Kris Steele

Kris Steele
Oklahoma Speaker of the House
In office 2011–2012
Preceded by	Chris Benge
Succeeded by	T.W. Shannon
Oklahoma Speaker Pro Tempore
In office 2009–2011
Preceded by	Gus Blackwell
Succeeded by	Jeff W. Hickman
Oklahoma State Representative
In office 2001–2013
Preceded by	Bob Weaver
Succeeded by	Justin Wood
Constituency	26th House District
Personal details
Born	11 July 1973 Ardmore, Oklahoma
Nationality	American
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Kellie Kursar
Residence	Shawnee, Oklahoma
Alma mater	Oklahoma Baptist University
Occupation	Politician
Religion	Baptist

Kris Steele (born July 11, 1973) is a United States politician from the U.S. state of Oklahoma who served as state representative. Steele served in the Oklahoma House of Representatives as the Speaker of the House, a position he took over after the 2010 elections. He presided over the 53rd Oklahoma Legislature.

Steele, served as Speaker Pro Tempore, under Chris Benge. He was chosen as Speaker-designate in 2009.^[1] Elected to the Oklahoma House of Representatives on November 7, 2000,^[2] he was term-limited out of office in 2012.

Early life and career

Born in Ardmore, Oklahoma on July 11, 1973, Steele graduated from Broken Bow High School in 1992 and earned a B.A. in Religion from Oklahoma Baptist University in 1996. Since graduating from OBU, Steele has served as a Baptist minister and public school teacher.^[3] Steele is married to Kellie Kursar and lives in Shawnee, Oklahoma.

Political career

Steele was elected to the Oklahoma House of Representatives on November 7, 2000,^[4] He filed five bills in the 2001 session; two became law.^[5]

Steele became House Speaker Pro Tempore when Chris Benge took over as Speaker of the House following Lance Cargill's resignation in January 2008.^[6][7]

The Shawnee lawmaker had several pieces of legislation signed into law from the 2009 session, including the "Health Care for Oklahomans Act" and "The Silver Alert Act".^[8]

Steele introduced a 2012 proposal to reject a pay raise for statewide officials and judges.^[9][10]

Steele presided over the 53rd Oklahoma Legislature and under his tenure oversaw the enactment of tort reform, the elimination of social promotion in public school after the third grade, the elimination of the ability of teachers to appeal termination to district courts as trial de novo, corrections reform that expanded the eligibility of low-risk, nonviolent inmates for community sentencing and electronic monitoring programs, pension reform, agency consolidation, the Justice Reinvestment Initiative, and openly carry.^[11]

District

House District 26 encompasses a small northern portion of Pottawatomie County that includes the city of Shawnee.^[12]

Election history

November 7, 2006, Election results for Oklahoma State Representative for District 26

Candidates		Party	Votes	%
	Kris Steele	Republican Party	5,315	63.47%
	Joe Freeman	Democratic Party	3,059	36.53%
Source:[13]

November 2, 2004, Election results for Oklahoma State Representative for District 26

Candidates		Party	Votes	%
	Kris Steele	Republican Party	8,608	68.71%
	Pat Bateman	Democratic Party	3,920	31.29%
Source:[14]

November 7, 2000, Election results for Oklahoma State Representative for District 26

Candidates		Party	Votes	%
	Kris Steele	Republican Party	6,162	54.60%
	Terry LaValley	Democratic Party	5,123	45.40%
Source:[15]

Sources

1. Harrison, Caitlin. "Representative appointed as new Oklahoma House Speaker," OU Daily, October 20, 2009 (accessed February 3, 2010).
2. 2000 Election Results, Oklahoma State Election Board (accessed February 3, 2010).
3. Kris Steele Complete Bio, Project Vote Smart (accessed February 3, 2010).
4. 2000 Election Results, Oklahoma State Election Board (accessed February 3, 2010).
5. Bill Tracking Oklahoma House of Representatives (accessed February 3, 2010)
6. Hinton, Mick. "House Republicans choose Benge to become speaker designate", Tulsa World, February 4, 2008.
7. Hinton, Mick "House Speaker Lance Cargill steps down after not paying taxes", Tulsa World, January 28, 2008.
8. Bill Tracking, Oklahoma House of Representatives (accessed February 3, 2010)
9. McNutt, Michael. Pay-raise rejection proposal gains approval from Oklahoma House, Tulsa World. Published February 16, 2012.
10. Associated Press. House panel OKs bill to quash Oklahoma pay hikes, Tulsa World. February 15, 2012.
11. House Journals, 2011 and 2012, Oklahoma House of Representatives (accessed June 13, 2013)
12. House Districts, Congressional and Other Maps, Oklahoma House of Representatives. 10-14-09
13. 2006 Election Results, Oklahoma State Election Board. 10-14-09
14. 2004 Election Results, Oklahoma State Election Board. 10-14-09
15. 2000 Election Results, Oklahoma State Election Board. 10-14-09