John A. Gale
Encyclopedia
John Gale is from North Platte, Nebraska
, and has been Nebraska's
26th Secretary of State
since 2000. He is a member of the Republican Party
.
and graduated from Omaha North High School
. He earned his B.A.
in Government and International Relations at Carleton College
in Northfield, Minnesota
in 1962. In 1965, Gale graduated with a J.D.
from the University of Chicago Law School
.
of Nebraska and was responsible for agricultural appropriations, foreign relations, and constitutional law issues. In 1970, he returned to Nebraska to work as an assistant U.S. attorney, first in Omaha and then in Lincoln.
Gale and his family moved to North Platte, Nebraska in 1971, where he entered the private practice of law. He practiced law there for 29 years.
He is a former Chairman of the Nebraska Republican Party
, former Chairman of the Mental Health Board for Lincoln County, former President of the 11th Judicial District Bar Association, former Chairman for the North Platte Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs Committee, and former President for the North Platte Sunrise Rotary Club.
Gale ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. House of Representatives in 2000. He was defeated by former U.S. Representative Tom Osborne for the Republican nomination.
Mike Johanns
. He was elected Secretary of State in 2002, defeating his Democratic Party
opponent, Jay Stoddard. He was reelected in 2006, defeating Stoddard again. Gale is seeking re-election for a third term in 2010.
As Secretary of State, Gale implemented major election improvements in Nebraska to meet the requirements of the federal Help America Vote Act
. Under his leadership, all Nebraska counties received new ballot tabulation equipment and switched to a computerized statewide voter registration system. He has promoted efforts to increase voter participation. Nebraska set new turnout records in both the 2004 and 2008 presidential elections.
At his request, he was designated chief protocol officer for international relations by the Legislature. In this role, he has promoted commerce, educational studies and cultural exchange between foreign nations and Nebraska.
Gale was instrumental in getting the Legislature to overhaul and modernize state law dealing with notary publics.
As secretary of state and chairman of the state Records Board, he has pushed for increased and improved online access to state government.
He has championed efforts to provide civics education to the state’s youth. His goal is to encourage youth to become active citizens and lifelong voters.
Gale is a national leader on election reform and has been active in the National Association of Secretaries of State
. He serves on the Executive Committee for NASS and is a past chairman of its Business Services and International Relations committees. He is a current member of the U.S. Standards Board for the U.S. Election Assistance Commission and served in the past on the Technical Guidelines Development Committee for the U.S. Election Assistance Commission.
As Secretary of State, Gale is the chairman of the Nebraska Real Estate Commission, and serves on the Nebraska State Records Board, Nebraska Collection Agency Licensing Board, Nebraska Accountability and Disclosure Commission, the Nebraska Canvassing Board, and the Nebraska Pardons Board. He is a board member for Cornhusker Boys State and the NebraskaLAND Foundation.
North Platte, Nebraska
North Platte is a city in and the county seat of Lincoln County, Nebraska, United States. It is located in the southwestern part of the state, along Interstate 80, at the confluence of the North and South Platte Rivers forming the Platte River...
, and has been Nebraska's
Nebraska
Nebraska is a state on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States. The state's capital is Lincoln and its largest city is Omaha, on the Missouri River....
26th Secretary of State
Secretary of State
Secretary of State or State Secretary is a commonly used title for a senior or mid-level post in governments around the world. The role varies between countries, and in some cases there are multiple Secretaries of State in the Government....
since 2000. He is a member of the Republican Party
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
.
Early life
John A. Gale was born in Omaha, NebraskaOmaha, Nebraska
Omaha is the largest city in the state of Nebraska, United States, and is the county seat of Douglas County. It is located in the Midwestern United States on the Missouri River, about 20 miles north of the mouth of the Platte River...
and graduated from Omaha North High School
Omaha North High School
Omaha North High Magnet School is a public high school located at 4410 N 36th Street in Omaha, Nebraska. The school is a science, technology, engineering and mathematics magnet school in the Omaha Public Schools district. North has won several awards, including being named a 2007 Magnet Schools of...
. He earned his B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in Government and International Relations at Carleton College
Carleton College
Carleton College is an independent non-sectarian, coeducational, liberal arts college in Northfield, Minnesota, USA. The college enrolls 1,958 undergraduate students, and employs 198 full-time faculty members. In 2012 U.S...
in Northfield, Minnesota
Northfield, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 17,147 people, 4,909 households, and 3,210 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,452.2 people per square mile . There were 5,119 housing units at an average density of 732.1 per square mile...
in 1962. In 1965, Gale graduated with a J.D.
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
from the University of Chicago Law School
University of Chicago Law School
The University of Chicago Law School was founded in 1902 as the graduate school of law at the University of Chicago and is among the most prestigious and selective law schools in the world. The U.S. News & World Report currently ranks it fifth among U.S...
.
Professional Background
After law school, Gale held legal positions in the private and public sectors. He worked in the legal department at Northern Natural Gas Company Company in Omaha. From 1968 to 1970, he served as a legislative assistant to U.S. Senator Roman HruskaRoman Hruska
Roman Lee Hruska was a Republican U.S. Senator from the state of Nebraska. Hruska was known as one of the most vocal conservatives in the United States Senate during the 1960s and 1970s.-Life and career:...
of Nebraska and was responsible for agricultural appropriations, foreign relations, and constitutional law issues. In 1970, he returned to Nebraska to work as an assistant U.S. attorney, first in Omaha and then in Lincoln.
Gale and his family moved to North Platte, Nebraska in 1971, where he entered the private practice of law. He practiced law there for 29 years.
He is a former Chairman of the Nebraska Republican Party
Nebraska Republican Party
The Nebraska Republican Party is the affiliate of the Republican Party in Nebraska. The party is headed by Chairman Mark Fahleson. Its headquarters are in Lincoln.- Political plans :...
, former Chairman of the Mental Health Board for Lincoln County, former President of the 11th Judicial District Bar Association, former Chairman for the North Platte Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs Committee, and former President for the North Platte Sunrise Rotary Club.
Gale ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. House of Representatives in 2000. He was defeated by former U.S. Representative Tom Osborne for the Republican nomination.
Secretary of State
Gale was appointed to fill a vacancy at Secretary of State in December, 2000 by GovernorGovernor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
Mike Johanns
Mike Johanns
Michael Owen "Mike" Johanns is an American Republican politician who has been the junior United States Senator from Nebraska since 2009. Previously he was the 38th Governor of Nebraska from 1999 to 2005 and was U.S. Secretary of Agriculture from 2005 to 2007, becoming the fourth Nebraskan to hold...
. He was elected Secretary of State in 2002, defeating his Democratic Party
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
opponent, Jay Stoddard. He was reelected in 2006, defeating Stoddard again. Gale is seeking re-election for a third term in 2010.
As Secretary of State, Gale implemented major election improvements in Nebraska to meet the requirements of the federal Help America Vote Act
Help America Vote Act
The Help America Vote Act , or HAVA, is a United States federal law which passed in the House 357-48 and 92-2 in the Senate and was signed into law by President Bush on October 29, 2002. Drafted in reaction to the controversy surrounding the 2000 U.S...
. Under his leadership, all Nebraska counties received new ballot tabulation equipment and switched to a computerized statewide voter registration system. He has promoted efforts to increase voter participation. Nebraska set new turnout records in both the 2004 and 2008 presidential elections.
At his request, he was designated chief protocol officer for international relations by the Legislature. In this role, he has promoted commerce, educational studies and cultural exchange between foreign nations and Nebraska.
Gale was instrumental in getting the Legislature to overhaul and modernize state law dealing with notary publics.
As secretary of state and chairman of the state Records Board, he has pushed for increased and improved online access to state government.
He has championed efforts to provide civics education to the state’s youth. His goal is to encourage youth to become active citizens and lifelong voters.
Gale is a national leader on election reform and has been active in the National Association of Secretaries of State
National Association of Secretaries of State
The National Association of Secretaries of State , founded in 1904, is the oldest non-partisan professional organization of public officials in the United States, composed of the Secretaries of State of U.S. states and territories. Currently, all secretaries of state, including Washington D.C.,...
. He serves on the Executive Committee for NASS and is a past chairman of its Business Services and International Relations committees. He is a current member of the U.S. Standards Board for the U.S. Election Assistance Commission and served in the past on the Technical Guidelines Development Committee for the U.S. Election Assistance Commission.
As Secretary of State, Gale is the chairman of the Nebraska Real Estate Commission, and serves on the Nebraska State Records Board, Nebraska Collection Agency Licensing Board, Nebraska Accountability and Disclosure Commission, the Nebraska Canvassing Board, and the Nebraska Pardons Board. He is a board member for Cornhusker Boys State and the NebraskaLAND Foundation.