Todd Thomsen
Encyclopedia
Todd M. Thomsen is a Republican
politician in the Oklahoma House of Representatives
, representing its 25th district (Hughes, McClain, Pontotoc, Pottawatomie).
, University of Oklahoma
's football team, from 1985 to 1988 and was part of OU's 1985 national championship team. He graduated with Bachelor's degree in 1989. He currently serves as Coordinator for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes
.
He has proposed and supported antievolution
resolutions in Oklahoma. 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
. 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". With the adjournment of the Oklahoma House of Representatives in May 2009, the Resolutions are presumably dead.
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."
In May 2009, the Tulsa World reported Thomsen was among "Fifteen members of the Oklahoma House and six members of the Senate reported getting contributions from lobbyists or companies that employ them since the start of the 2009 Legislature despite a state law passed last year that prohibits the practice, according to documents filed with the Oklahoma Ethics Commission."
.
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...
politician in the Oklahoma House of Representatives
Oklahoma House of Representatives
The Oklahoma House of Representatives is the lower house of the Oklahoma Legislature, the legislative body of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. Its members are responsible for introducing and voting on bills and resolutions, providing legislative oversight for state agencies, and helping to craft the...
, representing its 25th district (Hughes, McClain, Pontotoc, Pottawatomie).
Early life and career
Thomsen was a punter and kicker for the Oklahoma SoonersOklahoma Sooners
The University of Oklahoma features 19 varsity sports teams. Both men's and women's teams are called the Sooners, a nickname given to the early participants in the land rushes which initially opened the Oklahoma Indian Territory to non-native settlement. They participate in the NCAA's Division I-A,...
, University of Oklahoma
University of Oklahoma
The University of Oklahoma is a coeducational public research university located in Norman, Oklahoma. Founded in 1890, it existed in Oklahoma Territory near Indian Territory for 17 years before the two became the state of Oklahoma. the university had 29,931 students enrolled, most located at its...
's football team, from 1985 to 1988 and was part of OU's 1985 national championship team. He graduated with Bachelor's degree in 1989. He currently serves as Coordinator for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes
Fellowship of Christian Athletes
The Fellowship of Christian Athletes is a non-profit interdenominational Christian organization founded in 1954 and that has been based in Kansas City, Missouri since 1956. It falls within the tradition of Muscular Christianity. Although established by evangelical Protestants, the concept has...
.
Political career
Thomsen was elected in 2006 after he asked for a recount when behind Democrat Darrell Nemecek by two votes. In 2008, Thomsen ran for reelection "in order to continue working to improve education, keep taxes low, and represent conservative values in the Legislature". He was reelected 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.He has proposed and supported antievolution
Evolution
Evolution is any change across successive generations in the heritable characteristics of biological populations. Evolutionary processes give rise to diversity at every level of biological organisation, including species, individual organisms and molecules such as DNA and proteins.Life on Earth...
resolutions in Oklahoma. In 2009 he gained international attention when he introduced House Resolution 1014 and 1015 on March 9, 2009 opposing University of Oklahoma's
University of Oklahoma
The University of Oklahoma is a coeducational public research university located in Norman, Oklahoma. Founded in 1890, it existed in Oklahoma Territory near Indian Territory for 17 years before the two became the state of Oklahoma. the university had 29,931 students enrolled, most located at its...
invitation of evolutionary biologist, Richard Dawkins
Richard Dawkins
Clinton Richard Dawkins, FRS, FRSL , known as Richard Dawkins, is a British ethologist, evolutionary biologist and author...
. Subsequently, Dawkins spoke before a crowd in McCasland Field House
McCasland Field House
The McCasland Field House is a multi-purpose indoor arena on the University of Oklahoma main campus in Norman, Oklahoma. Home of the basketball Sooners until 1975, the Field House currently hosts the men's wrestling, women's volleyball, and men's and women's gymnastics teams. The Field House is...
at the university about the proposal and said "I am aware that representative Todd Thomsen is not representative of the state of Oklahoma". With the adjournment of the Oklahoma House of Representatives in May 2009, the Resolutions are presumably dead.
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."
In May 2009, the Tulsa World reported Thomsen was among "Fifteen members of the Oklahoma House and six members of the Senate reported getting contributions from lobbyists or companies that employ them since the start of the 2009 Legislature despite a state law passed last year that prohibits the practice, according to documents filed with the Oklahoma Ethics Commission."
Election history
- Results from the Oklahoma State Election Board.
| Candidates | Party | Votes | % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Todd Thomsen | Republican Party | 4,798 | 50% | ||
| Darrell Nemecek | Democratic Party | 4,796 | 50% | ||
| Source: http://www.ok.gov/~elections/06gen.html | |||||
| Candidates | Party | Votes | % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Todd Thomsen | Republican Party | 7,187 | 53% | ||
| Gary Starns | Democratic Party | 6,473 | 47% | ||
| Source: 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, OklahomaAda, Oklahoma
Ada is a city in and the county seat of Pontotoc County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 16,008 at the 2000 census. As of 2009, the city population was estimated at 17,019....
.