David Holt (politician)
David Holt | |
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Holt shaking hands at the Bethany, OK Independence Day Parade on July 4, 2011 | |
Member of the Oklahoma Senate from the 30th district | |
Incumbent | |
Assumed office 2010 | |
Preceded by | Glenn Coffee |
Personal details | |
Born | March 10, 1979 Oklahoma City, OK |
Nationality | American |
Political party | Republican |
Spouse(s) | Rachel |
Children | George, Margaret |
Residence | Oklahoma City, Oklahoma |
Alma mater | George Washington University, Oklahoma City University |
Occupation | Attorney |
Committees | Education, Judiciary, Appropriations, Public Safety, Appropriations Subcommittee on Select Agencies (Vice Chair) |
Religion | Episcopalian |
Website | Campaign website |
David Holt (born March 10, 1979) is an American politician who serves as the majority whip of the Oklahoma State Senate. He represents an electoral district that includes portions of Oklahoma City, The Village, Bethany, and Warr Acres, Oklahoma. He is the author of the 2012 book Big League City: Oklahoma City's Rise to the NBA.
Personal life
Holt was born and raised in northwest Oklahoma City, with family roots in Pittsburg County, Oklahoma. David is Osage through his late mother, Mary Ann Fuller Holt, who inspired him to public service,[1] as did his maternal grandfather, who directed the Model Cities Program in McAlester, Oklahoma.[2]
After graduating from Putnam City North High School in Oklahoma City, Holt earned a B.A. from George Washington University, which his mother had attended.[1] He served as a sports editor for The GW Hatchet.
Holt also has earned a Juris Doctor from Oklahoma City University, and is an attorney in Oklahoma City. He has served as an adjunct professor at Oklahoma City University.[3]
Holt is married to Rachel, and they have two children, George and Margaret.[4]
Holt has served on numerous civic boards in the Oklahoma City area.[4] His most notable local involvement was as president of the board of Oklahoma Shakespeare in the Park from 2005 to 2008, during which time he spearheaded a relocation to downtown Oklahoma City.[5] In 2013, Holt served as co-chair of the Myriad Gardens' 25th anniversary celebration.[6]
Previous public service
Holt served as an aide to Dennis Hastert when Hastert was U.S. Speaker of the House, and during the time of the September 11, 2001 attacks.[7] He served in the White House Office of Legislative Affairs under President George W. Bush.[4]
Holt returned to Oklahoma full-time in 2004 and served as Oklahoma’s coordinator to re-elect Bush in 2004, and then served U.S. Senator Jim Inhofe and Lt. Governor Mary Fallin. In 2006 he was appointed Chief of Staff to Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett, where he served until his election to the Oklahoma State Senate.[4] Holt was Cornett's Chief of Staff when Oklahoma City successfully lobbied for the Oklahoma City Thunder of the National Basketball Association.
Senate career
Holt was elected to the Senate on July 27, 2010 with 64 percent of the vote in the Republican primary and was unopposed in the general election. He took office on November 16, 2010. He succeeded Glenn Coffee, the first Republican Senate President Pro Tempore in Oklahoma history.[4]
On his first day of office, Holt was elected to the Senate Leadership as Majority Caucus Vice Chair.[8] He was also named Vice Chair of the Senate Business & Commerce Committee and Vice Chair of the Senate Redistricting Committee.[4] His first year as a Senator was notable for his efforts to lower the Oklahoma income tax,[9] and his efforts to ensure that local taxpayers have control over their tax dollars.[10] In his first session, Holt was named "Most Shining Legislator" in one local paper.[11]
Later that year, Holt was credited with branding Route 66 as it passes through Oklahoma City.[12]
In 2012, Holt's second session, he was noted for being the primary author of a bill to eliminate the Oklahoma income tax, based on a plan proposed by economist Arthur Laffer.[13] Holt also authored legislation to open up the Oklahoma Legislature to unprecedented transparency.[14] Holt also authored legislation that became law that barred welfare recipients from using illegal drugs.[15]
In 2012, the Oklahoma Republican Party named Holt one of Oklahoma's seven Republican members of the Electoral College (United States).[16]
For the 2013-2014 legislative sessions, Holt was elected as a Majority Whip for the Senate Republican Caucus.[17] He was also named Vice Chair of the brand new Appropriations Subcommittee on Select Agencies.[18]
In 2012, Holt announced that he would introduce a "parent trigger" law for Oklahoma in the 2013 legislative session.[19] A similar law was depicted in the film Won't Back Down (film).
In 2012, Holt was credited with instigating Oklahoma's first state recognition of the Hanukkah holiday.[20]
In 2013, Holt authored successful legislation that legalized "Black Friday" and other low-price sales in the state of Oklahoma.[21]
In 2013, Holt spearheaded an effort to honor Ralph Ellison with a portrait in the Oklahoma Capitol.[22]
Big League City: Oklahoma City's Rise to the NBA
Big League City: Oklahoma City's Rise to the NBA is non-fiction political and sports book written by David Holt and published in 2012 by Full Circle Press.[23] It details the arrival of major league sports in Oklahoma City, culminating with the 2008 National Basketball Association's Seattle SuperSonics relocation, after which the franchise became the Oklahoma City Thunder. That event made Oklahoma City a "big league city," as the title of the book states.[24] Holt, who was Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett's Chief of Staff during the time, believed that “the arrival of major league sports in Oklahoma City was the most significant positive development in the city’s history since the Land Run of 1889.”[25]
The book received a positive reception amongst the Oklahoma media. Berry Tramel of The Oklahoman wrote that "David Holt tells us how we got here." [25] The Oklahoma Gazette called the book a "fascinating historical account."[26] Kelly Ogle of KWTV-DT television noted during his regular "My 2 Cents" segment: "Holt's book is an enjoyable read, and a dandy little primer on the whirlwind ride this dusty old big league city has enjoyed over the last 25 years."[27]
The book was adopted in the fall of 2012 as part of the required curriculum at Putnam City North High School.[28]
Election results
2010 Oklahoma State Senate District 30 election[29] | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | David Holt | 5,125 | 63.59% | ||
Republican | Matt Jackson | 2,934 | 36.41% | ||
Turnout | 8,059 | ||||
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Benny Polacca, "Osage in Oklahoma City elected State Senator of District 30", Osage News, 27 August 2010
- ↑ "Grandad". David Holt blog. Retrieved 2011-10-27.
- ↑ "OCU President Robert Henry and Senator David Holt to Teach Honors Class". Oklahoma City University. Retrieved 2011-11-10.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 "Senator David Holt - District 30". Oksenate.gov. Retrieved 2011-05-25.
- ↑ "Oklahoma Shakespeare in the Park to take new stage downtown". City of Oklahoma City. Retrieved 2011-09-03.
- ↑ "Haneborg, Holt team up for Myriad gala". Retrieved 2011-04-18.
- ↑ "Remembering 9/11: Locals recall tragic day, almost 10 years later". OKC Friday. Retrieved 2011-10-27.
- ↑ "Senate Republicans Elect Leadership Team". OKSenate.gov. 2010-11-16. Retrieved 2011-06-03.
- ↑ "Now is the time to schedule more tax cuts". NewsOK.com. 2011-02-05. Retrieved 2011-05-25.
- ↑ "Labor union debate heats up in Oklahoma Legislature". NewsOK.com. 2011-04-03. Retrieved 2011-05-25.
- ↑ "Mid-session legislative awards". Oklahoma Gazette. 2011-04-06. Retrieved 2011-06-15.
- ↑ "Stretch of NW 23 has plenty to appeal to Route 66 tourists". The Oklahoman. 2012-02-07. Retrieved 2012-02-14.
- ↑ "Senators Introduce Laffer Plan to Phase Out Income Tax". The Oklahoma Republican Party. 2012-01-19. Retrieved 2012-03-18.
- ↑ "Oklahoma Lawmakers Discuss Measure that would Shine Light on Legislature". The Oklahoman. 2012-03-11. Retrieved 2012-03-18.
- ↑ "Starting Nov. 1 all Oklahoma applicants for assistance must have drug screening". The Tulsa World. 2012-05-17. Retrieved 2012-12-20.
- ↑ "Holt Chosen for Electoral College". OKC Friday. 2012-09-28. Retrieved 2012-09-26.
- ↑ "Senate Republicans Elect Leadership Team". Oklahoma Senate. 2012-11-14. Retrieved 2012-11-16.
- ↑ "President Pro-Tem Bingman Announces Committee Chairs and Vice Chair Assignments". Oklahoma Senate. 2012-12-06. Retrieved 2012-12-12.
- ↑ "Parent trigger law proposed to allow parents to overhaul underachieving schools". The Tulsa World. 2012-10-08. Retrieved 2012-12-20.
- ↑ "Oklahoma Capitol to Celebrate Chanukah". This Land Press. 2012-12-06. Retrieved 2012-12-20.
- ↑ "Senator David Holt details "Black Friday" reform struggle". CapitolBeatOK. 2013-06-11. Retrieved 2012-07-05.
- ↑ "Ralph Ellison Portrait Planned for Oklahoma Capitol". KGOU. 2013-10-16. Retrieved 2013-10-16.
- ↑ "New Book Details Oklahoma City's Rise to 'Big League City' Status". The Oklahoman. 2012-04-24. Retrieved 2012-04-24.
- ↑ Holt, David. "Big League City". Retrieved 22 May 2012.
- ↑ 25.0 25.1 Tramel, Berry. "Oklahoma City Thunder: New book to chronicle OKC's ascension". The Oklahoman. Retrieved 22 May 2012.
- ↑ Hoover, Brendan. "A new book details how OKC landed the Thunder". Oklahoma Gazette. Retrieved 22 May 2012.
- ↑ Ogle, Kelly. "My 2 Cents: Book Chronicles OKC's Rise To The Big Leagues". KWTV-DT.
- ↑ "State Sen. David Holt reflects on Putnam North roots in book discussion". The Oklahoman. 2012-12-01. Retrieved 2012-12-20.
- ↑ "SUMMARY RESULTS: Primary Election -- July 27, 2010". Oklahoma State Election Board. Retrieved 2011-05-24.
External links
Political offices | ||
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Preceded by Glenn Coffee |
Member of the Oklahoma Senate from the 30th District 2010 – |
Succeeded by Incumbent |
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