Tom Adelson
Encyclopedia
Tom Adelson is an American
politician
from Oklahoma
. He is currently an Oklahoma State Senator representing the 33 Senate District, located in Tulsa County
. Adelson is a Democrat
who was first elected in 2004. Prior to his election, Adelson served Governor of Oklahoma
Brad Henry
's first Oklahoma Secretary of Health
from 2003 to 2004.
Adelson was the Democratic nominee for mayor of Tulsa
in the 2009 election
, but lost the general election to Republican
nominee Dewey F. Bartlett, Jr.
. He is an adjunct teacher at Booker T. Washington High School
in Tulsa
, where he teaches political philosophy. He has four children: Emily, Andrew, Sam and Jack. His father is Dr. Stephen Adelson, a Tulsa pediatrician. He graduated from Edison High School
, Stanford University
and SMU
's Dedman School of Law
.
by less than 1,000 votes. During the 2007 session, Adelson passed notable health care legislation. Adelson's 'All Kids Act' covers children whose families' income is between 185 and 300 percent more than the federal poverty rate. The expanded Medicaid coverage would help about 42,000 children in Oklahoma gain access to health care. The program signed into law by Governor Henry will be funded by revenue from the increase in the tobacco tax.
(D) decided not to seek re-election. Adelson was considered the frontrunner for the Democratic nomination, while 11 candidates sought the Republican nomination, including Dewey F. Bartlett Jr., whom Adelson had narrowly beat in the 2004 state senate election. On September 8, 2009, Adelson received 94% of the vote in the Democratic primary, setting him up to face Bartlett (who got 54% of the Republican primary vote) and two independents in the November general election. In the November 10 general election, Bartlett received about 45% of the vote to Adelson's 36% and 18% for independent Mark Perkins.
General Election November 2, 2004
Democratic Primary Election July 27, 2004
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
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...
. He is currently an Oklahoma State Senator representing the 33 Senate District, located in Tulsa County
Tulsa County, Oklahoma
Tulsa County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the population is 603,403. Its county seat is Tulsa.-History of Tulsa County:The history of Tulsa County greatly overlaps the history of the city of Tulsa...
. Adelson is a Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
who was first elected in 2004. Prior to his election, Adelson served Governor of Oklahoma
Governor of Oklahoma
The governor of the state of Oklahoma is the head of state for the state of Oklahoma, United States. Under the Oklahoma Constitution, the governor is also the head of government, serving as the chief executive of the Oklahoma executive branch, of the government of Oklahoma...
Brad Henry
Brad Henry
Charles Bradford "Brad" Henry was the 26th Governor of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. A member of the Democratic Party, he was elected governor in 2002...
's first Oklahoma Secretary of Health
Oklahoma State Cabinet
The Cabinet of the Governor of Oklahoma is a body of the most senior appointed officials of the executive branch of the government of Oklahoma. Originally an informal meeting between the Governor of Oklahoma and various government officials, the Governor's Cabinet has evolved into a major part of...
from 2003 to 2004.
Adelson was the Democratic nominee for mayor of Tulsa
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Tulsa is the second-largest city in the state of Oklahoma and 46th-largest city in the United States. With a population of 391,906 as of the 2010 census, it is the principal municipality of the Tulsa Metropolitan Area, a region with 937,478 residents in the MSA and 988,454 in the CSA. Tulsa's...
in the 2009 election
Tulsa, Oklahoma mayoral election, 2009
The 2009 Tulsa mayoral election took place on November 10, 2009, and resulted in the election of Dewey F. Bartlett, Jr., the Republican candidate, as Tulsa's 39th mayor....
, but lost the general election to Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
nominee Dewey F. Bartlett, Jr.
Dewey F. Bartlett, Jr.
Dewey F. Bartlett, Jr. is the mayor of Tulsa, Oklahoma. An oil industry executive and political figure in Tulsa, Bartlett was the Republican nominee for mayor of Tulsa in the 2009 election, and was elected as Tulsa's 39th Mayor on November 10, 2009.Bartlett's father, Dewey F...
Biography
Before running for the state senate, Adelson served as Oklahoma's Secretary of Health under Governor Brad HenryBrad Henry
Charles Bradford "Brad" Henry was the 26th Governor of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. A member of the Democratic Party, he was elected governor in 2002...
. He is an adjunct teacher at Booker T. Washington High School
Booker T. Washington High School (Tulsa)
Booker T. Washington High School is a high school in Tulsa, Oklahoma. It was named after the African-American education pioneer Booker T. Washington. Booker T. Washington High School is one of nine high schools in Tulsa Public Schools.-Overview:...
in Tulsa
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Tulsa is the second-largest city in the state of Oklahoma and 46th-largest city in the United States. With a population of 391,906 as of the 2010 census, it is the principal municipality of the Tulsa Metropolitan Area, a region with 937,478 residents in the MSA and 988,454 in the CSA. Tulsa's...
, where he teaches political philosophy. He has four children: Emily, Andrew, Sam and Jack. His father is Dr. Stephen Adelson, a Tulsa pediatrician. He graduated from Edison High School
Edison Preparatory School
Thomas Edison Preparatory School is a public school located in midtown Tulsa, Oklahoma serving students from the sixth grade to the twelfth grade.-Overview:...
, Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
and SMU
Southern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University is a private university in Dallas, Texas, United States. Founded in 1911 by the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, SMU operates campuses in Dallas, Plano, and Taos, New Mexico. SMU is owned by the South Central Jurisdiction of the United Methodist Church...
's Dedman School of Law
Dedman School of Law
The Southern Methodist University School of Law, commonly referred to as SMU Law School or Dedman School of Law is a prominent professional graduate law school located in Dallas, Texas. Founded in February 1925, the school remains the only law school in Dallas...
.
State senate
Adelson was first elected in 2004 to replace outgoing Senator Penny Williams. He defeated Republican Dewey F. Bartlett, Jr.Dewey F. Bartlett, Jr.
Dewey F. Bartlett, Jr. is the mayor of Tulsa, Oklahoma. An oil industry executive and political figure in Tulsa, Bartlett was the Republican nominee for mayor of Tulsa in the 2009 election, and was elected as Tulsa's 39th Mayor on November 10, 2009.Bartlett's father, Dewey F...
by less than 1,000 votes. During the 2007 session, Adelson passed notable health care legislation. Adelson's 'All Kids Act' covers children whose families' income is between 185 and 300 percent more than the federal poverty rate. The expanded Medicaid coverage would help about 42,000 children in Oklahoma gain access to health care. The program signed into law by Governor Henry will be funded by revenue from the increase in the tobacco tax.
Leadership roles
As of January 2009, Adelson serves as an Assistant Minority Floor Leader. He is a member of the Business and Labor Committee, the Finance Committee, and the Health and Human Services Committees.2009 Tulsa mayoral election
On July 1, 2009, Adelson announced his candidacy for mayor of Tulsa, after current Mayor Kathy TaylorKathy Taylor
Kathryn L. Taylor was elected the 38th Mayor of Tulsa, Oklahoma on April 4, 2006, in the city's largest voter turnout for a mayoral election. She defeated Republican incumbent Mayor Bill Lafortune to become Tulsa's second female mayor, after Susan Savage first filled the post in 1992...
(D) decided not to seek re-election. Adelson was considered the frontrunner for the Democratic nomination, while 11 candidates sought the Republican nomination, including Dewey F. Bartlett Jr., whom Adelson had narrowly beat in the 2004 state senate election. On September 8, 2009, Adelson received 94% of the vote in the Democratic primary, setting him up to face Bartlett (who got 54% of the Republican primary vote) and two independents in the November general election. In the November 10 general election, Bartlett received about 45% of the vote to Adelson's 36% and 18% for independent Mark Perkins.
2009 Tulsa mayoral election
Democratic Primary Election September 8, 2009| Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tom Adelson | 12,588 | 93.86% | |
| A. Burns | 274 | 2.04% | |
| Paul C. Tay Jr. | 192 | 1.43% | |
| Robert Arizona Gwin Jr. | 190 | 1.42% | |
| Prophet Kelly Lamar Clark Sr. | 168 | 1.25% | |
State senate elections
General Election November 4, 2008| Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tom Adelson | 18,311 | 63.14% | |
| Gary Casey | 10,688 | 36.86% | |
General Election November 2, 2004
| Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tom Adelson | 15,836 | 51.48% | |
| Dewey F. Bartlett, Jr. | 14,926 | 48.52% | |
Democratic Primary Election July 27, 2004
| Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tom Adelson | 3,234 | 52.28% | |
| Tim Gilpin | 2,952 | 47.72% | |
External links
- Senator Tom Adelson - District 33 official State Senate website
- Profile at 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 - Tom Adelson
- Tom Adelson, A healthy investment National Review, January 26, 2004