Todd Thomsen
Representative Todd Thomsen | |
|---|---|
| Oklahoma State Representative | |
| In office 2007–Present | |
| Preceded by | Bob Plunk |
| Constituency | 25th House District |
| Personal details | |
| Born | June 24, 1967 Oklahoma |
| Nationality | American |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Melanie Thomsen |
| Children | Menee, Aneli, Tyde, Towan and Tal (deceased) |
| Residence | Ada, Oklahoma |
| Alma mater | University of Oklahoma |
 |
|---|
Todd M. Thomsen is a Republican politician in the Oklahoma House of Representatives, representing its 25th district (Hughes, McClain, Pontotoc, Pottawatomie).
Early life and career
Thomsen was a punter and kicker for the Oklahoma Sooners, University of Oklahoma's football team, from 1985 to 1988 and was part of OU's 1985 national championship team.[1] He graduated with Bachelor's degree in 1989.[2] He currently serves as Coordinator for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.[2]
Political career
Thomsen was elected in 2006 after he asked for a recount when behind Democrat Darrell Nemecek by two votes.[1][3][4] In 2008, Thomsen ran for relection "in order to continue working to improve education, keep taxes low, and represent conservative values in the Legislature".[5] He was relected in November 2008 and currently serves in the House as a member of the House Education Committee, and the chair of the House Higher Education and Career Tech Committee.[6]
He has proposed and supported antievolution resolutions in Oklahoma.[7] In 2009 he gained international attention when he introduced House Resolution 1014 and 1015 on March 9, 2009 opposing University of Oklahoma's invitation of evolutionary biologist, Richard Dawkins.[8][9][10] Subsequently, Dawkins spoke before a crowd in McCasland Field House at the university about the proposal and said "I am aware that Todd Thomsen is not representative of the state of Oklahoma".[11] With the adjournment of the Oklahoma House of Representatives in May 2009, the Resolutions are presumably dead.[12]
In March 2009, Thomsen was appointed to the Oklahoma Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research Advisory Committee whose purpose "is to enhance scientific and engineering research and development conducted at universities in the state and by doing so enhance the success of Oklahoma researchers in federal award competitions through a partnership of higher education institutions, independent research entities, industry and state government."[13]
Election History
- Results from the Oklahoma State Election Board.[14]
| Candidates | Party | Votes | % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Todd Thomsen | Republican Party | 4,798 | 50% | ||
| Darrell Nemecek | Democratic Party | 4,796 | 50% | ||
| Source: [1] | |||||
| Candidates | Party | Votes | % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Todd Thomsen | Republican Party | 7,187 | 53% | ||
| Gary Sterns | Democratic Party | 6,473 | 47% | ||
| Source: [2] | |||||
District
Oklahoma House District 25 encompasses much of Pontotoc County and portions of McClain County and Pottawatomie County. The biggest city in the district is Ada, Oklahoma.
References
- ^ a b "State House candidate to seek recount of two-vote loss". USA Today. 11/9/2006. Retrieved 2009-03-17.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ a b "Representative Todd Thomsen (OK)". Vote Smart. 2009. Retrieved 2009-03-17.
- ^ "State Single votes add up to win elections". Edmond Sun. Nov 11, 2006. Retrieved 2009-03-17.
- ^ "Recount winner sworn in". Daily Oklahoman. Nov 23, 2006. Retrieved 2009-03-17.
- ^ "Thomsen to run again". Ada Evening News. Jun 5, 2008. Retrieved 2009-03-17.
- ^ "Oklahoma House of Representatives Listing". Oklahoma House of Representatives. 2009. Retrieved 2009-03-17.
- ^ "Antievolution resolutions introduced in Oklahoma". National Center for Science Education. March 07, 2009. Retrieved 2009-03-17.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|year=(help) - ^ "Dawkins lecture draws thousands at OU". Norman Transcript. March 07, 2009. Retrieved 2009-03-17.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Darwin backer's talk draws foes". The Oklahoman. March 07, 2009. Retrieved 2009-03-17.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "State lawmaker files evolution resolutions". Tulsa World. March 07, 2009. Retrieved 2009-03-17.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Richard Dawkins at the University of Oklahoma - Introduction". Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science. March 07, 2009. Retrieved 2009-03-17.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Antievolution resolutions dead in Oklahoma". National Center for Science Education. May 22, 2009. Retrieved 2009-03-17.
- ^ "Thomsen appointed to EPSCoR advisory committee". Ada Evening News. March 09, 2009. Retrieved 2009-03-17.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ 2006 Election Statistics and 2008 Election Statistics from the Oklahoma State Election Board
14. Oklahoma House of Representatives Historic Membership