Charlie Laster
Encyclopedia
Charlie Laster represents Oklahoma State Senate District 17 and is the current Minority Leader
. The district is located in Pottawatomie County, Oklahoma County, and Cleveland County.
Laster graduated from Shawnee High School in 1972, Oklahoma State University in 1976, and received his J.D. from the University of Oklahoma College of Law
in 1979. While at Oklahoma State University, Laster played competitive tennis
in the Big 8 Conference.
Primary Election July 27, 2004
February 11, 2003 Special General Election
January 14, 2003 Special Primary Election
Floor Leader
Floor Leaders are leaders of their political parties in each of the houses of the legislature.- Senate :In the United States Senate, they are elected by their respective party conferences to serve as the chief Senate spokesmen for their parties and to manage and schedule the legislative and...
. The district is located in Pottawatomie County, Oklahoma County, and Cleveland County.
Laster graduated from Shawnee High School in 1972, Oklahoma State University in 1976, and received his J.D. from the University of Oklahoma College of Law
University of Oklahoma College of Law
The University of Oklahoma College of Law is an ABA-certified law school located on the University of Oklahoma campus in Norman, Oklahoma. Currently, the College of Law has an enrollment of 527 law students....
in 1979. While at Oklahoma State University, Laster played competitive tennis
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
in the Big 8 Conference.
Political career
Laster was first elected in a special election on February 11, 2003 to replace the seat left vacant by Brad Henry who was elected governor in 2002. Laster quickly rose to leadership within the Democratic Party, being named Chairman of the powerful Judiciary Committee, which handles criminal laws and tort reform. Upon the Democrats and Republicans attaining equal votes in the body, Laster was named the Democratic Floor Leader by then President Pro Tempore Mike Morgan to serve during the 51st Legislature. At the conclusion of the last session in anticipation of the 2008 elections, Laster was named by the Democratic Caucus as the President Pro Tempore-Designate should the Democrats recapture the majority. They failed to do so, losing two seats to the Republicans. Despite the poor showing of the caucus in the elections, Laster was named unanimously as the Minority Floor Leader for the 52nd Legislature in November, 2008.Election results
2008 General Election| Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlie Laster | 15,806 | 56.55% | |
| Donald Rominger | 12,145 | 43.45% | |
Primary Election July 27, 2004
| Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlie Laster | 5,713 | 78.31% | |
| Russel Bristow | 1,582 | 21.69% | |
February 11, 2003 Special General Election
| Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlie Laster | 5,849 | 54.25% | |
| Kris Steele | 4,933 | 45.75% | |
January 14, 2003 Special Primary Election
| Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlie Laster | 3,358 | 71.30% | |
| Greg Wilson | 1,352 | 28.70% | |
External links
- Senator Charlie Laster - District 17 official State Senate website
- Profile from Project Vote SmartProject Vote SmartProject Vote Smart is a non-profit, non-partisan research organization that collects and distributes information on candidates for public office in the United States...
- Follow the Money - Charlie Laster