{{Short description|American politician (1946–2016)}} {{use mdy dates|date=April 2026}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Dave Newell | office = Member of the Nebraska Legislature from the 13th district | term_start = January 5, 1977 | term_end = January 9, 1985 | predecessor = George Syas | successor = Dan Lynch | birth_date = {{birth date|1946|10|14}} | birth_place = Oakland, California | death_date = {{death date and age|2016|6|26|1946|10|14}} | death_place = Omaha, Nebraska | education = Norfolk Junior College (A.A.)<br>University of Nebraska at Omaha (B.A.) | party = Democratic | spouse = {{marriage|Arlene Paider|1974}} | children = 2 (John, Sarah) | occupation = Lobbyist, real estate investor, activist }}
'''David R. Newell''' (October 14, 1946{{spaced ndash}}June 26, 2016) was a Democratic politician from Nebraska who served as a member of the Nebraska Legislature from the 13th district from 1977 to 1985.
==Early life== Newell was born in Oakland, California, in 1946.<ref name="blue book">{{cite book|title=Nebraska Blue Book 1980-1981|publisher=Nebraska Legislative Council|date=1981|url=https://govdocs.nebraska.gov/epubs/l3000/D001-198081.pdf|access-date=April 10, 2026}}</ref> He graduated from Bancroft High School, and then attended Norfolk Junior College, graduating with his associate's degree in 1967.<ref name="blue book"/> Newell later attended the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO), receiving his bachelor's degree in education in 1971.<ref name="blue book"/> He served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War,<ref name="blue book"/> and upon returning, worked as an administrative assistant to the director of the Nebraska Department of Administrative Services and as a union representative for AFSCME.<ref name="leadership">{{cite news|last=Wirth|first=Eileen|title=Age, Leadership Issues in 13th District Race|newspaper=Omaha World-Herald|date=October 19, 1976|location=|page=9|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/omaha-world-herald/195297861/|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 10, 2026}}</ref> Newell served as the president of the Nebraska Young Democrats<ref>{{cite news|title=Ex-area man seeking seat in legislature|newspaper=Fremont Tribune|date=March 2, 1976|location=|page=3|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/fremont-tribune/195297782/|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 10, 2026}}</ref> and enrolled in graduate-level coursework in history at UNO.<ref name="blue book"/>
==Nebraska Legislature== In 1976, Newell challenged incumbent State Senator George Syas for re-election.<ref>{{cite news|title=Newell Race Starts in 13th|newspaper=Omaha World-Herald|date=February 16, 1976|location=|page=2|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/omaha-world-herald/195297680/|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 10, 2026}}</ref> Syas, who represented the Omaha-based 13th district, had served since 1950 and was seeking his eleventh term in the legislature.<ref name="leadership"/> Syas placed first in the primary by a wide margin, winning 65 percent of the vote to Newell's 35 percent.<ref name="1976 results">{{cite book|title=Official Report of the Nebraska State Canvassing Board, Primary Election, May 11, 1976, General Election, November 2, 1976|last=Beermann|first=Allen J.|publisher=Nebraska Secretary of State|year=1976|url=https://govdocs.nebraska.gov/epubs/S1200/S001-1976prim_gen.pdf|access-date=April 10, 2026}}</ref> In the general election, however, Newell narrowly defeated Syas, winning 51–49 percent.<ref name="1976 results"/><ref>{{cite news|last=Wirth|first=Eileen|title=Newcomers Unseat Dickinson, Syas|newspaper=Omaha World-Herald|date=November 3, 1976|location=|page=12|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/omaha-world-herald/194048352/|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 10, 2026}}</ref>
Newell ran for re-election in 1980.<ref>{{cite news|title=Sen. Newell To Run Again|newspaper=Omaha World-Herald|date=February 23, 1980|location=|page=18|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/omaha-world-herald/195298273/|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 10, 2026}}</ref> He was challenged by Syas in a rematch of their 1976 campaign, with Syas attacking Newell for being a "liberal spender" in the legislature.<ref>{{cite news|title=George Syas Files for Seat|newspaper=Omaha World-Herald|date=January 4, 1980|location=|page=6|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/omaha-world-herald/195298320/|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 10, 2026}}</ref> In the primary, Newell placed first, winning 55 percent of the vote to Syas's 45 percent.<ref name="1980 results">{{cite book|title=Official Report of the Nebraska State Canvassing Board, Primary Election, May 13, 1980, General Election, November 4, 1980|last=Beermann|first=Allen J.|publisher=Nebraska Secretary of State|year=1980|url=https://govdocs.nebraska.gov/epubs/S1200/S001-1980prim_gen.pdf|access-date=April 10, 2026}}</ref> Newell again defeated Syas by a narrow margin in the general election, winning 51 percent of the vote to Syas's 49 percent.<ref name="1980 results"/><ref>{{cite news|last=Kelly|first=Michael|title=GOP's Swath Nicks Senators From Metropolitan Area, Too|newspaper=Omaha World-Herald|date=November 5, 1980|location=|page=37|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/omaha-world-herald/194376341/|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 10, 2026}}</ref> He declined to seek a third term in 1984.<ref>{{cite news|last=Schinker|first=Nick|title=Newell Says No To Third Term|newspaper=Omaha World-Herald|date=March 1, 1984|location=|page=6|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/omaha-world-herald/195298528/|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 10, 2026}}</ref>
==Post-legislative career== On May 26, 1984, Newell announced that he would run for chair of the Nebraska Democratic Party to succeed DiAnna Schimek.<ref name="seeks to lead">{{cite news|title=David Newell Seeks to Lead State Democrats|newspaper=Omaha World-Herald|date=May 27, 1984|location=|page=6-B|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/omaha-world-herald/195298611/|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 10, 2026}}</ref> Though the race initially included Lancaster County Board Chairman Mike Johanns and Washington County Democratic Party Chairman Tom Nielsen,<ref name="seeks to lead"/> both ultimately ended their campaigns and Newell was left as the only candidate,<ref>{{cite news|last=Kotok|first=C. David|title=Battle for Committee Slot Intense|newspaper=Omaha World-Herald|date=June 15, 1984|location=|page=17|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/omaha-world-herald/195298754/|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 10, 2026}}</ref> winning the election unopposed.<ref>{{cite news|title=Kerrey will head delegation to Demos' national meeting|newspaper=Sunday Journal-Star|date=June 17, 1984|location=Lincoln, Nebraska|page=4B|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/lincoln-journal-star/195298841/|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 10, 2026}}</ref> Newell stepped down as party chair in 1985 to become a lobbyist for the Distilled Spirits Council.<ref>{{cite news|last=Stern|first=Gabriella|title=Democrats Say Newell Is Quitting|newspaper=Omaha World-Herald|date=January 27, 1985|location=|page=1-B|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/omaha-world-herald/195298900/|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 10, 2026}}</ref>
In 1987, Newell was appointed as the administrator of the Omaha Douglas Public Building Commission, which operated the Omaha City Hall, Douglas County Courthouse, and the building connecting the two.<ref>{{cite news|last=Laden|first=Rich|title=Ex-State Senator Is Appointed To Building Post|newspaper=Omaha World-Herald|date=April 28, 1987|location=|page=16|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/omaha-world-herald/195299009/|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 10, 2026}}</ref> He stepped down in 1995, saying that it was "time to move on."<ref>{{cite news|last=Connolly|first=Cindy|title=Newell Says It Is Time To Move On|newspaper=Omaha World-Herald|date=June 8, 1995|location=|page=17|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/omaha-world-herald/195299187/|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 10, 2026}}</ref> In 1996, Newell shared that he left the commission after a female employee alleged that he had physicall harassed her, an allegation that he denied and that resulted in no formal complaint being filed.<ref>{{cite news|last=Brennan|first=Joe|title=Ex-Building Manager Newell Tells His Story|newspaper=Omaha World-Herald|date=January 12, 1996|location=|page=18|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/omaha-world-herald/195299269/|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 10, 2026}}</ref>
Newell was elected to the Metropolitan Community College Board of Governors from the 2nd district in 2002,<ref>{{cite news|last=O'Connor|first=Michael|title=Former state senator wins board seat|newspaper=Omaha World-Herald|date=November 6, 2002|location=|page=5SS|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/omaha-world-herald/195299520/|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 10, 2026}}</ref> and was re-elected in 2006<ref>{{cite news|last=Stickney|first=Veronica|title=Metro's board gets two new members|newspaper=Omaha World-Herald|date=November 8, 2006|location=|page=3HG|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/omaha-world-herald/195299601/|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 10, 2026}}</ref> and 2010.<ref>{{cite news|last=Hansen|first=Matthew|title=Hug ekes out win; Newell prevails|newspaper=Omaha World-Herald|date=November 3, 2010|location=|page=8A|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/omaha-world-herald/195299647/|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 10, 2026}}</ref> In 2014, he was defeated for re-election by Brad Ashby, an information technology professional.<ref>{{cite news|last=Howard|first=Kate|title=Voters mix old, new faces on Metro board|newspaper=Omaha World-Herald|date=November 5, 2014|location=|page=8A|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/omaha-world-herald/195299686/|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 10, 2026}}</ref>
==Death== Newell was diagnosed with ALS in 2015,<ref>{{cite news|last=Grace|first=Erin|title=Facing death, but wanting to be able to make a choice about how and when|newspaper=Omaha World-Herald|date=April 10, 2016|location=|page=1A, 10A|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/omaha-world-herald/195299796/|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 10, 2026}}</ref> and died on June 26, 2016.<ref>{{cite news|last=Stoddard|first=Martha|title=ALS claims a life lived in service to others|newspaper=Omaha World-Herald|date=June 28, 2016|location=|page=1B|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/omaha-world-herald/195297095/|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 10, 2026}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Newell, Dave}} Category:1946 births Category:2016 deaths Category:Nebraska state senators Category:People from Oakland, California Category:University of Nebraska Omaha alumni Category:Nebraska Democrats Category:American lobbyists Category:American activists Category:20th-century members of the Nebraska Legislature