Lee Klein
Lee Klein | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Nebraska Legislature from the 19th district | |
| In office December 20, 1995 – January 8, 1997 | |
| Preceded by | Connie Day |
| Succeeded by | Gene Tyson |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1946 or 1947 (age 78–79) |
| Party | Republican |
| Spouse | Sharon |
| Children | 2 (Courtney, Angie) |
| Education | University of Nebraska–Lincoln |
| Occupation | Farmer |
Leland Klein (born 1946 or 1947) is a Republican politician from Nebraska who served as a member of the Nebraska Legislature from the 19th district from 1995 to 1997, and later as a member of the Madison County Board of Commissioners from 2007 to 2015.
Early life
[edit]Klein grew up in Battle Creek, Nebraska, graduating from Battle Creek High School in 1965.[1] He later attended the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, and served on the Battle Creek Village Board of Trustees from 1974 to 1978.[1] He was a corn grower,[2] and served on the Nebraska Corn Development and Utilization Board from 1992 to 1995.[1]
Nebraska Legislature
[edit]In 1995, State Senator Connie Day announced that she would resign from the state legislature after being diagnosed with cancer.[3] Governor Ben Nelson appointed Klein to serve out the remaining year of Day's term, and he was sworn in on December 20, 1995.[4][5]
Klein ran for a full term in 1996, and was challenged by Norfolk City Councilman Gene Tyson for re-election.[6] Though the race was formally nonpartisan, Klein, then a "moderate Democrat," was supported by the state Democratic Party, while Tyson, a conservative Republican, received support from the Nebraska Republican Party, which viewed the 19th district as a pickup opportunity.[7][8][9] In the primary election, Klein narrowly placed first over Tyson, receiving 54 percent of the vote to Tyson's 46 percent.[10] In the general election, Klein narrowly lost, receiving 47 percent of the vote to Klein's 53 percent.[10]
Post-legislative career
[edit]After leaving the legislature, Klein served on the Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources Board of Directors from 1998 to 2007.[11] He was elected the president of the National Corn Growers Association in 2000.[12] Following the election of George W. Bush as president in 2000, Klein was appointed to Bush's agricultural transition team.[13] He ran for the Nebraska Public Power District from subdivision 10 in 2004, but was defeated by Virginia Froehlich, winning 45 percent of the vote to Froehlich's 55 percent.[14]
In 2006, Klein, who had since switched to the Republican Party, was elected to the Madison County Board of Commissioners. He was re-elected in 2010, but was defeated for re-election in the 2014 Republican primary by former Commissioner Jim Prauner.[15]
Following his defeat, Klein joined the staff of Republican Congressman Jeff Fortenberry, who represented the 1st district, as a field representative based in Norfolk.[16] In 2018, Klein challenged Prauner for re-election, but lost the primary, receiving 401 votes to Prauner's 807 and challenger Troy Uhlir's 997.[17]
In 2024, Klein ran for the Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources Board of Directors from subdistrict 2, challenging incumbent Mark Hall,[11] whom he ultimately defeated.[18]
References
[edit]- 1 2 3 "Candidates for the Nebraska Legislature". Omaha World-Herald. May 5, 1996. p. 2-L. Retrieved April 25, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ Toner, Ann (July 4, 1995). "Knee-high By the Fourth Not Corny Line". Omaha World-Herald. p. 15. Retrieved April 25, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Senator from Norfolk resigns to fight cancer". Lincoln Journal Star. November 30, 1995. p. 1B. Retrieved April 25, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ Boellstroff, Leslie (December 20, 1995). "Battle Creek Farmer Now a Senator". Omaha World-Herald. p. 16. Retrieved April 25, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ O'Donnell, Patrick J., ed. (1996). Legislative Journal of the State of Nebraska: Ninety-Fourth Legislature, Second Session (PDF). Vol. 1. p. 86. Retrieved April 25, 2026.
- ↑ "Withem says lack of challengers not surprising". Beatrice Daily Sun. February 17, 1996. p. 2. Retrieved April 25, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ Schmidt, J.L. (October 31, 1996). "Legislative races: Incumbents appear to lead in many of the 25 contests". Grand Island Independent. p. 4-C. Retrieved April 25, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ Hammel, Paul (September 15, 1996). "Number of Legislative Hopefuls Slip". Omaha World-Herald. p. 4-B. Retrieved April 25, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ Hord, Bill (November 10, 1996). "Partisanship Not Expected In Legislature". Omaha World-Herald. p. 1-B, 5-B. Retrieved April 25, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- 1 2 Moore, Scott (1996). Official Report of the Nebraska State Canvassing Board, Primary Election, May 14, 1996, General Election, November 5, 1996 (PDF). Nebraska Secretary of State. Retrieved April 25, 2026.
- 1 2 Hughes, Paul (October 18, 2024). "Lee Klein running for Lower NRD board". WJAG. Norfolk, Nebraska. Retrieved April 25, 2026.
- ↑ "National Corn Growers elect Battle Creek man". Grand Island Independent. July 25, 2000. p. 6. Retrieved April 25, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Nebraskan selected for Bush's ag transition team". York News-Times. January 10, 2001. p. 1. Retrieved April 25, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ John A. Gale (2004). 2004 Official Nebraska General Election Results (PDF). Nebraska Secretary of State. Retrieved April 25, 2026.
- ↑ Warneke, Kent (May 13, 2014). "Incumbent Klein defeated in county commissioner race". Norfolk Daily News. Retrieved April 25, 2026.
- ↑ Guenther, Jerry (November 25, 2014). "Klein prepares to join congressman's staff". Norfolk Daily News. Retrieved April 25, 2026.
- ↑ Warneke, Kent (May 15, 2018). "Madison County voters elect new sheriff, two commissioners". Norfolk Daily News. Retrieved April 25, 2026.
- ↑ Mueggenberg, Sam (November 8, 2024). "Klein, Wisnieski win LENRD subdistrict races". Norfolk Daily News. Retrieved April 25, 2026.