska 117 Board Chair 2023-present, Papillion La Vista Optimist Club 2007-present
Other Social Media
Instagram @votebowes
X and/or Bluesky Handle
@votebowes
The role of education is to provide students with the skills and knowledge necessary to be successful in life. My top concern today is the number of students who are not performing at grade level in the critical subjects of math and reading. A solution for this concern is two-fold: 1) provide teachers with the tools and policies that will help them be successful in the classroom, and 2) create greater parental involvement in their child’s education. The parent has the primary responsibility for their child’s education and should be able to work hand-in-hand with teachers to help their child learn.
There are several policy-level tools that can be implemented to grow the state’s economy. These include 1) tax incentives that are comparable to neighboring states. We must be competitive in attracting new business and in helping in-state businesses grow, 2) reducing regulations that inhibit growth and competitiveness, 3) providing quality education for our children and our workforce, 4) provide the infrastructure that allows for growth.
Communication among all the stakeholders involved in an issue is the start of shaping policy. The first ingredient necessary for effective communication is trust. One of the roles as a legislator is to build trust with fellow legislators and with stakeholders. Once trust is established, issues can be discussed, debated, and dissected to find solutions that are workable. This approach works not only for rural-urban issues, but for any issue that comes before the legislature.
A state senator has the responsibility to be honest and open about their values when campaigning for office. Once elected, the senator must then follow through on voting with those values. It is an impossibility to make every voter happy, but in those instances when a voter disagrees with the senator’s position, the senator must be willing to discuss their perspective on the issue. Open communication will allow both parties to share their points of view. In the end, there may be an agreement to disagree on the issue, but it is important that each side is heard.
Education
George Washington Univ. Law School (LLM), George Mason Univ. Antonin Scalia Law School (JD), Hanover College (BA, captain of football team)
Military experience
Air Force (2006-2020, lieutenant colonel), Air Force Reserve (2020-present, colonel)
Volunteer experience
VFW lifetime member; church deacon; Siena Francis House & Open Door Mission volunteer; Tenant Assistant Project pro bono attorney; YMCA flag football coach; Nebraska Airborne Association member; Joint Special Operations Association member
X and/or Bluesky Handle
jaycjackson
My top concern with K-12 education in Nebraska is too many students lacking proficiency in reading, writing, and math. The solution is back-to-basics academics, accountability, and competitive teacher pay tied to outcomes. Education is Nebraska’s most important investment, and it is critical that we recruit and retain the very best teachers to prepare young adults to be productive, independent citizens ready for college or the workforce.
We must support teachers and students with rigorous standards, limited distractions and ideology, and transparency that encourages parental involvement while cutting bureaucracy so taxpayer dollars reach the classrooms and the kids they are meant to help.
The most effective policy tools for economic development are (1) neutral, transparent, and pro-growth tax relief and (2) predictable, limited regulation. Nebraska should continue to lower income and property taxes, limit spending, and broaden the sales tax base to keep rates low while investing in roads, water, broadband, and reliable, affordable energy. This will allow us to compete within our region for job-producing and revenue-generating businesses, attract workers and families from across the country, and retain the incredible Nebraskans that we raise and educate here at home.
Nebraska’s urban and rural strengths (60% of the general fund comes from Omaha and Lincoln while agriculture supports 1 in 4 Nebraska jobs) create a unique opportunity for complementary sectors of Nebraska to come together. We can balance rural and urban priorities by making investments where returns are statewide while respecting local control.
By prioritizing collaboration of agriculture, finance, technology, manufacturing, and other industries over targeted subsidies, we can develop policies and invest in infrastructure and education that helps every region grow together.
I view the role of state senator as a continuation of my military service, requiring servant leadership and putting our shared mission before my own ego. I want to help solve the challenges that face every-day Nebraskans and help our communities grow and thrive.
My service in the legislature will be centered around my core values of SERVICE (serving you, not me, and donating my entire legislative salary to community organizations), TRANSPARENCY (holding town halls and making even my votes on “secret” ballots public), and DECENCY (listening well and treating everyone with dignity and respect). Constituent feedback will be an absolutely essential, daily ingredient in serving as state senator and living out those values.
Education
College of Saint Mary: • Certificate in Telecommunications Management • Bachelors in Business Leadership • Masters in Organizational Leadership
Current Public Office, dates
2019-2026 Papillion La Vista Community Schools Board of Education (2 Terms) Served as President (2025)
Past Public Office, dates held
2015–21 Public Service Comm, NE Universal Service Fund Advisory (appointed ) • 2019-22 PLCS Foundation •2012–20 NE Digital Learning Assn • 2007-10 Ne Ed Tech Assn.
School safety is one of my top concerns when it comes to K-12 education. Schools are entrusted with the responsibility for the safety and security of the children in their care, and we need to take that seriously. Whether it's through technological or physical upgrades to prevent unwanted trespass onto school property, or through advancement in mental health training for teachers to be able to recognize students experiencing a crisis. We have also seen many recent efforts that have been made to establish school voucher schemes in Nebraska. We have already decided this issue numerous times at the ballot box. I would be an advocate to preserve the quality of our public education system by preventing this bad legislation from passing.
One of the best ways to promote economic development is by ensuring we have a workforce that is well educated and wants to stay in Nebraska. The brain drain issue our state is facing is a huge problem. After high school and college, the younger generation is leaving our state for other opportunities at a problematic rate. We have plenty of entry level positions, but when young professionals look to advance in their career, we don’t have enough jobs in the second tier. We must work with businesses to create those opportunities. Nebraska is a great place to raise a family. We have good schools, a low cost of living, and safe neighborhoods. We have more work to do to create more affordable housing, and lower the cost of childcare.
There are many avenues we can go down when addressing both rural and urban concerns, and I do not believe that it is a zero-sum game when it comes to fixing these issues. When we work together to find solutions that work for both communities, we will all be better off. That being said, all Nebraskans are feeling the burden of our current property tax system. We need to work together to provide targeted property tax relief for those who need it most and for Nebraska residents, not out of state corporations who are buying housing and agricultural land. Nebraska’s economy is still driven by agriculture. Prosperous rural communities are good for Omaha and Lincoln and a strong metropolitan community creates more opportunities in rural areas.
I believe that every senator is elected in their specific district and should represent their wishes. At the same time, senators have a responsibility to look out for the well-being of the entire state. I think it is important that elected officials continue to be held accountable after they are elected. Everything that I have been hearing from my constituents as I am door-knocking is that our economy is not working for the average Nebraskan. Costs are too high for housing, childcare, healthcare, and property taxes. Wages for the average family have not kept up. When I am elected, I will make sure their voices are heard and focus my efforts on making life more affordable for every Nebraskan.
