P. J. Morgan

P. J. Morgan
Mayor of Omaha
In office
June 5, 1989 – June 10, 1994
Preceded byWalt Calinger
Succeeded bySubby Anzaldo
Member of the Nebraska Legislature from the 4th district
In office
January 6, 1971 – December 31, 1972
Preceded byHenry F. Pedersen
Succeeded byRichard Fellman
Personal details
Born (1940-04-09) April 9, 1940
Omaha, Nebraska
PartyRepublican

P. J. Morgan (born April 9, 1940) is a Republican politician who currently serves as a member of the Douglas County Board of Commissioners from the 4th district. Morgan served as a member of the Nebraska Legislature from 1971 to 1972, as Mayor of Omaha from 1989 to 1994, and previously served on the County Commission from 1973 to 1977.

Early life

Morgan was born in 1940 in Omaha, Nebraska, and graduated from Westside High School in 1958.[1] He attended the University of Omaha and relocated to Phoenix, Arizona, where he attended Phoenix Junior College.[2] Morgan returned to Omaha in 1961 and opened a real estate company, which he expanded to a car-leasing business.[1] In 1969, Morgan ran for one of the seven at-large seats on the Omaha City Council.[3] In the primary election, he was one of the fourteen candidates who received the most votes, and advanced to the general election,[4] and he narrowly lost the general election.[5]

Nebraska Legislature

In 1970, State Senator Henry F. Pedersen opted to seek the Republican nomination for Lieutenant Governor rather than seek re-election, and Morgan ran to succeed him in the 4th district.[6] Morgan competed in a crowded primary election,[7] and won 25 percent of the vote, advancing to the general election against John E. Everroad Jr., the son of Lieutenant Governor John E. Everroad, who received 34 percent.[8] In the general election, Morgan defeated Everroad in a landslide, receiving 64 percent of the vote.[8]

Douglas County Board of Commissioners

Morgan announced that he would seek a position on the Douglas County Board of Commissioners, citing the need for "some Republican representation" on the board.[9] He won the Republican primary,[10] and won the general election by a wide margin.[11] Governor J. James Exon appointed Democrat Richard Fellman as Morgan's successor.[12] Morgan resigned effective on December 31, 1972, to enable his successor, Richard Fellman, to assume office earlier.[13]

1976 congressional campaign

In 1976, Republican Congressman John Y. McCollister opted to unsuccessfully run for Senate rather than seek re-election, and Morgan ran to succeed him in the 2nd district.[14] In the Republican primary, he faced Omaha City Councilman Monte Taylor, former television journalist Lee Terry, and electrical engineer Joe Moss.[15] Morgan ultimately placed second in the primary, winning 25 percent of the vote to Terry's 47 percent.[16] Terry went on to lose to Democrat John J. Cavanaugh.

Mayor of Omaha

Morgan ran for Mayor of Omaha in 1989, challenging incumbent Walt Calinger, the interim Mayor.[17] Former Mayor Mike Boyle, who had been recalled in 1987,[2] placed first in the primary election, winning 27 percent of the vote. Morgan narrowly defeated Calinger for second place, receiving 21 percent of the vote to Calinger's 20 percent.[18] Morgan ultimately defeated Boyle, 53–45 percent.[19]

In 1993, Morgan ran for re-election to a second term.[20] He was challenged by three little-known opponents, and won 73 percent of the vote in the primary election, the largest percentage in city history. Environmental activist Isabel Cohen placed second with 11 percent of the vote, and advanced to the general election against Morgan.[21] Morgan defeated Cohen in a landslide, winning 75 percent of the vote to her 25 percent.[22]

On April 27, 1994, Morgan unexpectedly announced that he would resign as mayor, effective June 10, to become the president of Duncan Aviation, a Lincoln-based company. Morgan cited his desire to spend time with his family and his interest in the business opportunity.[23]

Return to the Douglas County Board

On August 18, 2009, Douglas announced that he would run for the Douglas County Board of County Commissioners from the 4th district in 2010.[24] He was elected unopposed, succeeding Commissioner Kyle Hutchings.[25]

In advance of the 2011 recall election of Mayor Jim Suttle, Morgan was discussed as a possible candidate to succeed Suttle if he was recalled.[26] However, Suttle narrowly prevailed in the election.

Morgan was re-elected to the Board without opposition in 2014,[27] 2018,[28] and 2022.[29]

References

  1. ^ a b Reilly, Mike; Janovy, Jena (April 28, 1994). "Three Say Morgan Owes Voters; Others Say He Has Right to Quit". Omaha World-Herald. p. 25. Retrieved February 21, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ a b Kotok, C. David (May 4, 1989). "Recall Remains an Issue in Race for Mayor". Omaha World-Herald. p. 45. Retrieved February 21, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "P. J. Morgan In the Race". Omaha World-Herald. January 18, 1969. p. 10. Retrieved February 21, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "Leahy Is A Victory". Lincoln Journal. April 2, 1969. p. 14. Retrieved February 21, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Leahy Winner In Omaha Race". Grand Island Independent. May 14, 1969. p. 28. Retrieved February 21, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "P. J. Morgan Files In Fourth District". Omaha World-Herald. March 9, 1970. p. 4. Retrieved February 21, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Who's Who In the May 12 Primary". Omaha World-Herald. May 6, 1970. p. 79. Retrieved February 21, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ 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 February 22, 2026.
  9. ^ "Morgan Runs For Douglas Board Seat". Omaha World-Herald. February 28, 1972. p. 4. Retrieved February 21, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "Morrison Winner In Race". Grand Island Independent. May 11, 1972. p. 25. Retrieved February 21, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "Morgan Asks Voice In Successor Hunt". Omaha World-Herald. November 8, 1972. p. 74. Retrieved February 21, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "Fellman Is Named to Legislature". Omaha World-Herald. November 9, 1972. p. 9. Retrieved February 21, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ "Morgan Leaving His Seat Early". Omaha World-Herald. December 7, 1972. p. 4. Retrieved February 21, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ "Morgan Enters Race For 2nd District Seat". Omaha World-Herald. January 19, 1976. p. 1. Retrieved February 21, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ Thompson, David (February 11, 1976). "GOP Entries Don't Differ On Answers". Omaha World-Herald. p. 18. Retrieved February 21, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ^ Beermann, Allen J. (1976). Official Report of the Board of State Canvassers of the State of Nebraska, Primary Election, May 11, 1976, General Election, November 2, 1976 (PDF). Nebraska Secretary of State. Retrieved February 22, 2026.
  17. ^ Goodsell, Paul (June 7, 1988). "Morgan Got Swap Offer On Offices'". Omaha World-Herald. p. 1. Retrieved February 21, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ^ Kotok, C. David (April 5, 1989). "Next Round: Boyle vs. Morgan". Omaha World-Herald. p. 1. Retrieved February 21, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ^ Flanery, James Allen (May 10, 1989). "Morgan Win Seen as end To Turbulent Time for City". Omaha World-Herald. p. 1. Retrieved February 21, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. ^ Brennan, Joe (January 11, 1993). "Morgan Off and Running For 2nd Term as Mayor". Omaha World-Herald. p. 1. Retrieved February 21, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. ^ Brennan, Joe (April 7, 1993). "Mayor's Race Focus May Be on Sales Tax". Omaha World-Herald. p. 1. Retrieved February 21, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  22. ^ Brennan, Joe (May 12, 1993). "Twin Win: Morgan, Sales Tax". Omaha World-Herald. p. 1. Retrieved February 21, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  23. ^ Dorr, Robert (April 27, 1994). "Morgan Quits for Aviation Job". Omaha World-Herald. p. 1. Retrieved February 21, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  24. ^ O'Brien, Maggie; Olsen, Maggie (August 18, 2009). "Ex-mayor seeks seat on Douglas County Board". Omaha World-Herald. p. 7. Retrieved February 21, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  25. ^ Olsen, Chip (March 2, 2010). "Douglas County officials face no opposition". Omaha World-Herald. p. 9. Retrieved February 21, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  26. ^ Tysver, Robynn (January 24, 2011). "If Suttle's out, who's next?". Omaha World-Herald. p. 1. Retrieved February 21, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  27. ^ Burbach, Christopher (October 27, 2014). "Dramatic changes unlikely in Douglas County". Omaha World-Herald. p. 11. Retrieved February 22, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  28. ^ Burbach, Christopher (November 7, 2018). "With win, Cavanaugh will keep fighting against justice center plan". Omaha World-Herald. p. 7. Retrieved February 21, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  29. ^ "Summary Results Report - 2022 General Election" (PDF). Douglas County Election Commission. November 22, 2022. Retrieved February 22, 2026.
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