Seward's new city clerk carried an appreciation for the city well before assuming the position last week.
Pender native Derek Bargmann began his tenure as Seward City Clerk on May 20. Previously, he served in an administrative role at the University of Nebraska.
While Bargmann is new to the position, he's not new to Seward. Bargmann and his family moved to Seward from Lincoln in July of last year on the desire to live and raise their four children in a small-town community. A previous trip to town showed the Bargmanns Seward fit that description.
“My wife and I had lived in Lincoln since 2014 and we had young kids, so we wanted to find a community for them to grow up in outside of Lincoln to have that small-town upbringing like I did,” he said. “We heard so many great things about Seward. We drove here in early 2020 and...said 'this is a really nice community.'”
For his first nine months in Seward, Bargmann worked remotely in his position with the University of Nebraska. He said he enjoyed his work in that position, but when he saw the ad for the clerk opening, he knew he had to act on it. With a master's degree in public administration with a local government concentration, Bargmann said he felt the role of clerk fit his desire to help lead the betterment of a community.
“It's always been my passion and desire to move to a smaller community, but I wanted to not only move, but be a part of the leadership,” he said. “I want to help make Seward a better place.”
While the roles of the clerk are numerous, Bargmann said he's most excited for the opportunity to visit with city officials and see how decisions that affect the community and its citizens are made.
“I always enjoy city council meetings because there are so many things are talked about and discussed and ultimately decided in that arena,” he said. “It's an exciting way to learn what's going on and what's to come.”
Bargmann said his journey to Seward has been possible through timing and chance. An ad for a community and regional program with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, which asked 'Do you want to change the world?' sparked his interest in local government. A brief conversation with someone mowing a lawn with a “For Sale” sign led to finding their home in Seward and an ad that fit his ambitions to help the town to which he had just moved helped him become city clerk.
With all the pieces in place, Bargmann said he's ready for the new challenge.
“It was always my goal to get back into local government,” he said. “I feel grateful to be in this position and have that opportunity in my town.”
