Elected to Nebraska Legislature: 2008
Born Brenda Warren, Oct. 3, 1953, in Omaha.
Education: Graduate of Omaha Central High School, 1971; University of Nebraska-Lincoln (B.S. in secondary education, with distinction), 1974; Creighton University (J.D.), 1977.
Family: Married to Otha Council; two children; five grandchildren.
Occupation: Attorney
Former: judge, Nebraska Commission of Industrial Relations (2001-05); faculty, Railroad and Airline Labor Law Section, American Bar Association American Legal Institute.
Member: board of directors, Boys and Girls Club of Omaha; board of directors, Charles Drew Health Center Foundation; board of directors, Latino Center of the Midlands; Creighton University Law School Advisory Board; Minority Economic Development Council, Omaha Chamber of Commerce; executive committee, North Omaha Development Project.
Former Member: Omaha Board of Education (1982-93, past president); Nebraska School Boards Association; Nebraska Board of Educational Lands and Funds; Nebraska Commission on Post Secondary Education; president, National Caucus of Black School Board Members; Omaha City Council; Douglas County Land Reutilization Commission; board of directors, National Black Caucus of Local Elected Officials; American Council of Young Political Leaders; board, Community Bank of Nebraska; board, Creighton University Medical Center; board, United Way of the Midlands; Urban League of Nebraska; New Community Development Corporation; Nebraska Community Foundation; Salvation Army; Susan A. Buffett Foundation; Nebraska Aids Project; North Branch (now Butler-Gast); YMCA; Norwest Bank Advisory Board; UNMC Institutional Review Board.
Honors and awards: Professionalism Award, Nebraska State Bar Association; Elizabeth Pittman Award, Creighton University Law School and Black American Law Students Association; National Prominence Award, Urban League of Nebraska; Alumni Association Award, University of Nebraska; Outstanding Young Omahan and Nebraskan; A+ Award, Omaha Public Schools.
Read the Unicameral Update’s feature article on Sen. Council.