Todd Thomsen Explained

Todd Thomsen
State House:Oklahoma
District:25th
Term Start:2007
Term End:2018
Predecessor:Bob Plunk
Successor:Ronny Johns
Birth Date:24 June 1967
Birth Place:Oklahoma
Nationality:American
Spouse:Melanie Thomsen
Party:Republican
Children:Menee
Aneli
Tyde
Tovant
Tal (deceased)
Residence:Ada, Oklahoma
Alma Mater:University of Oklahoma

Todd M. Thomsen (born June 24, 1967) is a former Republican politician from the U.S. state of Oklahoma. Thomsen served in the Oklahoma House of Representatives as the Majority Whip and represented District 25 from 2006 to 2018.

Early life and career

Thomsen was a punter and kicker for the Oklahoma Sooners football team from 1985 to 1988 and was part of OU's 1985 national championship team. He graduated with bachelor's degree in 1989."[1] He currently serves as Coordinator for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.[1]

Political career

Thomsen was elected in 2006 after he won against Democrat Darrell Nemecek by two votes.[2] [3] [4] In 2008, Thomsen ran for reelection "in order to continue working to improve education, keep taxes low, and represent conservative values in the Legislature".[5] He was reelected in November 2008 and served 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 representative 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]

November 7, 2006, Election results for Oklahoma State Representative for District 25
CandidatesPartyVotes%
Todd ThomsenRepublican Party4,79850%
Darrell NemecekDemocratic Party4,79650%
Source: https://web.archive.org/web/20070617143033/http://www.ok.gov/~elections/06gen.html
November 4, 2008, Election results for Oklahoma State Representative for District 25
CandidatesPartyVotes%
Todd ThomsenRepublican Party7,18753%
Gary StarnsDemocratic Party6,47347%
Source: https://web.archive.org/web/20081107232420/http://www.ok.gov/~elections/08gen.html

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.

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Representative Todd Thomsen (OK). . 2009 . 2009-03-17.
  2. News: State House candidate to seek recount of two-vote loss . . 9 November 2006 . 17 March 2009.
  3. News: State Single votes add up to win elections . Edmond Sun . Nov 11, 2006 . 2009-03-17 . dead . https://archive.today/20120731112218/http://www.edmondsun.com/opinion/local_story_315180205.html . July 31, 2012 .
  4. News: Recount winner sworn in . . Nov 23, 2006 . Jennifer. Mock. 2009-03-17.
  5. News: Thomsen to run again . . Jun 5, 2008 . 2009-03-17 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20081102000828/http://www.adaeveningnews.com/local/local_story_157120247.html . November 2, 2008 .
  6. News: Oklahoma House of Representatives Listing. . 2009 . 2009-03-17.
  7. News: Antievolution resolutions introduced in Oklahoma . . March 7, 2009 . 2009-03-17.
  8. News: Dawkins lecture draws thousands at OU . Norman Transcript . March 7, 2009 . 2009-03-17.
  9. News: Darwin backer's talk draws foes . . March 7, 2009 . 2009-03-17.
  10. News: State lawmaker files evolution resolutions . https://archive.today/20120914065123/http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=12&articleid=20090306_298_0_OLHMIY776958 . dead . September 14, 2012 . . March 7, 2009 . 2009-03-17 .
  11. News: Richard Dawkins at the University of Oklahoma - Introduction . . March 7, 2009 . 2009-03-17.
  12. News: Antievolution resolutions dead in Oklahoma . . May 22, 2009 . 2009-03-17.
  13. News: Thomsen appointed to EPSCoR advisory committee . . March 9, 2009 . 2009-03-17 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090312083833/http://www.adaeveningnews.com/local/local_story_068124516.html . March 12, 2009 .
  14. http://www.ok.gov/~elections/06sh.pdf 2006 Election Statistics