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The Douglas County Republican Party is challenging Mark Martinez’s candidacy for sheriff, claiming he does not have an active peace officer certificate. The Nebraska Commission on Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice said in a January 2026 letter that “His certification was active from November 27, 1984, to March 6, 2009,” which was 17 years ago.That’s the point of contention for Douglas County republicans. In the challenge filing, it said he’s “ineligible to run for Douglas County Sheriff” because his certification is expired.In a statement, the GOP said Nebraska’s state law is clear that candidates must be certified.Martinez’s campaign responded to the formal challenge, saying that the candidacy was reviewed by all the proper authorities at the time of his filing.”The 2024 statute does not specify that a law enforcement certificate must belong to an active law enforcement officer. The law requires the candidate to have a law enforcement certificate or a diploma. Mark Martinez has both credentials. Martinez’s career spans decades of service to the Omaha Police Department, where he retired as a Deputy Chief, followed by nearly a decade as a U.S. Marshal. His qualifications for the position are beyond question. This challenge is a desperate attempt by the Republican Party to protect a weak incumbent.” In 2024, legislation was passed by Nebraska lawmakers that states “any candidate for the office of sheriff and any sheriff appointed under subsection (3) of section 23-1701 shall possess a law enforcement officer certificate or diploma issued by the Nebraska Commission on Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice. A standardized letter issued by the director of the Nebraska Law Enforcement Training Center certifying that the candidate or appointee was duly issued such certificate or diploma shall be filed by a candidate with the candidate filing form required by section 32-607 and by an appointee with the contract entered into under section 23-1701.”The word “active” isn’t used in the statute.The Martinez campaign argued that the law states a candidate only needs experience or is qualified for eligibility. Martinez was a U.S. federal marshal until 2018, which the campaign said is enough to qualify. He was also a former Omaha Police Deputy Chief.
The Douglas County Republican Party is challenging Mark Martinez’s candidacy for sheriff, claiming he does not have an active peace officer certificate.
The Nebraska Commission on Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice said in a January 2026 letter that “His [Nebraska Law Enforcement Training Center] certification was active from November 27, 1984, to March 6, 2009,” which was 17 years ago.
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That’s the point of contention for Douglas County republicans. In the challenge filing, it said he’s “ineligible to run for Douglas County Sheriff” because his certification is expired.
In a statement, the GOP said Nebraska’s state law is clear that candidates must be certified.
Martinez’s campaign responded to the formal challenge, saying that the candidacy was reviewed by all the proper authorities at the time of his filing.
“The 2024 statute does not specify that a law enforcement certificate must belong to an active law enforcement officer. The law requires the candidate to have a law enforcement certificate or a diploma. Mark Martinez has both credentials. Martinez’s career spans decades of service to the Omaha Police Department, where he retired as a Deputy Chief, followed by nearly a decade as a U.S. Marshal. His qualifications for the position are beyond question. This challenge is a desperate attempt by the Republican Party to protect a weak incumbent.”
In 2024, legislation was passed by Nebraska lawmakers that states “any candidate for the office of sheriff and any sheriff appointed under subsection (3) of section 23-1701 shall possess a law enforcement officer certificate or diploma issued by the Nebraska Commission on Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice. A standardized letter issued by the director of the Nebraska Law Enforcement Training Center certifying that the candidate or appointee was duly issued such certificate or diploma shall be filed by a candidate with the candidate filing form required by section 32-607 and by an appointee with the contract entered into under section 23-1701.”
The word “active” isn’t used in the statute.
The Martinez campaign argued that the law states a candidate only needs experience or is qualified for eligibility.
Martinez was a U.S. federal marshal until 2018, which the campaign said is enough to qualify. He was also a former Omaha Police Deputy Chief.
