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OMAHA — The Douglas County Republican Party has filed a complaint with county election officials questioning the sheriff’s candidacy of Democratic candidate Mark Martinez.
The county GOP released a statement Monday night that partly said, “Nebraska law requires candidates for sheriff to possess an active peace officer certificate. Martinez has not possessed an active peace officer certificate since 2009.”
Martinez campaign representatives said election officials told them he met the requirements to run for the position. Martinez was the U.S. marshal for the District of Nebraska from 2010 to 2018 and, before that, served from 1984 to 2009 in the Omaha Police Department, reaching the rank of deputy chief.
“Nebraska’s state laws are clear — candidates for sheriff must be certified law enforcement officers with an active peace officer certificate,” the statement from Douglas County GOP Chair Nancy Hicks reads. She claimed that Martinez “has not held an active certificate for more than 17 years and therefore cannot serve as Douglas County’s highest-ranking law enforcement officer.”
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The county GOP party points to a 2024 law, which requires a candidate for sheriff to possess a diploma from the training center before filing for election, and, if elected, pass a sheriff’s course at the training center within eight months after being elected.
Last month, Martinez announced his entry into the race for Douglas County sheriff, saying he wants to “restore” community trust. He is going up against the current sheriff, Aaron Hanson, a Republican.
Hanson won a tight race in 2022 against retired Omaha Deputy Police Chief Greg Gonzalez, a Democrat. Hanson said every law enforcement agency faces criticism and said during a previous Examiner interview that his department has made more efforts to address “quality of life issues” such as homeless encampments and reckless driving.
The Martinez campaign said his eligibility for sheriff was reviewed and green-lighted by the Douglas County Election Commission, the Douglas County Attorney’s Office and the Secretary of State. The campaign provided an email from Valerie Stoj, a public relations coordinator for the Douglas County Election Commission, which said, “Our office received clarification from the Secretary of State’s Office that Mark is eligible to file as a candidate for Douglas County Sheriff.”
“The 2024 statute does not specify that a law enforcement certificate must belong to an active law enforcement officer,” Martinez’s campaign manager said in a statement. “The law requires the candidate to have a law enforcement certificate or a diploma. Mark Martinez has both credentials.”
The campaign added that Martinez’s qualifications are beyond question — and the challenge is a “desperate attempt” by the Republican Party to protect a “weak” incumbent.
The Douglas County Election Commission said it has received the complaint and is reviewing it. The general election is on Nov. 3, 2026.
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