Nelson Merz
Nelson Merz | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Nebraska Legislature from the 1st district | |
| In office January 5, 1977 – January 7, 1981 | |
| Preceded by | Irving Wiltse |
| Succeeded by | R. Wiley Remmers |
| Personal details | |
| Born | May 27, 1917 |
| Died | January 4, 1996 (aged 78) |
| Party | Democratic |
| Spouse |
Caroline T. Faller (m. 1939) |
| Children | 9 (Dennis, Thelma, Janet, Gale, Carol, Rita, Bruce, Debra, Mary) |
| Occupation | Farmer, farm equipment salesman |
Nelson Merz (May 27, 1917 – January 4, 1996) was a Democratic politician from Nebraska who served as a member of the Nebraska Legislature from the 1st district from 1977 to 1981.
Early career
Merz was born in Falls City, Nebraska, and worked as a farmer and equipment salesman.[1] He served as a member of the Falls City School Board.[2]
Nebraska Legislature
In 1960, when State Senator John Cooper ran for Governor rather than seek re-election, Merz ran to succeed him in the 1st district, which was based in Gage, Nemaha, Pawnee, and Richardson counties.[3] In the nonpartisan primary, he faced former Humboldt City Councilman Lloyd Stalder, retired state purchasing agent Blaine Yoder, and farmers Jack McGrath and Ted Yoesel.[3] Merz finished fourth in the primary, winning 12 percent of the vote.[4]
Sixteen years later, in 1976, Merz challenged incumbent State Senator Irving Wiltse for re-election in the 1st district. In the primary election, Guy Cooper, the brother of former State Senator Calista Cooper Hughes, whom Wiltse defeated in 1968, placed first, winning 48 percent of the vote, while Merz placed second with 30 percent.[5] Wiltse placed third with 22 percent of the vote, becoming the only incumbent state senator running for re-election that year to fail to be renominated.[6] In the general election, Merz argued that Cooper, who was 69, was too old to serve in the legislature, which he described as a demanding job.[7] Merz narrowly defeated Cooper in the general election, winning 53–47 percent.[5][8]
Merz ran for re-election in 1980, and was challenged by school superintendent R. Wiley Remmers, retired attorney William Stockdale, Richardson County Commissioner Burnus Schuler, and farmer Keith Sherburne.[9] Merz placed second in the primary election, winning just 25 percent to Remmers's 42 percent,[10] and they advanced to the general election.[11] Remmers defeated Merz by a wide margin, winning 57 percent of the vote to Merz's 43 percent.[10]
Post-legislative career
When Remmers ran for re-election in 1984, Merz and Stockdale both challenged him.[12] Remmers placed first in the primary election, winning 60 percent of the vote to Merz's 25 percent,[13] and they advanced to the general election.[14] Merz lost in a landslide, receiving 31 percent of the vote to Remmers's 69 percent.[13]
In the late 1980s, Merz was supportive of the Posse Comitatus, but noted that he did not support the ideology "as espoused by Jim Wickstrom." In an interview with the Omaha World-Herald, he said, "The founding fathers set up the Posse Comitatus," and blamed "the news media" for misrepresenting the Posse Comitatus's mission.[15]
Death
Merz died on January 4, 1996.[16]
References
- ^ Nebraska Blue Book 1978-1979 (PDF). Nebraska Legislative Council. 1979. Retrieved March 28, 2026.
- ^ "Legislative Hopefuls Air Resources Views". Lincoln Sunday Journal. May 2, 1976. p. 3V. Retrieved March 28, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b Terrill, Dean (May 5, 1960). "Five Candidates in Race; May Be Won by 'Apathy'". Lincoln Evening Journal. p. 5. Retrieved April 1, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Marsh, Frank (1960). Official Report of the Board of State Canvassers of the State of Nebraska, Primary Election, May 10, 1960, General Election, November 8, 1960 (PDF). Nebraska Secretary of State. Retrieved April 1, 2026.
- ^ 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 28, 2026.
- ^ "All Incumbent State Senators In Race Except Irving Wiltse Win Renomination". Alliance Times-Herald. May 12, 1976. p. 10. Retrieved March 28, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Old Age Is Biggest Issue in 'Very Personal' 1st District Race". Lincoln Journal. October 29, 1976. p. 11. Retrieved March 28, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Seven Outstate Freshmen Are Headed for Legislature". Omaha World-Herald. November 3, 1976. p. 4. Retrieved March 28, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "20 State Senators Have Opposition In Primary". Alliance Times-Herald. May 5, 1980. p. 4. Retrieved March 28, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b Beermann, Allen J. (1980). Official Report of the Nebraska State Canvassing Board, Primary Election, May 13, 1980, General Election, November 4, 1980 (PDF). Nebraska Secretary of State. Retrieved March 28, 2026.
- ^ Piersol, Dick (May 14, 1980). "Third-place legislative finisher blames his loss on The Letter". Lincoln Journal. p. 14. Retrieved March 28, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Terrill, Dean (May 10, 1984). "Sen. Remmers in 3-way race". Lincoln Journal. p. 28. Retrieved March 28, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b Beermann, Allen J. (1984). Official Report of the Nebraska State Canvassing Board, Primary Election, May 15, 1984, General Election, November 6, 1984 (PDF). Nebraska Secretary of State. Retrieved March 28, 2026.
- ^ Terrill, Dean (October 26, 1984). "Merz, Remmers run harder". Lincoln Star. p. 11. Retrieved March 28, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Collison, Kevin (September 2, 1985). "Ex-Senator Merz Searching For Source of Farm Woes". Omaha World-Herald. p. 13. Retrieved March 28, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Former State Senator Nelson N. Merz Dies". Omaha World-Herald. January 6, 1996. p. 44. Retrieved March 28, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.