Ralph Okerlund is an American politician and a

Republican Republican can refer to: Political ideology * An advocate of a republic, a type of government that is not a monarchy or dictatorship, and is usually associated with the rule of law. ** Republicanism, the ideology in support of republics or agains ...

and a former member of the

Utah State Senate The Utah State Senate is the upper house of the Utah State Legislature, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Utah. The Utah Senate is composed of 29 elected members representing an equal number of senate districts. Each senate district is ...

that represented District 24 from 2009 to 2020. He was the Senate's

majority leader In U.S. politics (as well as in some other countries utilizing the presidential system), the majority floor leader is a partisan position in a legislative body.

from January 28, 2013 to 2020.

Personal life, education, and career

Okerlund earned his AA from Dixie State College (now

Utah Tech University Utah Tech University (UT), formerly known as Dixie State University (DSU) and similar names, is a public university in St. George, Utah. The university offers about 240 programs (4 master's degrees, 53 bachelor's degrees, 18 associate degrees, 4 ...

) and his BS in

political science Political science is the scientific study of politics. It is a social science dealing with systems of governance and power, and the analysis of political activities, political thought, political behavior, and associated constitutions and la ...

from the

University of Utah The University of Utah (U of U, UofU, or simply The U) is a public research university in Salt Lake City, Utah. It is the flagship institution of the Utah System of Higher Education. The university was established in 1850 as the University of De ...

. He has worked in agriculture. Okerlund is married to his wife, Cindy and they have three children.

Background

*Monroe City Council *Monroe City Mayor *Sevier County Commissioner *Commissioner of the Year *President of the Utah State Association of Commissioners and Councilmen *President of the Utah Association of Counties

Political career

Before he was a senator, Okerland was on the Monroe City Council, served as Monroe City Mayor and the Sevier County Commissioner, was president of Utah State Association of Commissioners and Councilmen, and was president of Utah Association of Counties. Senator Okerlund was elected to the Senate in 2008. In 2016, Senator Okerlund served on the following committees: *Executive Appropriations Committee *Executive Offices and Criminal Justice Appropriations Subcommittee *Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environmental Quality Appropriations Subcommittee *Senate Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee *Senate Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee During the 2014 General Session, Senator Okerlund was conducting a meeting with House and Senate GOP leaders when he stepped out into the hallway and apparently passed out. He said he had felt light-headed. He was not able to return for the last two days of the session.

Elections

Legislation

2016 sponsored bills

Senator Okerlund was the Floor Sponsor for the following bills:
H.B. 31
Enterprise Zone Amendments

Office of Outdoor Recreation Amendments

Postretirement Employment Restrictions

Election Law Changes

County Personnel Requirements

Little Sahara State Park Designation

Small School Funding

Resource Management Planning

Unclaimed Capital Credits Amendments

Public Utility Easement Amendments

Commission for the Stewardship of Public Lands and Private Donations for Public Lands Litigation

Interlocal Cooperation Act Amendments

Jail Contracting Rate Amendments

Concurrent Resolution Recognizing the 40th Anniversary of the Utah Indoor Clean Air Act

Joint Rules Resolution on Redistricting Standards

Notable legislation

In 2014, Senator Okerlund sponsored S.B. 88 Substitute Child Interview Amendments, which clarifies the right of child victims to keep confidential their interviews that are conducted at a Children's Justice Center, including video and audio recordings, and transcripts of those recordings. This bill helps protect children who have suffered from abuse. It was passed and signed by the Governor.

References

External links

Official page
at the

*
Ralph Okerlund
at Ballotpedia
Ralph Okerlund
at the National Institute on Money in State Politics {{DEFAULTSORT:Okerlund, Ralph 21st-century American politicians Utah Tech University alumni Living people People from Monroe, Utah Place of birth missing (living people) University of Utah alumni Republican Party Utah state senators Year of birth missing (living people)