Mark Nye (politician)

American politician from Idaho (1945–2022)

Mark Nye

Member of the Idaho Senate
from the 29th district
In office
December 1, 2016 – July 16, 2022
Preceded by| Roy Lacey
Succeeded by| Eva Nye
Member of the
Idaho House of Representatives
from District 29 Seat A
In office
December 1, 2014 – November 30, 2016
Preceded by| Carolyn Meline
Succeeded by| Dustin Manwaring
Personal details
Born|

Walter Marcus William Nye

(1945-08-03)August 3, 1945
New York City, New York, U.S.
Died| July 16, 2022(2022-07-16) (aged 76)
Pocatello, Idaho, U.S.
Political party| Democratic
Spouse| Eva
Education| Harvard University (BA)
University of Idaho (JD)

Walter Marcus William Nye[1][2] (August 3, 1945 – July 16, 2022) was an American attorney and politician who served as a Democratic member of the Idaho Senate from the 29th District.[3] Nye previously represented the same district in the Idaho House of Representatives from 2014 to 2016.

## Early life, education, and career

[edit]

Born in New York City in 1945,[4] Nye was raised in Pocatello, Idaho, descending from early pioneers of the Idaho Territory. He graduated from Pocatello High School in 1963 and earned a Bachelor of Arts from Harvard College in 1967. He then returned to Idaho and earned a Juris Doctor from the University of Idaho College of Law in 1974.

## Career

[edit]

Nye began practicing law in Pocatello in 1974. He was the past president of the Idaho State Bar and served on the American Bar Association Board of Governors.

### Idaho House of Representatives

[edit]

In 2014, incumbent Idaho Representative Carolyn Meline announced she would not seek reelection. Nye subsequently announced his candidacy for the Idaho House of Representatives.[5] He was unopposed in the Democratic primary and defeated Republican Matthew Bloxham and Libertarian Matthew Larsen, both of Pocatello, in the general election.

#### Committee assignments

[edit]

From 2014 to 2016, he served on the Judiciary, Rules and Administration Committee, Local Government Committee, and Revenue and Taxation Committee.

### Idaho Senate

[edit]

In 2016, incumbent Idaho Senator Roy Lacey announced he would not seek reelection. Nye subsequently announced his candidacy for Idaho Senate.[6] Nye was unopposed in the Democratic primary and defeated Republican Tom Katsilometes and Libertarian Sierra "Idaho Lorax" Carta in the general election.

Idaho law allows any voter to challenge the election of a legislator, and the respective legislative body has full discretion to judge the election and qualifications of members in deciding whether to seat them. Nye's Republican opponent Katsilometes challenged Nye's election on the grounds that Nye had allegedly violated campaign finance laws and vote counting irregularities. The Idaho Senate dismissed the challenge unanimously and seated Nye. It was the first time an election had been challenged since 1981.[7]

#### Committee assignments

[edit]

* Finance Committee
* Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee
* Judiciary and Rules Committee
* Local Government and Taxation

## Elections

[edit]

District 29 House Seat A \- Part of Bannock County  Year  | Candidate  | Votes  | Pct  | Candidate  | Votes  | Pct  | Candidate  | Votes  | Pct

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

2014 Primary[8] | Mark Nye | 2,268  | 100%  |  |  |  |  |  |
2014 General[9] | Mark Nye | 5,936  | 53.1%  | Matthew Bloxham | 4,597  | 41.1%  | Matthew Larsen | 643  | 5.8%
District 29 Senate \- Part of Bannock County  Year  | Candidate  | Votes  | Pct  | Candidate  | Votes  | Pct  | Candidate  | Votes  | Pct

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

2016 Primary[10] | Mark Nye | 951  | 100.0%  |  |  |  |  |  |
2016 General[11] | Mark Nye | 8,018  | 48.1%  | Tom Katsilometes | 7,482  | 44.9%  | Sierra "Idaho Lorax" Carta | 1,159  | 7.0%

## Personal life

[edit]

Nye died on July 16, 2022, at the age of 76.[12]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Harvard Alumni Directory". 1970.
2. ^ "The Probate Counsel". 1978.
3. ^ "Sen. Mark Nye". Boise, Idaho: Idaho Legislature. Retrieved January 21, 2017.
4. ^ Who's Who West, 1998-1999. August 1997. ISBN 9780837909288.
5. ^ "Local lawyer to run for state House: Pocatello's Mark Nye announces seat 29A candidacy Saturday". Pocatello, Idaho. Retrieved January 21, 2017.
6. ^ "Sen. Lacey won't seek re-election, endorses Rep. Nye for his seat". Spokane, Washington. Retrieved January 21, 2017.
7. ^ "Full Idaho Senate rejects challenge to November election results". Spokane, Washington. Retrieved January 21, 2017.
8. ^ Ysursa, Ben. "May 20, 2014 Primary Election Results". Boise, Idaho: Secretary of State of Idaho. Archived from the original on November 8, 2014. Retrieved January 21, 2017.
9. ^ Ysursa, Ben. "November 4, 2014 General Election Results". Boise, Idaho: Secretary of State of Idaho. Archived from the original on December 20, 2016. Retrieved January 21, 2017.
10. ^ Denney, Lawerence. "May 17, 2016 Primary Election Results: Legislative Totals". Boise, Idaho: Secretary of State of Idaho. Archived from the original on December 20, 2016. Retrieved January 21, 2017.
11. ^ Denney, Lawerence. "Nov 8, 2016 General Election Results: Legislative Totals". Boise, Idaho: Secretary of State of Idaho. Archived from the original on December 21, 2016. Retrieved January 21, 2017.
12. ^ "Longtime Idaho lawmaker Sen. Mark Nye dies after illness". Idaho News 6. July 21, 2022. Retrieved July 22, 2022.