George Fenger
OfficeMember of the Nebraska Legislature from the 45th district
Term startJanuary 7, 1981
Term endJanuary 9, 1985
PredecessorFrank Lewis
SuccessorPaul Hartnett
Birth dateFebruary 15, 1925
Birth placeOmaha, Nebraska
Death dateSeptember 11, 1993 (aged 68)
Death placeBellevue, Nebraska
EducationUniversity of Nebraska–Lincoln
PartyRepublican
SpouseJean Bennett (m. 1950)
OccupationService station owner-operator, real estate and marine sales
AllegianceUnited States
Service years1943–1946

George Fenger (February 15, 1925 – September 11, 1993) was a Republican politician from Nebraska who served as a member of the Nebraska Legislature from the 45th district from 1981 to 1985.

Early life

Fenger was born in Omaha, Nebraska, in 1925.[1] He graduated from Omaha South High School in 1942 and attended the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, but did not graduate.[1] He served in the U.S. Army in World War II from 1943 to 1946.[2] Finger owned and operated several businesses, including a real estate firm, a marine sales business, and service stations.[3][1]

In 1968, Fenger ran for the Sarpy County Board of Supervisors from the 3rd district.[4] He lost to Norman Magnusson, the president of the Bellevue City Council, in the Republican primary.[5]

Fenger challenged Sarpy County Sheriff Richard Whitted for re-election in the 1970 Republican primary.[6] During the campaign, Whitted was charged with committing perjury when testifying before a federal grand jury, but he declined to drop out of the race.[7] Whitted defeated Fender and policeman Richard Hertzig in the Republican primary,[8] but Fenger continued his campaign in the general election as a write-in candidate,[9] but placed sixth, behind Whitted, the Democratic nominee, an independent candidate, and two other write-in candidates.[10]

He challenged Bellevue Mayor Robert Haworth for re-election in 1974 in the nonpartisan primary,[11] but Haworth ultimately won.[12]

Nebraska Legislature

In 1980, Fenger ran against incumbent State Senator Frank Lewis, a Democrat, in the eastern Sarpy County-based 45th district.[13] In the primary election, Lewis placed first by a wide margin, winning 60 percent of the vote to Fenger's 40 percent.[14] They both advanced to the general election,[15] where Fenger defeated Lewis, winning 54–46 percent.[14][16]

Fenger ran for re-election in 1984, and was challenged by Paul Hartnett, a Creighton University professor, and Ralph Tate, a retired U.S. Air Force lieutenant colonel, both of whom were members of the Bellevue School Board.[17][18] Hartnett placed first over Fenger in the primary election, receiving 42 percent of the vote to Fenger's 36 percent and Tate's 23 percent.[19] Hartnett and Fenger advanced to the general election,[20] where Hartnett narrowly won, receiving 52 percent of the vote to Fenger's 48 percent.[19][21]

Death

Finger died on September 11, 1993.[2]

References

  1. ^ Nebraska Blue Book 1982-1983. Nebraska Legislative Council. 1983. p. 270. Retrieved April 13, 2026.
  2. ^ "Ex-Bellevue Senator Fenger Dies". Omaha World-Herald. September 12, 1993. p. 26. Retrieved April 13, 2026. – via Newspapers.com
  3. ^ Hornbeck, Gene (February 13, 1972). "Bellevue Opportunist Fills Need for Family Sailing Craft". Omaha World-Herald. p. 6-C. Retrieved April 13, 2026. – via Newspapers.com
  4. ^ "Nine Men Seek Sarpy Board Seat". Omaha World-Herald. March 17, 1968. p. 7-B. Retrieved April 13, 2026. – via Newspapers.com
  5. ^ "Smock, Sarpy County Board Chairman, Lags in Election". Omaha World-Herald. May 15, 1968. p. 11. Retrieved April 13, 2026. – via Newspapers.com
  6. ^ "5 Candidates Aren't Listed". Omaha World-Herald. March 16, 1970. p. 5. Retrieved April 13, 2026. – via Newspapers.com
  7. ^ Billotte, Billotte (April 16, 1970). "Whitted Says He'll Stay on Ballot". Omaha World-Herald. p. 25. Retrieved April 13, 2026. – via Newspapers.com
  8. ^ "Whitted Gets Nod in Sarpy". Omaha World-Herald. May 13, 1970. p. 4. Retrieved April 13, 2026. – via Newspapers.com
  9. ^ "Fenger Is 2nd Write-in In Sarpy Sheriff Race". Omaha World-Herald. October 7, 1970. p. 6. Retrieved April 13, 2026. – via Newspapers.com
  10. ^ "Whitted Feels 'Proud' In Sarpy County Win". Omaha World-Herald. November 4, 1970. p. 14. Retrieved April 13, 2026. – via Newspapers.com
  11. ^ Ivey, James (April 29, 1974). "7 Trying to Unseat Mayor of Bellevue". Omaha World-Herald. p. 4. Retrieved April 13, 2026. – via Newspapers.com
  12. ^ "City Councilman Wins Over Papillion Mayor". Omaha World-Herald. May 15, 1974. p. 4. Retrieved April 13, 2026. – via Newspapers.com
  13. ^ "Fenger to Run In District 45". Omaha World-Herald. January 16, 1980. p. 4. Retrieved April 13, 2026. – via Newspapers.com
  14. ^ Beermann, Allen J. (1980). Official Report of the Nebraska State Canvassing Board, Primary Election, May 13, 1980, General Election, November 4, 1980. Nebraska Secretary of State. Retrieved April 13, 2026.
  15. ^ Partsch, Frank (May 14, 1980). "Two Legislators Get Early Scare". Omaha World-Herald. p. 12. Retrieved April 13, 2026. – via Newspapers.com
  16. ^ Kelly, Michael & Thompson, David (November 5, 1980). "GOP's Swath Nicks Senators From Metropolitan Area, Too". Omaha World-Herald. p. 37. Retrieved April 13, 2026. – via Newspapers.com
  17. ^ "Hartnett Files For Legislature". Omaha World-Herald. January 19, 1984. p. 8. Retrieved April 13, 2026. – via Newspapers.com
  18. ^ Ivey, James (May 10, 1984). "Fenger Sees 'Tough Fight' to Keep Seat". Omaha World-Herald. p. 41. Retrieved April 13, 2026. – via Newspapers.com
  19. ^ Beermann, Allen J. (1984). Official Report of the Nebraska State Canvassing Board, Primary Election, May 15, 1984, General Election, November 6, 1984. Nebraska Secretary of State. Retrieved April 13, 2026.
  20. ^ Thomas, Fred (May 16, 1984). "2 Built Leads by Talking to Voters". Omaha World-Herald. p. 46. Retrieved April 13, 2026. – via Newspapers.com
  21. ^ Stingley, Steven (November 8, 1984). "Democrats Gain in Non-Party Legislature; Parties Trade Charges". Omaha World-Herald. p. 24. Retrieved April 13, 2026. – via Newspapers.com