Lincoln Mayor Johanns is Nebraska's New Governor

Helmke Loses Indiana Senate Race in November Sweepstakes

Lincoln Mayor Mike Johanns won Nebraska's gubernatorial race and led a record number of mayors and former mayors on state-wide ballots in the November 3 elections.

The elections, a strong statement for candidates with local government experience, saw Johanns, elected mayor of Nebraska's capital city in 1991, defeating Democratic candidate Bill Hoppner. Johanns is a trustee of the U.S. Conference of Mayors.

He captured the Republican primary in May and pledged property tax relief to Nebraska's farmers, who have been adversely affected by Asia's economic crisis. A graduate of Creighton University Law School, Johanns has also been a County Commissioner and a Lincoln City Council member before winning two four-year terms as Lincoln's mayor. His wife, Stephanie, a former Nebraska State Senator, and Johanns live in Lincoln and have two children.

In other races, Fort Wayne Mayor Paul Helmke, past President of the Conference of Mayors, was unsuccessful in his bid for an open Senate seat in Indiana. Former Democratic Governor Evan Bayh, son of former U.S. Senator Birch Bayh, succeeds Republican Senator Dan Coats who is retiring. In a post election round-up, The National Journal, a weekly on politics and government, noted that despite scarce funds, Helmke, a moderate, proved to be a tough campaigner.

In Minnesota, the election to Governor of Reform Party candidate Jesse Ventura, a professional wrestler, resulted in national attention. Ventura, a former mayor of Brooklyn Park, defeated Democratic candidate and Minnesota's Attorney General Hubert "Skip" Humphrey and the Republican candidate, St. Paul Mayor Norm Coleman. Ventura is also a former Navy SEAL and gained momentum in the final weeks of the election, pushing a popular libertarian message, promising to trim state government, lower taxes and improve education.

In 1991, Ventura became mayor in the Minneapolis suburb of 60,000, serving for four years. Ventura and his wife, Terry, live in Maple Grove with their two children.

In other races where mayors or former mayors ran:

Hawaii: Maui County Mayor Linda Crockett Lingle lost to incumbent Democratic Governor Ben Cayetano.

Nevada: Democratic candidate for Governor, Las Vegas Mayor Jan Laverty Jones, lost to Republican candidate Kenny Guinn. Jones is an advisor and board member of the conference.

Arizona: Former Phoenix Mayor Paul Johnson lost to Republican and acting Governor Jane Dee Hull.

Former mayors also ran in other elections. U.S. Senator Dick Kempthorne won the gubernatorial race in Idaho where he will return after leaving his Republican Senate seat.

He is the former mayor of Boise.

In Ohio, Republican Governor George V. Voinovich will succeed four-term Democratic Senator John Glenn. In 1979, Voinovich was elected mayor of Cleveland, a position he held for ten years.

Also in Ohio, Cincinnati, Democratic Mayor Roxanne Qualls ran unsuccessfully for a Congressional seat being held by Representative Steve Chabot.

In Massachusetts, Somerville Mayor Michael Capuano will succeed six-term Democratic Representative Joseph P. Kennedy III who is retiring from his congressional seat.

Capuano edged out ten candidates in the September Democratic primary that saw former Boston Mayor Raymond Flynn finish second.

In Alaska, former Anchorage Mayor Tony Knowles was re-elected Governor.