Gary Banz (born December 7, 1945) is a retired American educator and former Republican politician from the U.S. state of

Oklahoma Oklahoma (; Choctaw language, Choctaw: ; chr, ᎣᎧᎳᎰᎹ, ''Okalahoma'' ) is a U.S. state, state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States, bordered by Texas on the south and west, Kansas on the nor ...

. He served as a majority whip of the

Oklahoma House of Representatives The Oklahoma House of Representatives is the lower house of the legislature of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. Its members introduce and vote on bills and resolutions, provide legislative oversight for state agencies, and help to craft the state's b ...

and as Oklahoma state leader besides national secretary of the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC). Banz was the author of a bill to reduce the number of state lawmakers.

Early life

Banz was born December 7, 1945, in

Sylvia, Kansas Sylvia is a city in Reno County, Kansas Kansas () is a state in the Midwestern United States. Its capital is Topeka, and its largest city is Wichita. Kansas is a landlocked state bordered by Nebraska to the north; Missouri to the east; ...

. He joined the United States Army in June 1968 and served until January 1970. He was awarded the Army Commendation Medal on March 19, 1970. He also served in the United States Army Reserve from December 1982 until September 1990. He was awarded the Army Achievement Medal on May 7, 1985. Banz married Linda and had three children who graduated from Midwest City High School. Banz taught in various Oklahoma school districts before retiring and eventually running for office.

Political career

Banz was first elected to House District 101 with no Democratic opposition in 2004. However, he did face two primary opponents, Jeremy Sellers and Todd Dealy. He faced no opposition in 2006. In 2008, he defeated Democratic challenger Donnie Lewis. In 2012, he defeated Democratic challenger Stephen Covert. Banz proposed House Joint Resolution 1021, which seeks to reduce the size of the

Oklahoma Legislature The Legislature of the State of Oklahoma is the state legislative branch of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. The Oklahoma House of Representatives and Oklahoma Senate are the two houses that make up the bicameral state legislature. There are 101 sta ...

by cutting the number of lawmakers.Hoberock, Barbara
Coming Monday: Lawmaker seeks to reduce size of state House, SenateTulsa World
Published November 25, 2011. The legislation was not enacted during the 2012 legislative session, but would have put a state question on the November 2012 ballot. If approved by voters, it would have been implemented in 2021.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Banz, Gary Republican Party members of the Oklahoma House of Representatives 1945 births Living people American educators People from Reno County, Kansas People from Midwest City, Oklahoma University of Central Oklahoma alumni 21st-century American politicians