James Pappas (born June 13, 1944) is an American politician from Nebraska who served as a member of the Nebraska Legislature from the 42nd district from 1982 to 1987. He was initially a Republican but switched to the Democratic Party in 1985.

Early life

Pappas was born in Julesburg, Colorado, in 1944, and grew up in North Platte, Nebraska.^[1] He settled in Hershey, where worked as a farmer and served on the Hershey School Board.^[2] Pappas and his brothers jointly owned several businesses, including gasoline stations, a bulk plant, and a computer store.^[2][3]

Nebraska Legislature

In 1982, following the decision by State Senator Myron Rumery not to seek re-election, Pappas ran to succeed him in the 42nd district, which was based in Lincoln County.^[4] Pappas faced three candidates in the primary: businessman Larry Bowley, North Platte City Councilwoman Corinne Jochum, and Gary Grabenstein, who dropped out of the race but still appeared on the ballot.^[3] Pappas placed first in the primary, winning 45 percent of the vote to Jochum's 31 percent,^[5] and they advanced to the general election.^[6] Pappas defeated Jochum by a wide margin, winning his first term in the legislature with 59 percent of the vote.^[5][2]

On November 14, 1982, Rumery died of cancer,^[7] and Governor Charles Thone appointed Pappas to serve out the remaining weeks of Rumery's term.^[8] He was sworn in on November 29, 1982.^[9]

Pappas switched to the Democratic Party, and announced his switch by appearing at the Nebraska Democratic Party's annual Jefferson–Jackson Dinner on April 13, 1985.^[10] In announcing his change, Pappas said, "I'd rather be a conservative Democrat than a liberal Republican. The Democrats don't care if you have a conservative, mdoerate or liberal label."^[10]

In 1986, Pappas ran for re-election to a second term.^[11] He was challenged by William Hord, a printing company owner and former Omaha World-Herald editor.^[12] Pappas placed first in the primary election, receiving 58 percent of the vote to Hord's 42 percent.^[13]

In September 1986, two months before the general election, Pappas, fellow State Senator Bernice Labedz, and several others were charged with petition fraud.^[14] Prosecutors brought two counts against Pappas: one for "circulating an initiative petition in a county in which he was not qualified and one county of falsely swearing to the signature of a circulator on an initiative petition."^[14] Pappas originally ceased his campaign and said that he would resign from the legislature, but reversed his decision, and said that he would continue to serve.^[15] He ended up narrowly defeating Hord, winning a second term with 50.3 percent of the vote.^[15][13]

Pappas was found guilty of one count of petition fraud on April 28, 1987.^[16] He argued that the statute he was convicted of violating was unconstitutional, and appealed to the Supreme Court of Nebraska.^[16] On December 10, 1987, Pappas announced that he would resign from the legislature, noting that it was "impossible to make a living and serve in the Legislature, and when you look at my particular situation, it is just impossible."^[17] Pappas resigned on December 20, 1987,^[18] and was succeeded by David Bernard-Stevens, who was appointed to serve out the remaining year of his term.^[19] On June 17, 1988, the Nebraska Supreme Court unanimously affirmed Pappas's conviction.^[20]

References