James Pappas
James Pappas | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Nebraska Legislature from the 42nd district | |
| In office November 29, 1982 – December 20, 1987 | |
| Preceded by | Myron Rumery |
| Succeeded by | David Bernard-Stevens |
| Personal details | |
| Born | June 13, 1944 |
| Party | Republican (until 1985) Democratic (1985–present) |
| Spouse |
Jo Ann (m. 1964) |
| Children | 2 (Amy Jo, James Jr.) |
| Occupation | Real estate agent |
James Pappas (born June 13, 1944) is an American politician from Nebraska who served as a member of the Nebraska Legislature from the 42nd district from 1982 to 1987. He was initially a Republican but switched to the Democratic Party in 1985.
Early life
[edit]Pappas was born in Julesburg, Colorado, in 1944, and grew up in North Platte, Nebraska.[1] He settled in Hershey, where worked as a farmer and served on the Hershey School Board.[2] Pappas and his brothers jointly owned several businesses, including gasoline stations, a bulk plant, and a computer store.[2][3]
Nebraska Legislature
[edit]In 1982, following the decision by State Senator Myron Rumery not to seek re-election, Pappas ran to succeed him in the 42nd district, which was based in Lincoln County.[4] Pappas faced three candidates in the primary: businessman Larry Bowley, North Platte City Councilwoman Corinne Jochum, and Gary Grabenstein, who dropped out of the race but still appeared on the ballot.[3] Pappas placed first in the primary, winning 45 percent of the vote to Jochum's 31 percent,[5] and they advanced to the general election.[6] Pappas defeated Jochum by a wide margin, winning his first term in the legislature with 59 percent of the vote.[5][2]
On November 14, 1982, Rumery died of cancer,[7] and Governor Charles Thone appointed Pappas to serve out the remaining weeks of Rumery's term.[8] He was sworn in on November 29, 1982.[9]
Pappas switched to the Democratic Party, and announced his switch by appearing at the Nebraska Democratic Party's annual Jefferson–Jackson Dinner on April 13, 1985.[10] In announcing his change, Pappas said, "I'd rather be a conservative Democrat than a liberal Republican. The Democrats don't care if you have a conservative, mdoerate or liberal label."[10]
In 1986, Pappas ran for re-election to a second term.[11] He was challenged by William Hord, a printing company owner and former Omaha World-Herald editor.[12] Pappas placed first in the primary election, receiving 58 percent of the vote to Hord's 42 percent.[13]
In September 1986, two months before the general election, Pappas, fellow State Senator Bernice Labedz, and several others were charged with petition fraud.[14] Prosecutors brought two counts against Pappas: one for "circulating an initiative petition in a county in which he was not qualified and one county of falsely swearing to the signature of a circulator on an initiative petition."[14] Pappas originally ceased his campaign and said that he would resign from the legislature, but reversed his decision, and said that he would continue to serve.[15] He ended up narrowly defeating Hord, winning a second term with 50.3 percent of the vote.[15][13]
Pappas was found guilty of one count of petition fraud on April 28, 1987.[16] He argued that the statute he was convicted of violating was unconstitutional, and appealed to the Supreme Court of Nebraska.[16] On December 10, 1987, Pappas announced that he would resign from the legislature, noting that it was "impossible to make a living and serve in the Legislature, and when you look at my particular situation, it is just impossible."[17] Pappas resigned on December 20, 1987,[18] and was succeeded by David Bernard-Stevens, who was appointed to serve out the remaining year of his term.[19] On June 17, 1988, the Nebraska Supreme Court unanimously affirmed Pappas's conviction.[20]
References
[edit]- ↑ Smith, Gail Lynn, ed. (1987). Nebraska Blue Book 1986-87 (PDF). Clerk of the Nebraska Legislature. Retrieved April 9, 2026.
- 1 2 3 "Pappas wins Legislative seat". North Platte Telegraph. November 3, 1982. p. 1. Retrieved April 9, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- 1 2 Koch, Mary Ann (May 2, 1982). "Three challenge for Rumery's vacated seat". North Platte Telegraph. p. 2. Retrieved April 9, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Pappas files in 42nd District". Lincoln Star. January 27, 1982. p. 31. Retrieved April 9, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- 1 2 Beermann, Allen J. (1982). Official Report of the Nebraska State Canvassing Board, Primary Election, May 11, 1982, General Election, November 2, 1982 (PDF). Nebraska Secretary of State. Retrieved April 9, 2026.
- ↑ "DeCamp, Wolf run close in legislative returns". Lincoln Star. May 12, 1982. p. 11. Retrieved April 9, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "State Sen. Myron Rumery, 77, dies". Lincoln Journal. November 15, 1982. p. 15. Retrieved April 9, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Pappas to Take Rumery's Seat". Omaha World-Herald. November 26, 1982. p. 1. Retrieved April 9, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ O'Donnell, Patrick J., ed. (1983). Legislative Journal of the State of Nebraska: Eighty-Eighth Legislature, First Session (PDF). Vol. 1. p. 3. Retrieved April 9, 2026.
- 1 2 "Republicans Lose Majority In Legislature; Pappas Changes". Omaha World-Herald. April 14, 1985. p. 8-B. Retrieved April 9, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "16 Incumbent Senators Beat Deadline for Primary". Omaha World-Herald. February 28, 1986. p. 14. Retrieved April 9, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Hord plans to run for legislative seat". Lincoln Star. March 13, 1986. p. 20. Retrieved April 9, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- 1 2 Beermann, Allen J. (1986). Official Report of the Nebraska State Canvassing Board, Primary Election, May 13, 1986, General Election, November 4, 1986 (PDF). Nebraska Secretary of State. Retrieved April 9, 2026.
- 1 2 Stern, Gabriella (September 8, 1986). "Sens. Labedz, Pappas Face Petition Charges". Omaha World-Herald. p. 1. Retrieved April 9, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- 1 2 Piersol, Dick (November 5, 1986). "Legislative incumbents DeCamp, Vickers, Eret ousted by voters". Lincoln Journal. p. 1. Retrieved April 9, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- 1 2 Swinton, Val (April 28, 1987). "Pappas found guilty on petition charge". Lincoln Journal. p. 4. Retrieved April 9, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ Howard, Ed (December 10, 1987). "Jim Pappas resigning from legislative seat". Lincoln Journal. p. 1. Retrieved April 9, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ O'Donnell, Patrick J., ed. (1988). Legislative Journal of the State of Nebraska: Ninetieth Legislature, Second Session (PDF). Vol. 1. p. 65. Retrieved April 9, 2026.
- ↑ Knapp, Fred (December 24, 1987). "Jim Pappas' legislative seat to David Bernard-Stevens". Lincoln Journal. p. 17. Retrieved April 9, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ Boellstorff, Leslie (June 17, 1988). "Court rules against Labedz, Pappas". Lincoln Journal. p. 1. Retrieved April 9, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.