Harold D. Simpson

Simpson was born in Harlan, Iowa, and attended the Irwin Consolidated School.^[1] He served in the U.S. Air Force during World War II.^[1] He later worked for the Gooch Milling and Elevator Company.^[1]

In 1966, following redistricting, a new seat in the Nebraska Legislature was created in northern Lincoln.^[2] Simpson ran in the newly created 46th district,^[3] in the nonpartisan primary, he faced Joseph Franson, a farmer and National Farmers Organization official; Lawrence Sintek, who owned a septic service company; and Charles Wilcox, who managed a real estate and auction company.^[4][5] Simpson placed second in the primary, winning 30 percent of the vote to Wilcox's 34 percent,^[6] and both advanced to the general election.^[5] Though the race was formally nonpartisan, both Simpson and Wilcox were Republicans, and Franson, a Democrat, announced that he would run in the general election as a write-in candidate.^[7] Simpson won by a narrow margin, receiving 51 percent of the vote to Wilcox's 45 percent and Franson's 4 percent.^[6]

Simpson ran for re-election in 1970,^[8] and faced Franson and Wilcox in a rematch.^[9] Simpson narrowly placed second in the primary, receiving 36 percent of the vote to Wilcox's 38 percent and Franson's 26 percent.^[10][11] In the general election, Simpson defeated Wilcox by a wide margin, winning 59–41 percent.^[10]

In 1974, Simpson ran for re-election to a third term, and was re-elected unopposed.^[12][13]

Simpson resigned, effective December 31, 1976, upon his election to the Public Service Commission.^[14]