Ralph Okerlund
| Ralph Okerlund | |
|---|---|
 Senator Ralph Okerlund | |
| Member of the Utah Senate from the 24th[1] district | |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office January 1, 2009 | |
| Preceded by | Darin G. Peterson |
| Personal details | |
| Nationality | American |
| Political party | Republican |
| Residence | Monroe, Utah |
| Alma mater | Dixie State College University of Utah |
Ralph Okerlund[2] is an American politician and a Republican member of the Utah State Senate representing District 24 since January 1, 2009. He has been the Senate's majority leader since January 28, 2013.
Personal Life, Education, and Career
Okerlund earned his AA from Dixie State College (now Dixie State University) and his BS in political science from the University of Utah. [3] He has worked in agriculture. [3] Okerlund is married to his wife, Cindy and they have three Children. [4]
Background
- Monroe City Council
- Monroe City Mayor
- Sevier County Commissioner
- Commissioner of the Year
- President of the Utah State Association of Commissioners and Councilmen
- President of the Utah Association of Counties
Political Career
Before he was a senator, Okerland was on the Monroe City Council, served as Monroe City Mayor and the Sevier County Commissioner, was president of Utah State Association of Commissioners and Councilmen, and was president of Utah Association of Counties. [3] Senator Okerlund was elected to the Senate in 2008. [3] In 2014 he was the Majority Leader. [3]
In 2014, Senator Okerlund served on the following committees:
- Executive Appropriations Committee
- Executive Offices and Criminal Justice Appropriations Subcommittee
- Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environmental Quality Appropriations Subcommittee
- Senate Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee
- Senate Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee
During the 2014 General Session, Senator Okerlund was conducting a meeting with House and Senate GOP leaders when he stepped out into the hallway and apparently passed out. [5] He said he had felt light-headed. [5] He was not able to return for the last two days of the session. [5]
Elections
- 2012 Okerlund was challenged by state Representative Patrick Painter in the Senate District 24 June 26, 2012 Republican Primary; Okerlund won with 7,390 votes (61.0%)[6] and won the November 6, 2012 General election with 29,588 votes (86.5%) against Constitution candidate Trestin Meacham.[7]
- 2008 When District 24 Republican Senator Darin G. Peterson left the Legislature and left the seat open, Okerlund was unopposed for the June 24, 2008 Republican Primary and won the three-way November 4, 2008 General election with 19,073 votes (67.6%) against Democratic nominee Tobiah Dillon, and Constitution candidate Benton Peterson,[8] who had run for a House seat in 2004.
2014 Sponsored Legislation
| Bill Number | Bill Title | Bill Status |
|---|---|---|
| S.B. 38 S001 | Snow College Concurrent Education Program | Governor Signed 3/27/2014 |
| S.B. 41 | State Tree Change | Governor Signed 3/25/2014 |
| S.B. 73 S003 | Agricultural Environmental Amendments | Governor Signed 4/1/2014 |
| S.B. 84 | Amendments to Governor's Rural Boards | Governor Signed 3/31/2014 |
| S.B. 88 S001 | Child Interview Amendments | Governor Signed 3/28/2014 |
| S.B. 95 | Revisor's Statute | Governor Signed 3/29/2014 |
| S.B. 165 | Trial Hunting Authorization | Governor Signed 3/25/2014 |
| S.B. 176 | Local Funding for Rural Health Care Amendments | Governor Signed 3/25/2014 |
| S.B. 213 | Compulsory Pooling Amendments | Governor Signed 4/1/2014 |
| S.B. 224 | Renewable Energy Tax Credit Amendments | Governor Signed 4/1/2014 |
| S.C.R. 6 S001 | Calling on Congress to Provide Permanent Multiyear Funding for the Payment in Lieu of Taxes Program | Governor Signed 3/12/2014 |
| S.J.R. 6 | Joint Resolution Authorizing Pay of In-session Employees | Enrolled 2/3/2014 |
| S.J.R. 20 | Master Study Resolution | Enrolled 3/20/2014 |
Senator Okerlund also floor sponsored the following bills:
- HB0019 Electric Vehicle Battery Charging Service Amendments
- HB0027 Interlocal Cooperation Act Amendments
- HB0029 County Recorder Index Amendments
- HB0038S02 Resource Stewardship Amendments
- HB0061 Clean Air Programs
- HB0097 Limitation on Local Government Regulation of Animals
- HB0158S04 Grazing and Timber Agricultural Commodity Zones in Utah
- HB0160 Utah Wilderness Act
- HB0183S01 Federal Land Exchange and Sale Amendments
- HJR017 Joint Resolution on Jail Facilities
Pivotal Legislation
In 2014, Senator Okerlund sponsored S.B. 88 Substitute Child Interview Amendments, which clarifies the right of child victims to keep confidential their interviews that are conducted at a Children's Justice Center, including video and audio recordings, and transcripts of those recordings. [10] This bill helps protect children who have suffered from abuse. [10] It was passed and signed by the Governor. [10]
References
- ↑ "Okerlund, Ralph". Salt Lake City, Utah: Utah State Legislature. Retrieved February 10, 2014.
- ↑ "Ralph Okerlund's Biography". Project Vote Smart. Retrieved February 10, 2014.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 "Okerlund, Ralph". Utah State Senate. Retrieved April 15, 2014.
- ↑ "Ralph Okerlund's Political Summary". Project Vote Smart. Retrieved April 15, 2014.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Amy Joi O'Donoghue. "Utah Senate Majority Leader Ralph Okerlund 'doing well' after being rushed to hospital". Deseret News. Retrieved April 15, 2014.
- ↑ "2012 Primary Canvass Reports". Salt Lake City, Utah: Lieutenant Governor of Utah. Retrieved February 10, 2014.
- ↑ "2012 General Canvass Report". Salt Lake City, Utah: Lieutenant Governor of Utah. Retrieved February 10, 2014.
- ↑ "2008 General Election Results". Salt Lake City, Utah: Lieutenant Governor of Utah. Retrieved February 10, 2014.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 "Okerlund, R. Sponsored Legislation". Salt Lake City: Utah State Senate. Retrieved April 15, 2014.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 "S.B. 88 Substitute Child Interview Amendments". Retrieved April 15, 2014.
External links
- Official page at the Utah State Senate
- Profile at Project Vote Smart
- Ralph Okerlund at Ballotpedia
- Ralph Okerlund at the National Institute on Money in State Politics
| |||||||||||||||||||