Dwite Pedersen is a Nebraska

Nebraska

Nebraska is a state on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States. The state's capital is Lincoln and its largest city is Omaha, on the Missouri River....

 state senator from Elkhorn, Nebraska

Elkhorn, Nebraska

Elkhorn was a city in Douglas County, Nebraska, United States and is a present-day neighborhood on the western edge of Omaha. The population was 6,062 at the 2000 census and was estimated by the Census Bureau at 8,192 in 2005...

 in the Nebraska Legislature

Nebraska Legislature

The Nebraska Legislature is the supreme legislative body of the State of Nebraska, in the Great Plains region of the United States. The Legislature meets at the Nebraska State Capitol in the City of Lincoln, Lancaster County....

 and substance abuse counselor.

Personal life

He was born October 20, 1941, in Chamberlain, South Dakota

Chamberlain, South Dakota

Chamberlain is a city in Brule County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 2,387 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Brule County. Chamberlain is home to the Akta Lakota Museum and Cultural Center, which profiles the lives of nomadic Plains Indians...

 and graduated from Winner High School in 1960. He attended South Dakota State University

South Dakota State University

South Dakota State University is the largest university in the U.S. state of South Dakota, located in Brookings. A public land-grant university and sun grant college, founded under the provisions of the 1862 Morrill Act, SDSU offers programs of study required by, or harmonious to, this Act...

 and South Dakota Southern State Teachers College, and graduated from Doane College

Doane College

Doane College is a private liberal arts college in Crete, Nebraska, United States, with additional campuses located in Lincoln and Grand Island.-History:...

 in human relations in 1995. He has worked with troubled youth for 35 years being a member of the Nebraska and National Associations of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors and a former Boys Town

Boys Town, Nebraska

Boys Town is a village in Douglas County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 818 at the 2000 census. Boys Town is a suburb of Omaha.The village of Boys Town was established as the headquarters of the Boys Town organization, also known as "Father Flanagan's Boys' Home", founded by Father...

 counselor and administrator. He is also a member of the Catholic Church.

State legislature

He was elected in 1992 to represent the 39th Nebraska legislative district and reelected in 1996, 2000, and 2004. He sat on the Transportation and Telecommunications is the vice chairperson of the Judiciary, and chairs the Committee on Committees.