Tom Cole

This article is about the Oklahoma politician. For the screenwriter and playwright, see Tom Cole (writer). For the sculler, see Tom Cole (rower).

Tom Cole
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Oklahoma's 4th district
Incumbent
Assumed office January 3, 2003
Preceded by	J. C. Watts
Oklahoma Secretary of State
In office 1995 – 1999
Governor	Frank Keating
Preceded by	Glo Henley
Succeeded by	Mike Hunter
Oklahoma State Senator
In office 1989 – 1991
Personal details
Born	April 28, 1949 (1949-04-28) Shreveport, Louisiana, USA
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Ellen Cole
Children	Mason Cole
Residence	Moore, Oklahoma
Alma mater	Grinnell College (B.A.) Yale University (M.A.) University of Oklahoma (Ph.D.)
Occupation	College Professor Political Consultant
Religion	Methodist

Thomas Jeffery Cole (born April 28, 1949) is the U.S. Representative for Oklahoma's 4th congressional district, serving since 2003. He is a member of the Republican Party. He is a Deputy Minority Whip. The chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) from 2006 to 2008, he was, during his tenure, the fourth-ranking Republican leader in the House. As of 2010, Cole—a member of the Chickasaw Nation—is the only registered Native American in Congress.

Early life, education, and educating career

Although born in Shreveport, Louisiana, Cole is a fifth-generation Oklahoman, having been raised in Moore, Oklahoma. He graduated from Grinnell College in 1971 with a B.A. in history. His postgraduate degrees include an M.A. from Yale University (1974) and a Ph.D. from the University of Oklahoma (1984), both in British history. Cole did research abroad as a Thomas J. Watson Fellow and was a Fulbright Fellow (1977–78) at the University of London. He was a college professor in history and politics before becoming a politician.

Early political career

Following his mother Helen, who served as a state representative and senator, Cole served in the Oklahoma Senate from 1988 to 1991, resigning mid-term to accept a job in Washington. From 1995 to 1999, he was Oklahoma's Secretary of State under Governor Frank Keating, and assisted with the recovery efforts following the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing. He has also served as Chairman of the Oklahoma Republican Party.

Cole has been heavily involved in national politics as well, having served both as Executive Director of the NRCC and as Chief of Staff of the Republican National Committee (RNC).

Cole spent two years working as a paid consultant for the United States Chamber of Commerce, but his primary involvement in politics was as a political consultant for candidates. Along with partners Sharon Hargrave Caldwell and Deby Snodgrass, his firm (Cole, Hargrave, Snodgrass and Associates) played a large part in the reconstruction of Oklahoma's political landscape, and backed a number of candidates that took office during the Republican Revolution of 1994. Among their clients have been Keating, J.C. Watts, Tom Coburn, Frank Lucas, Mary Fallin, Wes Watkins, Steve Largent, former Mississippi congressman Chip Pickering, and Hawaii governor Linda Lingle.

U.S. House of Representatives

Elections

During his initial campaign for the House of Representatives in 2002, Cole received the endorsement of Watts, the popular outgoing congressman. This helped him win a hard-fought general election over Democratic nominee and former Oklahoma State Senator Darryl Roberts. Cole subsequently won easy re-election campaigns in 2004, 2006, 2008, and 2010.

Tenure

Following the 2006 election cycle, the members of the House Republican Conference elected Cole to the post of NRCC Chairman, placing him in charge of national efforts to assist Republican candidates for Congress.

His voting record during four years in the House marks Cole as a solid conservative with occasional libertarian sympathies. He has consistently voted pro-life and pro-business positions, and established himself as a supporter of free trade, gun rights, the military, veterans, and American Indian issues. He favors loosening immigration restrictions and imposing stricter limits on campaign funds. He has consistently voted against positions supported by lobbies for senior citizens, labor unions, and teachers' unions. However, he was critical in brokering protections for DOD civilian workers.[1]

Committee membership

As of the 112th United States Congress, Tom Cole is a member of the following U.S. House committees:

• Committee on Appropriations
  • Subcommittee on Defense
  • Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies
  • Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs (Vice Chair)
• Committee on the Budget

Electoral history

Oklahoma's 4th congressional district: Results 2002–2010

Year		Democrat	Votes	Pct		Republican	Votes	Pct		3rd Party	Party	Votes	Pct
2002		Darryl Roberts	91,322	46%		Tom Cole	106,452	54%
2004		(no candidate)				Tom Cole	198,985	78%		Charlene K. Bradshaw	Independent	56,869	22%
2006		Hal Spake	64,775	35%		Tom Cole	118,266	65%
2008		Blake Cummings	79,674	29%		Tom Cole	180,080	66%		David E. Joyce	Independent	13,027	5%
2010*		(no candidate)				Tom Cole	32,589	77%		RJ Harris	Republican	9,593	23%

• In 2010, no Democrat or independent candidate filed to run in OK-4. The results printed here are from the Republican primary, where the election was decided.

Personal life

Cole and his wife, Ellen, have one son, Mason. He is a member of the United Methodist Church and lives in Moore.

Cole has said, "I was raised to think of myself as Native American and, most importantly, as Chickasaw."

Cole has said that a great aunt of his was the Native American storyteller Te Ata.

Cole has said, "... [My] mother Helen Cole was... extraordinarily proud of our Native American history and was, frankly, the first Native American woman ever elected to state senate in Oklahoma."

External links

• Representative Tom Cole official U.S. House site
• Biography at WhoRunsGov.com at The Washington Post
• Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Voting record maintained by The Washington Post
• Biography, voting record, and interest group ratings at Project Vote Smart
• Congressional profile at GovTrack
• Congressional profile at OpenCongress
• Issue positions and quotes at On The Issues
• Financial information at OpenSecrets.org
• Staff salaries, trips and personal finance at LegiStorm.com
• Campaign finance reports and data at the Federal Election Commission
• Appearances on C-SPAN programs
• Profile at SourceWatch
• Lawton Politics
• Interview at LawtonTownCrier.com

United States House of Representatives
Preceded by J. C. Watts	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Oklahoma's 4th congressional district 2003–present	Incumbent
United States order of precedence
Preceded by John Carter R-Texas	United States Representatives by seniority 203rd	Succeeded by Mario Diaz-Balart R-Florida
Party political offices
Preceded by Thomas M. Reynolds New York	Chairman of National Republican Congressional Committee 2007–2009	Succeeded by Pete Sessions Texas