Al McAffrey
Encyclopedia
Al McAffrey is an American politician from Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...

 who currently serves in the Oklahoma House of Representatives
Oklahoma House of Representatives
The Oklahoma House of Representatives is the lower house of the Oklahoma Legislature, the legislative body of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. Its members are responsible for introducing and voting on bills and resolutions, providing legislative oversight for state agencies, and helping to craft the...

, representing district 88. He is a candidate for the Oklahoma Senate
Oklahoma Senate
The Oklahoma Senate is the upper house of the two houses of the Legislature of Oklahoma, the other being the Oklahoma House of Representatives. The total number of Senators is set at 48 by the Oklahoma Constitution....

, having announced in October 2011 that he would run for the district 46 seat being vacated by Sen. Andrew Rice
Andrew Rice
Andrew Monroe Rice is an American politician from Oklahoma currently representing Senate District 46 in the Oklahoma State Senate. He resigned from his Senate seat effective January 15, 2012, citing an out-of-state career opportunity for his wife.-Early life:Born and raised in Oklahoma City, Rice...

 (D–Oklahoma City), who is resigning effective January 2012.

Early life, education and career

The son of a Baptist minister, McAffrey was raised in Sulphur, Oklahoma
Sulphur, Oklahoma
Sulphur is a city in Murray County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 4,794 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Murray County.-Geography:Sulphur is located at ....

, graduating from Sulphur High School in 1966. After graduating from Oklahoma State University in 1974, McAffrey enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served as a Navy Corpsman. Upon returning to Oklahoma, McAffrey joined the Oklahoma City Police Department
Oklahoma City Police Department
The Oklahoma City Police Department is the principal law enforcement agency of the city of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. It is nationally accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies and is the largest municipal law enforcement agency in the state.The OCPD was officially...

 and later went on to own and operate several successful small businesses. He currently owns and operates OK Cremation & Mortuary Services.

Political career

After winning the Democratic party's three-way primary on July 25, 2006, McAffrey faced no Republican opposition and was sworn into the Oklahoma House of Representatives
Oklahoma House of Representatives
The Oklahoma House of Representatives is the lower house of the Oklahoma Legislature, the legislative body of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. Its members are responsible for introducing and voting on bills and resolutions, providing legislative oversight for state agencies, and helping to craft the...

 on the State’s Centennial birthday on November 16, 2006.

McAffrey was unopposed in 2008 and re-elected to a third term in 2010, winning the general election with 69.6% of the vote.

For the 2011-2012 legislative sessions, McAffrey holds seats on the Public Health, Administrative Rules and Government Oversight, Public Safety and Economic Development, Tourism & Financial Services committees. He is also serving as assistant minority floor leader.

On October 18, 2011, Sen. Andrew Rice (D–Oklahoma City) announced that he would resign from the Oklahoma Senate effective January 2012, in order to move to Tennessee, where his wife had found a new job. McAffrey immediately announced his candidacy for Rice's seat, which is to be filled by special election. Rice endorsed McAffrey's candidacy that same day.

Community service

McAffrey is a strong supporter of AIDS awareness. He is a board member of the Regional AIDS Interfaith Network-Oklahoma (RAIN) and is currently serving on the Advisory Council for the AIDS Walk in Oklahoma City. He is also an active member of the Diversity Business Association.

Personal

An openly gay man, McAffrey was the first openly LGBT person elected to serve in the Oklahoma Legislature
Oklahoma Legislature
The Legislature of the State of Oklahoma is the biennial meeting of the legislative branch of the government of Oklahoma. It is bicameral, comprising the Oklahoma House of Representatives and the Oklahoma Senate, with all members elected directly by the people. The House of Representatives has 101...

. He is the father of three daughters and grandfather of eight grandchildren. He is a member of St. Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral in Oklahoma City and is active in the Mesta Park Neighborhood Association. McAffrey also serves as a voting member of the Choctaw Nation
Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma
The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma is a semi-autonomous Native American homeland comprising twelve tribal districts. The Choctaw Nation maintains a special relationship with both the United States and Oklahoma governments...

. He resides in downtown Oklahoma City where he owns and operates OK Cremation & Mortuary Service.

Electoral history

External links

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
 
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