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{{Short description|American politician}}
{{Infobox officeholder
{{Infobox officeholder
|name = Helen Boosalis
|name = Helen Boosalis
|image = File:Reagan Contact Sheet C3192 (cropped).jpg
|image = File:Helen Boosalis.jpg
|caption = Boosalis with [[President of the United States|President]] [[Ronald Reagan]] in 1981
|caption = Boosalis with [[President of the United States|President]] [[Ronald Reagan]] in 1981
|office = [[List of mayors of Lincoln, Nebraska|Mayor of Lincoln]]
|office = 44th [[List of mayors of Lincoln, Nebraska|Mayor of Lincoln]]
|term_start = January 1975
|term_start = May 19, 1975
|term_end = January 1983
|term_end = May 16, 1983
|predecessor = [[Sam Schwartzkopf]]
|predecessor = [[Sam Schwartzkopf]]
|successor = [[Roland A. Luedtke|Roland Luedtke]]
|successor = [[Roland A. Luedtke|Roland Luedtke]]
| office1 = 39th [[President of the United States Conference of Mayors]]
| term_start1 = 1981
| term_end1 = 1982
| predecessor1= [[Richard G. Hatcher|Richard Hatcher]]
| successor1 = [[Coleman Young]]
|birth_date = {{birth date|1919|8|28}}
|birth_date = {{birth date|1919|8|28}}
|birth_place = [[Minneapolis]], [[Minnesota]], [[United States|U.S.]]
|birth_place = [[Minneapolis]], [[Minnesota]], [[United States|U.S.]]
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|education = [[University of Minnesota|University of Minnesota, Twin Cities]] {{small|([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]])}}
|education = [[University of Minnesota|University of Minnesota, Twin Cities]] {{small|([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]])}}
}}
}}

'''Helen G. Boosalis''' (August 28, 1919 - June 15, 2009) was a [[Nebraska]] [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]] politician.
'''Helen G. Boosalis''' (August 28, 1919 - June 15, 2009)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Helen G. Boosalis, 1919-2009 [RG0743.AM] {{!}} History Nebraska |url=https://history.nebraska.gov/collection_section/helen-g-boosalis-1919-2009-rg0743-am/ |access-date=2022-11-12 |language=en-US}}</ref> was an American [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]] politician from [[Nebraska]].


==Early life==
==Early life==
Helen Boosalis was born as '''Helen Geankoplis''' in [[Minneapolis, Minnesota]] to [[Greek Americans|Greek]] immigrant parents, where she grew up working in her father's Minneapolis restaurant.<ref name="Obit">[http://www.journalstar.com/articles/2009/06/15/news/local/doc4a367826164e8773709361.txt "Former Lincoln mayor Boosalis dies" (Lincoln Journal-Star article)]</ref>
Helen Boosalis was born as '''Helen Geankoplis''' in [[Minneapolis, Minnesota]], to [[Greek Americans|Greek]] immigrant parents, where she grew up working in her father's Minneapolis restaurant.<ref name="Obit">[http://www.journalstar.com/articles/2009/06/15/news/local/doc4a367826164e8773709361.txt "Former Lincoln mayor Boosalis dies" (Lincoln Journal-Star article)]</ref>
In 1945 she married Michael Gus "Mike" Boosalis, a [[World War II]] veteran and graduate of the [[University of Minnesota]]. Their daughter, Mary Beth, was born three years later. In 1951, the family moved to [[Lincoln, Nebraska]], where her husband had accepted a job at the [[University of Nebraska]].<ref name="Star">{{Cite web|url=http://www.journalstar.com/articles/2009/06/15/news/local/doc4a367826164e8773709361.txt|title=Former Lincoln mayor Boosalis dies|last=Star|first=DON WALTON / Lincoln Journal|website=JournalStar.com|access-date=2016-04-09}}</ref>
In 1945 she married Michael Gus "Mike" Boosalis, a [[World War II]] veteran and graduate of the [[University of Minnesota]]. Their daughter, Mary Beth, was born three years later. In 1951, the family moved to [[Lincoln, Nebraska]], where her husband had accepted a job at the [[University of Nebraska]].<ref name="Star">{{Cite web|url=http://www.journalstar.com/articles/2009/06/15/news/local/doc4a367826164e8773709361.txt|title=Former Lincoln mayor Boosalis dies|last=Star|first=DON WALTON / Lincoln Journal|website=JournalStar.com|date=15 June 2009 |access-date=2016-04-09}}</ref>


== Career ==
== Career ==
In 1959 Boosalis was elected to the Lincoln City Council, scoring an upset victory over an incumbent, and was subsequently reelected three times. She won another upset victory over incumbent [[Sam Schwartzkopf]] to become the city's first woman mayor in 1975. From 1981 to 1982, she served as the first female President of the [[U.S. Conference of Mayors]].<ref name="Star"/>
In 1959 Boosalis was elected to the Lincoln City Council, scoring an upset victory over an incumbent, and was subsequently reelected three times. She won another upset victory over incumbent [[Sam Schwartzkopf]] to become the city's first woman mayor in 1975. From 1981 to 1982, she served as the first female President of the [[U.S. Conference of Mayors]].<ref name="Star"/>


Shortly after completing her tenure as Mayor in 1983, Boosalis was appointed as Director of the Nebraska Department of Aging in the Cabinet of then-Governor [[Bob Kerrey]], she served in that post until she announced her candidacy for Governor of Nebraska in the 1986 election. Boosalis received a plurality of the vote in the crowded Democratic primary with 43.8% of the votes.
Shortly after completing her tenure as Mayor in 1983, Boosalis was appointed as Director of the Nebraska Department of Aging in the Cabinet of then-Governor [[Bob Kerrey]]. She served in that post until she announced her candidacy for Governor of Nebraska in the 1986 election. Boosalis received a plurality of the vote in the crowded Democratic primary with 43.8% of the votes.


{{Election box begin no change
{{Election box begin no change
| title = Democratic gubernatorial primary results, May 13, 1986<ref>https://www.nytimes.com/1986/05/14/us/nebraskans-choose-women-for-governor-s-race.html</ref><ref>https://books.google.com/books?id=5dtgP41CyK4C&pg=PA338&lpg=PA338&dq=boosalis+domina+primary+results&source=bl&ots=-9TmeiEzQf&sig=4G6ajQkCtIAXS5FNdviW5skSXAE&hl=en&sa=X&ei=MjDVVNb_KoGANoCKg7gP&ved=0CCoQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=boosalis%20domina%20primary%20results&f=false</ref>
| title = Democratic gubernatorial primary results, May 13, 1986<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1986/05/14/us/nebraskans-choose-women-for-governor-s-race.html |title = Nebraskans Choose Women for Governor's Race|newspaper = The New York Times|date = 1986-05-14}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5dtgP41CyK4C&q=boosalis+domina+primary+results&pg=PA338 |title = Nebraska Moments|isbn = 9780803215726|last1 = Hickey|first1 = Donald R.|last2 = Wunder|first2 = Susan A.|last3 = Wunder|first3 = John R.|year = 2007}}</ref>
}}
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
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{{Election box end}}
{{Election box end}}


In the primary, Boosalis carried 77 of Nebraska's 93 counties, Domina carried 16 counties in the Northeast section of the state, and Beutler carried no counties.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5dtgP41CyK4C|title=Nebraska Moments|last=Hickey|first=Donald R.|last2=Wunder|first2=Susan A.|last3=Wunder|first3=John R.|date=2007-01-01|publisher=U of Nebraska Press|isbn=080321572X|language=en}}</ref>
In the primary, Boosalis carried 77 of Nebraska's 93 counties, Domina carried 16 counties in the Northeast section of the state, and Beutler carried no counties.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5dtgP41CyK4C|title=Nebraska Moments|last1=Hickey|first1=Donald R.|last2=Wunder|first2=Susan A.|last3=Wunder|first3=John R.|date=2007-01-01|publisher=U of Nebraska Press|isbn=978-0803215726|language=en}}</ref>


Boosalis went on to lose to the Republican candidate, State Treasurer [[Kay A. Orr]] in the general election. Boosalis receiving 47.1% of the vote and Orr received 52.9%.<ref>{{Citation |title = Official Report of the Board of State Canvassers of the State of Nebraska |year = 1986 |url= http://www.nlc.state.ne.us/epubs/S1200/S001-1986prim_gen.pdf |accessdate = 21 November 2010 }}</ref> This election was the first state gubernatorial election in U.S. history where the candidates of both major national parties were women.<ref name="Obit" />
Boosalis went on to lose to the Republican candidate, State Treasurer [[Kay A. Orr]], in the [[1986 Nebraska gubernatorial election|general election]]. Boosalis received 47.1% of the vote, and Orr received 52.9%.<ref>{{Citation |title = Official Report of the Board of State Canvassers of the State of Nebraska |year = 1986 |url= http://www.nlc.state.ne.us/epubs/S1200/S001-1986prim_gen.pdf |access-date = 21 November 2010 }}</ref> This election was the first state gubernatorial election in U.S. history where the candidates of both major national parties were women.<ref name="Obit" />


=== Post-politics ===
=== Post-politics ===
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== Personal life ==
== Personal life ==
Boosalis died from a [[brain cancer|brain tumor]] on June 15, 2009 at the age of 89.<ref name="Obit" />
Boosalis died from a [[brain cancer|brain tumor]] on June 15, 2009, at the age of 89.<ref name="Obit" />


== References ==
== References ==
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== Sources ==
== Sources ==
# {{cite web |website=[[The Political Graveyard]] |title=Boosalis, Helen |url=http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/booher-boos.html#16P10O43Y |accessdate=January 10, 2006 }}
# {{cite web |website=[[The Political Graveyard]] |title=Boosalis, Helen |url=http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/booher-boos.html#16P10O43Y |access-date=January 10, 2006 }}
* {{Political Graveyard}}
* {{Political Graveyard}}


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{{s-ppo}}
{{s-ppo}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Bob Kerrey]]}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Bob Kerrey]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] nominee for [[Governor of Nebraska]]|years=[[Nebraska gubernatorial election, 1986|1986]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] nominee for [[Governor of Nebraska]]|years=[[1986 Nebraska gubernatorial election|1986]]}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Ben Nelson]]}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Ben Nelson]]}}
{{s-end}}
{{s-end}}


⚫
{{Mayors of Lincoln, Nebraska}}
{{United States Conference of Mayors Presidents}}
{{United States Conference of Mayors Presidents}}
{{Authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Boosalis, Helen}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Boosalis, Helen}}
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[[Category:2009 deaths]]
[[Category:2009 deaths]]
[[Category:20th-century American politicians]]
[[Category:20th-century American politicians]]
[[Category:20th-century women politicians]]
[[Category:20th-century American women politicians]]
[[Category:AARP people]]
[[Category:AARP people]]
[[Category:American people of Greek descent]]
[[Category:American people of Greek descent]]
[[Category:Deaths from cancer in Nebraska]]
[[Category:Deaths from brain cancer in the United States]]
[[Category:Deaths from brain tumor]]
⚫
[[Category:History of Lincoln, Nebraska]]
[[Category:Mayors of Lincoln, Nebraska]]
[[Category:Mayors of Lincoln, Nebraska]]
[[Category:Nebraska city council members]]
[[Category:Nebraska city council members]]
[[Category:Nebraska Democrats]]
[[Category:Nebraska Democrats]]
⚫
[[Category:Politicians from Lincoln, Nebraska]]
[[Category:State cabinet secretaries of Nebraska]]
[[Category:State cabinet secretaries of Nebraska]]
[[Category:Women in Nebraska politics]]
[[Category:Women mayors of places in Nebraska]]
[[Category:Women mayors of places in the United States]]
[[Category:Presidents of the United States Conference of Mayors]]
⚫
[[Category:Women city councillors in Nebraska]]
[[Category:21st-century American women]]

Latest revision as of 19:12, 25 January 2024

Helen Boosalis
Boosalis with President Ronald Reagan in 1981
44th Mayor of Lincoln
In office
May 19, 1975 – May 16, 1983
Preceded bySam Schwartzkopf
Succeeded byRoland Luedtke
39th President of the United States Conference of Mayors
In office
1981–1982
Preceded byRichard Hatcher
Succeeded byColeman Young
Personal details
Born(1919-08-28)August 28, 1919
Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.
DiedJune 15, 2009(2009-06-15) (aged 89)
Lincoln, Nebraska, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
EducationUniversity of Minnesota, Twin Cities (BA)

Helen G. Boosalis (August 28, 1919 - June 15, 2009)[1] was an American Democratic Party politician from Nebraska.

Early life[edit]

Helen Boosalis was born as Helen Geankoplis in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to Greek immigrant parents, where she grew up working in her father's Minneapolis restaurant.[2] In 1945 she married Michael Gus "Mike" Boosalis, a World War II veteran and graduate of the University of Minnesota. Their daughter, Mary Beth, was born three years later. In 1951, the family moved to Lincoln, Nebraska, where her husband had accepted a job at the University of Nebraska.[3]

Career[edit]

In 1959 Boosalis was elected to the Lincoln City Council, scoring an upset victory over an incumbent, and was subsequently reelected three times. She won another upset victory over incumbent Sam Schwartzkopf to become the city's first woman mayor in 1975. From 1981 to 1982, she served as the first female President of the U.S. Conference of Mayors.[3]

Shortly after completing her tenure as Mayor in 1983, Boosalis was appointed as Director of the Nebraska Department of Aging in the Cabinet of then-Governor Bob Kerrey. She served in that post until she announced her candidacy for Governor of Nebraska in the 1986 election. Boosalis received a plurality of the vote in the crowded Democratic primary with 43.8% of the votes.

Democratic gubernatorial primary results, May 13, 1986[4][5]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Helen Boosalis 63,830 44.01
Democratic David Domina 37,975 26.18
Democratic Chris Beutler 31,605 21.79
Democratic Robert Prokop 5,160 3.56
Democratic Marge Higgins 4,433 3.06
Democratic Barton Chandler 1,260 .87
Democratic Mina Dillingham 402 .28
Democratic Write-in 369 .25

In the primary, Boosalis carried 77 of Nebraska's 93 counties, Domina carried 16 counties in the Northeast section of the state, and Beutler carried no counties.[6]

Boosalis went on to lose to the Republican candidate, State Treasurer Kay A. Orr, in the general election. Boosalis received 47.1% of the vote, and Orr received 52.9%.[7] This election was the first state gubernatorial election in U.S. history where the candidates of both major national parties were women.[2]

Post-politics[edit]

Following her electoral defeat, Boosalis was an active member of several state and national organizations, most notably serving as Chairwoman of Board of Directors of the American Association of Retired Persons.

Personal life[edit]

Boosalis died from a brain tumor on June 15, 2009, at the age of 89.[2]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Helen G. Boosalis, 1919-2009 [RG0743.AM] | History Nebraska". Retrieved 2022-11-12.
  2. ^ a b c "Former Lincoln mayor Boosalis dies" (Lincoln Journal-Star article)
  3. ^ a b Star, DON WALTON / Lincoln Journal (15 June 2009). "Former Lincoln mayor Boosalis dies". JournalStar.com. Retrieved 2016-04-09.
  4. ^ "Nebraskans Choose Women for Governor's Race". The New York Times. 1986-05-14.
  5. ^ Hickey, Donald R.; Wunder, Susan A.; Wunder, John R. (2007). Nebraska Moments. ISBN 9780803215726.
  6. ^ Hickey, Donald R.; Wunder, Susan A.; Wunder, John R. (2007-01-01). Nebraska Moments. U of Nebraska Press. ISBN 978-0803215726.
  7. ^ Official Report of the Board of State Canvassers of the State of Nebraska (PDF), 1986, retrieved 21 November 2010

Sources[edit]

  1. "Boosalis, Helen". The Political Graveyard. Retrieved January 10, 2006.
Political offices
Preceded by Mayor of Lincoln
1975–1983 		Succeeded by
Party political offices
Preceded by Democratic nominee for Governor of Nebraska
1986 		Succeeded by
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Helen_Boosalis&oldid=1199041493"