Anne Boyle
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Anne Boyle | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Nebraska Public Service Commission from the 2nd district | |
| In office January 9, 1997 – January 8, 2015 | |
| Preceded by | James F. Munnelly |
| Succeeded by | Crystal Rhoades |
| Chair of the Nebraska Democratic Party | |
| In office June 27, 1998 – June 1, 2001 | |
| Preceded by | Deb Hardin Quirk |
| Succeeded by | Steve Achelpohl |
| Personal details | |
| Born | December 22, 1942 |
| Died | February 2, 2019 (aged 76) |
| Party | Democratic |
| Spouse | |
Anne C. Boyle (née Howell, December 22, 1942 – February 2, 2019) was an American Democratic politician from the U.S. state of Nebraska who served as a member of the Nebraska Public Service Commission from 1997 to 2015. Boyle served as the chair of the Nebraska Democratic Party from 1998 to 2001, and in 2010 ran as the Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor.
Boyle was born in 1942 in Omaha,[1] and was the daughter of longtime County Treasurer Sam J. Howell Jr.[2] She graduated from Cathedral High School in 1961 and later worked at the family's insurance agency,[3] marrying Mike Boyle in 1965.[4] Boyle later worked for U.S. senator J. James Exon's office,[3] served as the chair of the Douglas County Democratic Party from 1972 to 1974,[5] and was the campaign coordinator for Omaha Mayor Edward Zorinsky's successful Senate campaign in 1976.[6]
Mike was elected Mayor of Omaha in 1981 and 1985, and Boyle served as First Lady of the city. When he faced a recall election in 1987, she campaigned for him,[7] but he was ultimately ousted from office.
Political career
In 1991, Boyle ran for the Omaha City Council from District 6. After City Councilman Jim Cleary declined to seek re-election, Liz Barnes, the wife of former U.S. senator David Karnes, emerged as a frontrunner.[8] However, Barnes dropped out of the race several weeks before the primary after she underwent cancer surgery, and Boyle entered the race as a write-in candidate.[9] In the April 2 primary election, Boyle placed second, winning 29 percent of the vote to Lee Terry's 38 percent, and advanced to the general election against him.[10] Terry ultimately defeated Boyle by a wide margin, winning 63 percent of the vote to Boyle's 36 percent.[11]
Following the appointment of State Senator Tim Hall as the state's Deputy Insurance Commissioner in 1995, Boyle considered applying to fill his vacancy, but faced questions as to her residency.[12] However, citing a new business venture, she ultimately declined to apply for the seat.[13]