Justin Solomon for NU Board of Regents

Worth supporting: Justin Solomon for Regent

Why he matters: Justin Solomon is a product of Omaha Public Schools and a first-generation college student who went on to serve as NU's student regent in 2010-11. He's now the COO/CFO of Integrated Life Choices, a Lincoln-based human services company he helped grow into a nearly 1,800-employee provider serving people with developmental disabilities across three states. He led the May primary field for this Omaha-area seat and faces fellow Democrat Susanne Shore in November — both are strong options, but Solomon's roots as a first-gen NU student and his business-and-workforce lens make him our pick.

His focus:

• Keeping the University of Nebraska affordable for working families and first-generation students
• A "Rapid Response" framework partnering NU with employers to launch certificate and training programs in months, not years
• Protecting research and academic freedom
• Building stronger ties between NU campuses and Nebraska's statewide workforce