Jerry Koch (Nebraska politician)
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Jerry Koch | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Nebraska Legislature from the 12th district | |
| In office January 8, 1975 – January 5, 1983 | |
| Preceded by | Richard Proud |
| Succeeded by | Chris Abboud |
| Personal details | |
| Born | May 23, 1924 |
| Died | September 13, 2007 (aged 83) |
| Party | Republican |
| Spouse | Joan MacCashland |
| Children | 2 (Rick, Scott) |
| Education | Hastings College (B.A.) University of Nebraska |
| Occupation | Teacher, coach |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service | United States Army Air Forces |
| Years of service | 1943–1946 |
Gerald "Jerry" Koch (May 23, 1924 – September 13, 2007) was a Republican politician from Nebraska who served as a member of the Nebraska Legislature from the 12th district from 1975 to 1983. He later served as the Mayor of Ralston from 1985 to 1989.
Koch was born in Campbell, Nebraska, in 1924, and served in the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II from 1943 to 1946.[1][2] He later attended Hastings College and the University of Nebraska. Koch taught and coached in Franklin from 1949 to 1954 and Westside Community Schools from 1954 to 1966, and in 1966, he became the coordinator of the Omaha Suburban Area Council of Schools.[1]
In 1966, Koch was elected to the Ralston City Council.[3] He was re-elected without opposition in 1968,[4] and was narrowly re-elected in 1970 to a four-year term.[5]
Nebraska Legislature
State Senator Richard Proud, who served as the Speaker of the State Legislature, declined to seek another term in 1974. Businessman Bob Kerrey, then a Republican, encouraged Koch to run to succeed Proud in the 12th district,[6] and after Koch launched his campaign,[7] Kerrey helped managed his campaign.[6][2] In the nonpartisan primary, Koch faced businessman James Eggers; former Omaha City Councilman Fred Jacobberger; Frank Serrao, the owner of an investment and contracting firm; and Emmajean Wupper, the former president of the Nebraska League of Women Voters.[8] Koch placed first in the primary election, winning 33 percent of the vote to Wupper's 27 percent.[9] They advanced to the general election,[10] where Koch won by a wide margin, defeating Wupper, 58–42 percent.[9][11]
In 1978, Koch considered running for Lieutenant Governor, but instead opted to run for re-election.[12] He was challenged by attorney Robert Beach and Joseph Hastings, a partner at a real estate firm.[13][14] Koch placed first in the primary, winning 61 percent of the vote to Beach's 30 percent and Hastings's 9 percent,[15] and he and Beach proceeded to the general election.[16] Koch defeated Beach in a landslide, winning 60 percent of the vote to Beach's 40 percent.[15]
Koch ran for a third term in 1982, and was challenged by law student Chris Abboud, real estate and insurance agent John Hurley, and insurance agent Donald Jensen.[17] Koch placed first in the nonpartisan primary, receiving 46 percent of the vote to Abbott's 38 percent, Hurley's 9 percent, and Jensen's 7 percent.[18] Koch and Abboud advanced to the general election, and Abboud narrowly defeated him, winning 52–48 percent.[18][19]