Larry Stoney

In 1974, Stoney ran to succeed State Senator Richard Fellman in the Omaha-based 4th district.^[2] He faced a crowded field of candidates, including John Hendriks, a businessman; Paul Landow, an employee at a supply company; M. Thomas Perkins, the director of a drug abuse treatment center; Barbara Hosford, an attorney; and Carlin Whitesell, an engineer.^[3] Stoney placed first in the primary, winning 29 percent of the vote, and advanced to the general election with Whitesell, who placed second with 26 percent of the vote.^[4][5] Stoney ultimately defeated Whitesell in the general election, winning 59–41 percent.^[4]

Stoney ran for re-election in 1978.^[6] He was challenged by lobbyist Carol Elrod, whose husband, Don Elrod, previously served in the legislature.^[7][8] In the primary election, Stoney placed first by a wide margin, winning 79 percent of the vote to her 21 percent.^[9] Stoney defeated Elrod in the general election, winning his second term, 61–39 percent.^[9]

In 1982, Stoney declined to seek re-election to a third term.^[10]

Following his departure from the legislature, Stoney was appointed a vice president at Mutual of Omaha.^[11] His wife, Jan Stoney, became the president of Northwestern Bell, and was the 1994 Republican nominee for U.S. Senate against Democratic Senator Bob Kerrey.^[12] They retired to Phoenix, Arizona.^[12]