LEMOYNE NEBRASKA - Mark Cohen, the former Ned resident and local attorney, has announced that he is running for Congress as an Independent in Nebraska’s 3rd District, currently represented by a Republican.

Cohen wrote regularly for The Mountain-Ear and sometimes still offers his satirical and acerbic column “Diversions,” (one of which just won a National Newspaper Association award—see story, page 3).

He moved to Lemoyne, Nebraska, on the north side of Lake McConaughy several years ago, although he practices in Boulder. He teaches karate in Ogallala.

After forming an exploratory committee in August, Cohen was asked to consider running for office by both Democrats and Republicans. He chose to run as an Independent, however, stating he did not want to be beholden to anyone and that an independent would be best positioned to try to heal the “hateful divide” he feels the two parties have created.

Cohen also served as a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney for Nebraska. His article about the Nebraska National Forest was the cover story in Camping & RV magazine in 1996. He has been a Nebraska Admiral—an honorary title—for nearly forty years.

He has already raised some media interest. A November 18 story on Nebraska’s NPR stations pointed out that “Nebraska’s 3rd District is the sixth-most Republican in the country out of the nation’s 435 districts.” The last time the District was won by a non-Republican was in 1958. However, two years ago in the Nebraska senate race, an independent received 46% of the vote.

Cohen's campaign website is www.markfornebraska.org.