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Kay Orr

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U.S. Governor

The Resume

    (January 2, 1939- )
    Born in Burlington, Iowa
    Kay Avonne Stark
    Republican
    36th Governor of Nebraska, serving from 1987 to 1991
    Was initially appointed to fill a midterm vacancy in the office of Nebraska State Treasurer, in 1981; later was elected to the post in 1982
    Trustee and Communications Director of Hillsdale College in Michigan
    Both the first Republican woman ever elected governor and the first woman governor elected by defeating another woman

Why she might be annoying:

    She campaigned for Richard Nixon as a young volunteer.
    In her old age, she physically resembled Elizabeth Warren to a degree.
    She and her husband liked to tell corny jokes about gender reversals (saying that housework would be an 'either Orr proposition').
    Bill Orr even generated funds for the renovation of the Governor's 'Holiday Inn style' mansion by publishing 'The First Gentleman's Cookbook' (he specialize in meatloaf).
    She lost her reelection bid to Democrat Ben Nelson, who zeroed in on her raising taxes and supporting low-level nuclear waste dumps.
    She joined House Speaker Paul Ryan and Nebraska Senator Ben Sasse in refusing to back Republican nominee Donald Trump (in her case breaking from her practice for close to half-a-century of supporting the GOP Presidential nominee).
    In doing so, she also questioned Trump's character and whether he would be a good role model for American men, as President, asking Primary voters to be 'deliberate' and 'discerning.'

Why she might not be annoying:

    She was named Nebraska's 'Most Outstanding Young Republican Woman' for 1969.
    Sarah Palin dubbed her 'the original Mama Grizzly.'
    Had she been a Democrat, she probably would have been hailed as another Ann Richards.
    She was described as 'a take charge governor,' 'a tough campaigner,' and 'a hard worker' by local Nebraska media.
    She disappointed political analysts by steering away from 'women's social issues' during her campaign and instead focusing on education, farming, and monetary issues during her campaign.
    She advocated business incentives that lowered her home state's unemployment rate and created a long-awaited economic boom.
    She was an early supporter of Ronald Reagan's 1976 challenge to incumbent President Gerald Ford.
    She secured the Republican gubernatorial nomination, emerging from a staggering eight-way primary, in 1986.
    Reagan never forgot her support and remained a loyal supporter of hers, later campaigning on her behalf during the Primary race.
    She also was invited to be Reagan's 'guest of honor' at his last State Dinner; seated between President Reagan and British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.

Credit: BoyWiththeGreenHair


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 20 Votes: 60.0% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 4 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 19 Votes: 78.95% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 16 Votes: 12.50% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 22 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 17 Votes: 47.06% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 14 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 26 Votes: 46.15% Annoying