David Holt (politician)
Encyclopedia
David Holt is an American
politician who serves as Oklahoma State Senator from the 30th district, which includes portions of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
, The Village, Oklahoma
, Bethany, Oklahoma
, and Warr Acres, Oklahoma
.
. His grandfather was once director of the Model Cities Program
in McAlester, Oklahoma
. After graduating from Putnam City North High School
in Oklahoma City, Holt earned a B.A. from George Washington University
. There, he served as a sports editor for The GW Hatchet.
Holt also has a Juris Doctor
from Oklahoma City University
, and is an attorney with Williams, Box, Forshee & Bullard in Oklahoma City. He is also an adjunct professor at Oklahoma City University
.
Holt is married to Rachel, and they have two children, George and Margaret. Holt is a member of the Osage Nation
.
Holt has served on numerous civic boards in the Oklahoma City area. 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.
, and was an assistant to the Speaker on September 11, 2001. He then served in the White House
Office of Legislative Affairs under President George W. Bush
.
Holt returned to Oklahoma full-time in 2004 and served as Oklahoma’s coordinator to re-elect Bush in 2004. Holt then served U.S. Senator Jim Inhofe
and Lt. Governor Mary Fallin
before becoming Chief of Staff to Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett
in 2006, where he served until his election to the Oklahoma State Senate. Holt was Cornett's Chief of Staff when Oklahoma City
successfully lobbied for the Oklahoma City Thunder
of the National Basketball Association
.
, the first Republican Senate President Pro Tempore in Oklahoma history.
On his first day of office, Holt was elected to the Senate Leadership as Majority Caucus Vice Chair. He was also named Vice Chair of the Senate Business & Commerce Committee and Vice Chair of the Senate Redistricting Committee. His first session was notable for his efforts to lower the Oklahoma income tax, and to reform binding arbitration, the process by which Oklahoma municipalities negotiate contracts with their government unions. In his first session, Holt was named "Most Shining Legislator" in one local publication.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician who serves as Oklahoma State Senator from the 30th district, which includes portions of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Oklahoma City is the capital and the largest city in the state of Oklahoma. The county seat of Oklahoma County, the city ranks 31st among United States cities in population. The city's population, from the 2010 census, was 579,999, with a metro-area population of 1,252,987 . In 2010, the Oklahoma...
, The Village, Oklahoma
The Village, Oklahoma
The Village is a city in Oklahoma County, Oklahoma, United States, and a part of the Oklahoma City metropolitan area. The population was 10,157 at the 2000 census.-Geography:The Village is located at ....
, Bethany, Oklahoma
Bethany, Oklahoma
Bethany is a city in Oklahoma County, Oklahoma, United States, and a part of the Oklahoma City metropolitan area. The population was 20,307 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Bethany is located at ....
, and Warr Acres, Oklahoma
Warr Acres, Oklahoma
Warr Acres is a city in Oklahoma County, Oklahoma, United States, and a part of the Oklahoma City metropolitan area. It was established after World War II by C.B. Warr, a dynamic businessman, builder, and commercial developer. The population was 9,735 at the 2000 census.-History:The Warr Acres...
.
Personal life
Holt was born and raised in northwest Oklahoma City, with family roots in Pittsburg County, OklahomaPittsburg County, Oklahoma
Pittsburg County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of 2000, the population was 43,953. Its county seat is McAlester.-Geography:According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 3,569 km²...
. His grandfather was once director of the Model Cities Program
Model Cities Program
The Model Cities Program was an element of United States President Lyndon Johnson's Great Society and War on Poverty. The ambitious federal urban aid program ultimately fell short of its goals....
in McAlester, Oklahoma
McAlester, Oklahoma
McAlester is a city in Pittsburg County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 17,783 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Pittsburg County. It is currently the largest city in the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, followed by Durant....
. After graduating from Putnam City North High School
Putnam City North High School
Putnam City North High School is a nationally accredited Blue Ribbon School of Excellence situated in Northwest Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. It is accredited by the North Central Association of Secondary Schools and is one of three high schools in the Putnam City School District...
in Oklahoma City, Holt earned a B.A. from George Washington University
George Washington University
The George Washington University is a private, coeducational comprehensive university located in Washington, D.C. in the United States...
. There, he served as a sports editor for The GW Hatchet.
Holt also has a Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
from Oklahoma City University
Oklahoma City University
Oklahoma City University, often referred to as OCU, is a coeducational, urban, private university historically affiliated with the United Methodist Church...
, and is an attorney with Williams, Box, Forshee & Bullard in Oklahoma City. He is also an adjunct professor at Oklahoma City University
Oklahoma City University
Oklahoma City University, often referred to as OCU, is a coeducational, urban, private university historically affiliated with the United Methodist Church...
.
Holt is married to Rachel, and they have two children, George and Margaret. Holt is a member of the Osage Nation
Osage Nation
The Osage Nation is a Native American Siouan-language tribe in the United States that originated in the Ohio River valley in present-day Kentucky. After years of war with invading Iroquois, the Osage migrated west of the Mississippi River to their historic lands in present-day Arkansas, Missouri,...
.
Holt has served on numerous civic boards in the Oklahoma City area. His most notable local involvement was as president of the board of Oklahoma Shakespeare in the Park
Oklahoma Shakespeare in the Park
Oklahoma Shakespeare in the Park was founded in 1985 in Edmond, Oklahoma, USA by current Executive Director and Artistic Director Kathryn McGill and Jack J. O'Meara. It produces live classical theater. Sue Ellen Reiman serves as Managing Director and Norman H. Hammon serves as Development...
from 2005 to 2008, during which time he spearheaded a relocation to downtown Oklahoma City.
Previous public service
Holt served in the Office of the U.S. Speaker of the House Dennis HastertDennis Hastert
John Dennis "Denny" Hastert was the 59th Speaker of the House serving from 1999 to 2007. He represented as a Republican for twenty years, 1987 to 2007.He is the longest-serving Republican Speaker in history...
, and was an assistant to the Speaker on September 11, 2001. He then served in the White House
White House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
Office of Legislative Affairs under President George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
.
Holt returned to Oklahoma full-time in 2004 and served as Oklahoma’s coordinator to re-elect Bush in 2004. Holt then served U.S. Senator Jim Inhofe
Jim Inhofe
James Mountain "Jim" Inhofe is the senior Senator from Oklahoma and a member of the Republican Party. First elected to the Senate in 1994, he is the ranking member of the United States Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works and was its chairman from 2003 to 2007. Inhofe served eight...
and Lt. Governor Mary Fallin
Mary Fallin
Mary Fallin is the 27th and current Governor of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. She was a U.S. Representative for from 2007 until 2011....
before becoming Chief of Staff to Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett
Mick Cornett
Mick Cornett is the current Mayor of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States. He also serves on notable positions including the national President of the Republican Mayors and Local Officials , and also serves on the Board of Trustees for the U.S. Conference of Mayors. He was also Chairman of the...
in 2006, where he served until his election to the Oklahoma State Senate. Holt was Cornett's Chief of Staff when Oklahoma City
Oklahoma city
Oklahoma City is the capital and largest city of the U.S. state of Oklahoma.Oklahoma City may also refer to:*Oklahoma City metropolitan area*Downtown Oklahoma City*Uptown Oklahoma City*Oklahoma City bombing*Oklahoma City National Memorial...
successfully lobbied for the Oklahoma City Thunder
Oklahoma City Thunder
The Oklahoma City Thunder are a professional basketball franchise based in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association ; their home court is at Chesapeake Energy Arena....
of the National Basketball Association
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
.
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 CoffeeGlenn Coffee
For the American football player, see Glen CoffeeVirgil Glenn Coffee is an American lawyer and Republican politician from the US state of Oklahoma. Coffee is currently the 30th Oklahoma Secretary of State, having been appointed by Governor Mary Fallin...
, the first Republican Senate President Pro Tempore in Oklahoma history.
On his first day of office, Holt was elected to the Senate Leadership as Majority Caucus Vice Chair. He was also named Vice Chair of the Senate Business & Commerce Committee and Vice Chair of the Senate Redistricting Committee. His first session was notable for his efforts to lower the Oklahoma income tax, and to reform binding arbitration, the process by which Oklahoma municipalities negotiate contracts with their government unions. In his first session, Holt was named "Most Shining Legislator" in one local publication.