Chris Abboud

Abboud was born in Omaha, Nebraska, in 1956,^[1] and grew up in Ralston.^[2] He attended Seymour Elementary School, Ralston Middle School, and Creighton Preparatory School. Abboud's father, Fred Abboud, was a member of the Ralston City Council from 1962 to 1966, and his mother, Bonnie Abboud, ran for mayor in 1980.^[2]

In 1982, while Abboud was in his third year of law school, he ran for the Nebraska Legislature in the 12th district against incumbent State Senator Jerry Koch.^[2] In the nonpartisan primary, he placed second, winning 38 percent of the vote to Koch's 46 percent, hospital administrator John Hurley's 9 percent, and perennial candidate Donald James Jensen's 7 percent.^[3][4] He and Koch advanced to the general election,^[5] where Abboud narrowly defeated Koch, 52–48 percent.^[3][6]

During his first term in the legislature, Abboud started a law firm with his younger brother, Greg, and contemplated not seeking re-election to focus on his legal practice.^[7] However, he ultimately decided to do so, citing his desire to "continue to be one of the leading fiscal conservatives" in the legislature.^[8] Koch, who was elected mayor of Ralston after losing to Abboud in 1982, challenged him for re-election, as did technology analyst Gene Gerdes and machinist Ronald Hug.^[9] In the primary election, Abboud placed first over Koch, winning 53 percent of the vote to Koch's 33 percent, Gerdes's 8 percent, and Hug's 6 percent.^[10][11] In the general election, Abboud defeated Koch by a wide margin, receiving 62 percent of the vote to his 38 percent.^[10]

In 1990, Abboud ran for re-election to a third term, and was challenged by Gary Stroh, the former superintendent of Millard Public Schools, and contractor Gary Thompson.^[12] Abboud narrowly placed first in the primary election, winning 47.4 percent of the vote to Stroh's 46.8 percent,^[13] and they advanced to the general election.^[14] In the general election, Abboud defeated Stroh by a thin margin, receiving 51 percent of the vote to Stroh's 49 percent.^[13][15]

Abboud ran for re-election in 1994 and won re-election without opposition.^[16][17] He declined to seek a fifth term in 1998, citing his desire to spend time with his family.^[18] He was succeeded by Pam Redfield, and resigned from office on November 16, 1998, so that Redfield would have a "head start and a month and a half seniority."^[19][20]