John A. Gale

Summary

John A. Gale (born October 23, 1940) is from North Platte, Nebraska, and served as the 26th Secretary of State of Nebraska from 2000 until 2019.[1] He is a member of the Republican Party.

John Gale
26th Secretary of State of Nebraska
In office
December 2000 – January 10, 2019
GovernorMike Johanns
Dave Heineman
Pete Ricketts
Preceded byScott Moore
Succeeded byBob Evnen
Personal details
Born (1940-10-23) October 23, 1940 (age 83)
Omaha, Nebraska, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
EducationCarleton College (BA)
University of Chicago (JD)

Early life edit

John A. Gale was born in Omaha, Nebraska, and graduated from Omaha North High School. He earned his B.A. in Government and International Relations at Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota in 1962. In 1965, Gale graduated with a J.D. from the University of Chicago Law School.[1]

Professional background edit

After law school, Gale held legal positions in the private and public sectors. He worked in the legal department at Northern Natural Gas Company in Omaha. From 1968 to 1970, he served as a legislative assistant to U.S. Senator Roman Hruska of Nebraska and was responsible for agricultural appropriations, foreign relations, and constitutional law issues. In 1970, he returned to Nebraska to work as an Assistant U.S. Attorney, first in Omaha and then in Lincoln.[1]

Gale and his family moved to North Platte, Nebraska in 1971, where he entered the private practice of law. He practiced law there for 29 years.[1]

He is a former Chairman of the Nebraska Republican Party, former Chairman of the Mental Health Board for Lincoln County, former President of the 11th Judicial District Bar Association, former Chairman for the North Platte Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs Committee, and former President for the North Platte Sunrise Rotary Club.

Gale ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. House of Representatives in 2000. He was defeated by former U.S. Representative Tom Osborne for the Republican nomination.[2]

Secretary of State edit

Gale was appointed to fill a vacancy at Secretary of State in December 2000 by Governor Mike Johanns.[1] He was elected Secretary of State in 2002, defeating his Democratic Party opponent, Jay Stoddard.[3] He was reelected in 2006, defeating Stoddard again.[4][5] In 2010, Gale won re-election against Democratic Party opponent Janet Stewart.[6] In 2014, Gale won re-election against Libertarian Party opponent Ben Backus.[7]

As Secretary of State, Gale implemented major election improvements in Nebraska to meet the requirements of the federal Help America Vote Act. Under his leadership, all Nebraska counties received new ballot tabulation equipment and switched to a computerized statewide voter registration system. He promoted efforts to increase voter participation. Nebraska set new turnout records in both the 2004 and 2008 presidential elections.[1]

At his request, he was designated chief protocol officer for international relations by the Legislature. In that role, he promoted commerce, educational studies and cultural exchange between foreign nations and Nebraska.[8] Gale was instrumental in getting the Legislature to overhaul and modernize state law dealing with notaries public.[8] As secretary of state and chairman of the state Records Board, he pushed for increased and improved online access to state government.[8] He championed efforts to provide civics education to the state’s youth, with the goal to encourage youth to become active citizens and lifelong voters.[8]

Gale was a national leader on election reform and was active in the National Association of Secretaries of State. He served on the Executive Committee for NASS, including as a past chairman of its Business Services and International Relations committees. He is a current member of the U.S. Standards Board for the U.S. Election Assistance Commission and served in the past on the Technical Guidelines Development Committee for the U.S. Election Assistance Commission.[8]

As Secretary of State, Gale was the chairman of the Nebraska Real Estate Commission, and served on the Nebraska State Records Board, Nebraska Collection Agency Licensing Board, Nebraska Accountability and Disclosure Commission, the Nebraska Canvassing Board, and the Nebraska Pardons Board. He is a board member for Cornhusker Boys State and the NebraskaLAND Foundation.[8]

Family edit

Gale's family includes his wife, Carol; sons David of North Platte, Nebraska, and Steven of Laramie, Wyoming; daughter Elaine of Los Angeles, California; and six grandsons.[1]

Electoral history edit

Nebraska secretary of state election, 2014[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican John A. Gale (incumbent) 368,135 75.19
Libertarian Ben Backus 121,470 24.81
Total votes 489,605 100.0
Republican hold
Nebraska secretary of state election, 2010[6]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican John A. Gale (incumbent) 326,431 69.75
Democratic Janet Stewart 141,564 30.25
Total votes 467,995 100.0
Republican hold
Nebraska secretary of state election, 2006[4]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican John A. Gale (incumbent) 337,189 61.32
Democratic Jay Stoddard 184,684 33.60
Green Doug Paterson 27,987 5.09
Total votes 549,860 100.0
Republican hold
Nebraska secretary of state election, 2002[3]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican John A. Gale (incumbent) 274,268 62.06
Democratic Jay Stoddard 131,408 29.73
Nebraska Joseph Rosberg 27,579 6.24
Libertarian Tudor Lewis 8,679 1.96
Total votes 441,934 100.0
Republican hold
Nebraska 3rd congressional district Republican primary election, 2000[2]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Tom Osborne 52,438 70.72
Republican John A. Gale 12,553 16.93
Republican Kathy Wilmot 9,127 12.31
Republican Write-ins 26 0.04
Total votes 74,144 100.0

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d e f g "Nebraska Secretary of State". Meet Secretary of State John A. Gale. Archived from the original on December 3, 2016. Retrieved March 10, 2007.
  2. ^ a b Scott Moore (May 9, 2000). "Official Report of the Board of State Canvassers of the State of Nebraska: Primary Election, May 9, 2000" (PDF). Nebraska Secretary of State. Retrieved June 30, 2023.
  3. ^ a b John A. Gale (November 7, 2002). "Official Report of the Board of State Canvassers of the State of Nebraska: General Election, November 7, 2002" (PDF). Nebraska Secretary of State. Retrieved June 30, 2023.
  4. ^ a b John A. Gale (November 7, 2006). "Official Report of the Board of State Canvassers of the State of Nebraska: General Election, November 7, 2006" (PDF). Nebraska Secretary of State. Retrieved June 30, 2023.
  5. ^ "Nebraska Voters' Guide". Secretary of State. Archived from the original on August 20, 2006. Retrieved May 6, 2007.
  6. ^ a b John A. Gale (November 2, 2010). "Official Report of the Board of State Canvassers of the State of Nebraska: General Election, November 2, 2010" (PDF). Nebraska Secretary of State. Retrieved June 30, 2023.
  7. ^ a b John A. Gale (November 4, 2014). "Official Report of the Board of State Canvassers of the State of Nebraska: General Election, November 4, 2014" (PDF). Nebraska Secretary of State. Retrieved June 30, 2023.
  8. ^ a b c d e f "Gale for Secretary of State". Meet Secretary of State John A. Gale. Archived from the original on August 1, 2010. Retrieved May 6, 2007.
Party political offices
Preceded by
Scott Moore
Republican nominee for Secretary of State of Nebraska
2002, 2006, 2010, 2014
Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by Secretary of State of Nebraska
2000–2019
Succeeded by