Harold D. Simpson

Harold D. Simpson
Member of the Nebraska Public Service Commission from the 1st district
In office
January 6, 1977 – January 5, 1989
Preceded byRobert T. Marland
Succeeded byFrank E. Landis Jr.
Member of the Nebraska Legislature from the 46th district
In office
January 4, 1967 – December 31, 1976
Preceded byH. C. Crandall (redistricted)
Succeeded byJoAnn Maxey
Personal details
Born(1926-06-01)June 1, 1926
Harlan, Iowa
DiedMay 27, 2001(2001-05-27) (aged 74)
Lincoln, Nebraska
PartyRepublican
SpouseJean

Harold D. Simpson Sr. (June 1, 1926 – May 27, 2001) was a Republican politician from Nebraska who served as a member of the Nebraska Public Service Commission from 1977 to 1989, and in the Nebraska Legislature from 1967 to 1976.

Early career

Simpson was born in Harlan, Iowa, and attended the Irwin Consolidated School.[1] He served in the U.S. Air Force during World War II.[1] He later worked for the Gooch Milling and Elevator Company.[1]

Nebraska Legislature

In 1966, following redistricting, a new seat in the Nebraska Legislature was created in northern Lincoln.[2] Simpson ran in the newly created 46th district,[3] in the nonpartisan primary, he faced Joseph Franson, a farmer and National Farmers Organization official; Lawrence Sintek, who owned a septic service company; and Charles Wilcox, who managed a real estate and auction company.[4][5] Simpson placed second in the primary, winning 30 percent of the vote to Wilcox's 34 percent,[6] and both advanced to the general election.[5] Though the race was formally nonpartisan, both Simpson and Wilcox were Republicans, and Franson, a Democrat, announced that he would run in the general election as a write-in candidate.[7] Simpson won by a narrow margin, receiving 51 percent of the vote to Wilcox's 45 percent and Franson's 4 percent.[6]

Simpson ran for re-election in 1970,[8] and faced Franson and Wilcox in a rematch.[9] Simpson narrowly placed second in the primary, receiving 36 percent of the vote to Wilcox's 38 percent and Franson's 26 percent.[10][11] In the general election, Simpson defeated Wilcox by a wide margin, winning 59–41 percent.[10]

In 1974, Simpson ran for re-election to a third term, and was re-elected unopposed.[12][13]

Simpson resigned, effective December 31, 1976, upon his election to the Public Service Commission.[14]

Nebraska Public Service Commission

In 1976, Simpson announced that he would run for the Nebraska Public Service Commission from the 1st district, which was represented by Commissioner Robert T. Marland.[15] In the Republican primary, he faced Ruth Swanson, a music teacher and the wife of Wayne Swanson, the former State Treasurer, and Richard Halvorsen, a prison guard.[16] Simpson narrowly won the Republican primary, receiving 41 percent of the vote to Swanson's 37 percent and Halvorsen's 22 percent.[17] In the general election, Simpson faced Joyce Durand, the Democratic nominee and the commission's research and budget director.[18] Simpson ultimately defeated Durand, winning 54 percent of the vote to her 46 percent.[17]

Simpson ran for re-election in 1982, and was challenged in the Republican primary by Daniel Meyer, a research analyst for State Senator John DeCamp, and Donald Larson, a former Otoe County Commissioner.[19][20] Simpson won only a plurality of the vote, receiving 40 percent to Larson's 31 percent and Meyer's 29 percent.[21] In the general election, he faced Democratic nominee Ralph Johnson, an agricultural economist.[20] He won re-election only narrowly, defeating Johnson 53–47 percent.

In 1988, Simpson ran for a third term, and was challenged in the Republican primary by attorney Frank E. Landis Jr., the brother of Democratic State Senator David Landis.[22] Landis defeated Simpson by a wide margin, receiving 60 percent of the vote to Simpson's 40 percent.[23]

Death

Simpson died on May 27, 2001.[24]

References

  1. ^ a b c Smith, Gail Lynn, ed. (1987). Nebraska Blue Book 1986-87 (PDF). Clerk of the Nebraska Legislature. Retrieved March 7, 2026.
  2. ^ Walton, Don (October 21, 1966). "Lancaster Has 3 Unicam Races". Lincoln Star. p. 9. Retrieved March 7, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "Simpson Is 46th District Candidate". Lincoln Star. March 9, 1966. p. 12. Retrieved March 7, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "Four vie For Seat In Senate". Lincoln Evening Journal. May 7, 1966. p. 7. Retrieved March 7, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ a b "Simpson, Wilcox Win Nod In 46th". Lincoln Star. May 11, 1966. p. 3. Retrieved March 7, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ a b Marsh, Frank (1966). Official Report of the Board of State Canvassers of the State of Nebraska, Primary Election, May 10, 1966, General Election, November 8, 1966 (PDF). Nebraska Secretary of State. Retrieved March 7, 2026.
  7. ^ "Franson Appeals To Dems". Lincoln Star. October 18, 1966. p. 3. Retrieved March 7, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "Everroad's Son Files For Legislature". Lincoln Star. January 22, 1970. p. 27. Retrieved March 7, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ Herman, Dick (March 14, 1970). "Last-Minute Filing Features Morrison in Senatorial Race". Lincoln Evening Journal. p. 1. Retrieved March 7, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ a b Marsh, Frank (1970). Official Report of the Board of State Canvassers of the State of Nebraska, Primary Election, May 12, 1970, General Election, November 3, 1970 (PDF). Nebraska Secretary of State. Retrieved March 7, 2026.
  11. ^ Walton, Don (May 14, 1970). "3 State Senators Apparently Ousted". Lincoln Star. p. 6. Retrieved March 7, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "Unicam Incumbents Secure in Victories". Lincoln Journal. May 15, 1974. p. 29. Retrieved March 7, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ Beermann, Allen J. (1974). Official Report of the Board of State Canvassers of the State of Nebraska, Primary Election, May 14, 1974, General Election, November 5, 1974 (PDF). Nebraska Secretary of State. Retrieved March 7, 2026.
  14. ^ Brown, Vincent D., ed. (1977). Legislative Journal of the State of Nebraska (PDF). Vol. 1. p. 10. Retrieved March 7, 2026.
  15. ^ "Simpson Seeks PSC Nod". Lincoln Journal. May 15, 1974. p. 10. Retrieved March 7, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ^ Taylor, John (April 21, 1976). "11 Vying for 2 Public Service Commission Posts—With Pay Boost". Omaha World-Herald. p. 49. Retrieved March 7, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ^ a b Beermann, Allen J. (1976). Official Report of the Nebraska State Canvassing Board, Primary Election, May 11, 1976, General Election, November 2, 1976 (PDF). Nebraska Secretary of State. Retrieved March 7, 2026.
  18. ^ Holman, Dick (October 29, 1976). "Public Service Commission 'tends to be an invisible agency'". Lincoln Star. p. 9. Retrieved March 7, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ^ "Meyer seeking PSC post". Lincoln Journal. February 23, 1982. p. 4. Retrieved March 7, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. ^ a b Mahoney, Jerry (April 19, 1982). "Grain Warehousing Top PSC Issue". Omaha World-Herald. p. 17. Retrieved March 7, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. ^ 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 March 7, 2026.
  22. ^ Harrell, Ann (December 10, 1987). "Frank Landis to run for PSC". Lincoln Journal. p. 14. Retrieved March 7, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  23. ^ Beermann, Allen J. (1988). Official Report of the Nebraska State Canvassing Board, Primary Election, May 10, 1988, General Election, November 8, 1988 (PDF). Nebraska Secretary of State. Retrieved March 7, 2026.
  24. ^ "Former senator Simpson dies at 74". Lincoln Journal Star. May 29, 2001. p. 4B. Retrieved March 7, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
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