Joyce Hillman-Kortum
American politician (1936–2019)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Joyce Elaine Hillman-Kortum (née Higel, June 10, 1936 – November 20, 2019) was a Democratic politician from Nebraska who served as a member of the Nebraska Legislature from the 48th district from 1991 to 1999.
Joyce Hillman-Kortum | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Nebraska Legislature from the 48th district | |
| In office January 9, 1991 – January 6, 1999 | |
| Preceded by | John Weihing |
| Succeeded by | Adrian Smith |
| Personal details | |
| Born | June 10, 1936 |
| Died | November 20, 2019 (aged 83) |
| Party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) |
Kenneth Hillman
(m. 1954; died 1995)Alfred Kortum
(m. 2001; died 2019) |
| Children | 3 (Janine, Shari, Terry) |
Early life
Joyce Higel was born in Deshler, Nebraska, and graduated from Fairbury High School. She married Kenneth Hillman in 1954.[1] She worked as the executive director of Platte Valley Council of Camp Fire,[1] and was appointed the director of the Scottsbluff–Gering United Way in 1980.[2] In 1981, when the Gering Police Department established the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention Project, Hillman was appointed the director.[3] She was appointed the executive director of the Scottsbluff-Gering United Chamber of Commerce in 1986,[4] and later served as the executive vice president.[5]
Nebraska Legislature
In 1990, Hillman announced that she would run for the Nebraska Legislature from the 48th district,[5] Incumbent Senator John Weihing ultimately declined to seek a second term.[6] Hillman faced former Kimball County Attorney Tom Brower, sales manager Clinton Morrison, and retired repairman Max Schachter in the primary election.[7] Hillman placed first in the primary, winning 41 percent of the vote, and advanced to the general election with Brower, who placed second with 30 percent.[8] In the general election, Hillman defeated Brower with 54 percent of the vote.[8] Hillman ran for re-election in 1994, and was elected to a second term unopposed.[9][10]
Hillman ran for re-election to a third term in 1998,[11] and was challenged by Gering City Councilman Adrian Smith.[12] In the primary election, Smith placed first, receiving 56 percent to her 44 percent.[13] In the general election, Smith ultimately defeated Hillman with 55 percent of the vote.[13] Though the race was formally nonpartisan, Smith was a Republican, and Hillman, a Democrat, attributed her loss to heavy opposition from the Nebraska Republican Party and social conservatives.[14]
Post-legislative career
In 2001, Hillman married former District Court Judge Alfred Kortum and moved to Gering.[15] Hillman-Kortum ran for the Gering City Council in 2004 in Ward I, challenging incumbent Councilman Dick Blaha.[16] She defeated Blaha, winning with 56 percent of the vote,[17] and was re-elected in 2008 over Dale Hauck.[18]
Hillman-Kortum declined to seek re-election in 2012,[19] and resigned from the City Council on September 10, 2012, following her relocation to Scottsbluff.[20]
Death
Hillman-Kortum died on November 20, 2019.[21]