Alan Wheat
Encyclopedia
Alan Dupree Wheat is an American politician
from the state
of Missouri
.
in 1972 and served in the Missouri General Assembly from 1977 to 1982. When Congressman Richard Walker Bolling
chose to retire after the 1982 election, Wheat won the Democratic primary
and he went on to win the general election to succeed Bolling.
ever to be appointed to the Rules Committee and was also the first African-American to represent a district with a white majority.
After United States Senator John Danforth
said he would not run for re-election in the 1994 election, Wheat chose to leave the House and instead run for Danforth's seat. He won the primary, becoming the first black nominated by either major party for a statewide office. Wheat lost the general election to former governor John Ashcroft
. Karen McCarthy
was elected to succeed him in the House.
Bill Clinton
's re-election campaign in 1996. In 1997, Wheat formed the lobbying
group Wheat Government Relations.
The Center for Public Integrity
reports that Wheat Government Relations represents clients on the issues of: 1) Indian & Native American Affairs http://sopr.senate.gov/cgi-win/m_opr_viewer.exe?DoFn=3; 2) Federal Budget & Appropriations http://sopr.senate.gov/cgi-win/m_opr_viewer.exe?DoFn=3; 3) Gaming, Gambling & Casinos http://sopr.senate.gov/cgi-win/m_opr_viewer.exe?DoFn=3.
Wheat currently serves on the Board of Directors at CARE. He was married to Yolanda Townsend, vice chair of the Missouri Democratic Party http://www.missouridems.org/newsroom/pressreleases/display.asp?prID=129 and is currently one of the state's current superdelegate
s. He has three children.
External links
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
from the state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
.
Early life
Wheat graduated from Grinnell CollegeGrinnell College
Grinnell College is a private liberal arts college in Grinnell, Iowa, U.S. known for its strong tradition of social activism. It was founded in 1846, when a group of pioneer New England Congregationalists established the Trustees of Iowa College....
in 1972 and served in the Missouri General Assembly from 1977 to 1982. When Congressman Richard Walker Bolling
Richard Walker Bolling
Richard Walker Bolling , was a prominent Democratic Congressman from Kansas City, Missouri, and Missouri's 5th congressional district from 1949 to 1983...
chose to retire after the 1982 election, Wheat won the Democratic primary
Primary election
A primary election is an election in which party members or voters select candidates for a subsequent election. Primary elections are one means by which a political party nominates candidates for the next general election....
and he went on to win the general election to succeed Bolling.
House career and Senate campaign
Wheat was the youngest member of the United States House of RepresentativesUnited States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
ever to be appointed to the Rules Committee and was also the first African-American to represent a district with a white majority.
After United States Senator John Danforth
John Danforth
John Claggett "Jack" Danforth is a former United States Ambassador to the United Nations and former Republican United States Senator from Missouri. He is an ordained Episcopal priest. Danforth is married to Sally D. Danforth and has five adult children.-Education and early career:Danforth was born...
said he would not run for re-election in the 1994 election, Wheat chose to leave the House and instead run for Danforth's seat. He won the primary, becoming the first black nominated by either major party for a statewide office. Wheat lost the general election to former governor John Ashcroft
John Ashcroft
John David Ashcroft is a United States politician who served as the 79th United States Attorney General, from 2001 until 2005, appointed by President George W. Bush. Ashcroft previously served as the 50th Governor of Missouri and a U.S...
. Karen McCarthy
Karen McCarthy
Karen McCarthy was a Missouri politician. She served as the U.S. Representative for the fifth district of Missouri from 1995 to 2005.-Early life:...
was elected to succeed him in the House.
Post-Congressional career
After his Senate race, Wheat was chosen as vice president of Public Policy and Government Relations at CARE. He served as deputy campaign manager of PresidentPresident of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
's re-election campaign in 1996. In 1997, Wheat formed the lobbying
Lobbying
Lobbying is the act of attempting to influence decisions made by officials in the government, most often legislators or members of regulatory agencies. Lobbying is done by various people or groups, from private-sector individuals or corporations, fellow legislators or government officials, or...
group Wheat Government Relations.
The Center for Public Integrity
Center for Public Integrity
The Center for Public Integrity is a nonprofit organization dedicated to producing original, responsible investigative journalism on issues of public concern. The Center is non-partisan and non-advocacy and committed to transparent and comprehensive reporting both in the United States and around...
reports that Wheat Government Relations represents clients on the issues of: 1) Indian & Native American Affairs http://sopr.senate.gov/cgi-win/m_opr_viewer.exe?DoFn=3; 2) Federal Budget & Appropriations http://sopr.senate.gov/cgi-win/m_opr_viewer.exe?DoFn=3; 3) Gaming, Gambling & Casinos http://sopr.senate.gov/cgi-win/m_opr_viewer.exe?DoFn=3.
Wheat currently serves on the Board of Directors at CARE. He was married to Yolanda Townsend, vice chair of the Missouri Democratic Party http://www.missouridems.org/newsroom/pressreleases/display.asp?prID=129 and is currently one of the state's current superdelegate
Superdelegate
"Superdelegate" is an informal term commonly used for some of the delegates to the Democratic National Convention, the presidential nominating convention of the United States Democratic Party....
s. He has three children.
See also
- Official Site: Wheat Government Relations
- U.S. Senate Office of Public Records: Lobbyist Registration
- Center for Public Integrity: LobbyWatch, Wheat Government Relations
External links