Paul Wesselhoft

Paul Wesselhoft
Oklahoma House of Representatives District 54
Incumbent
In office
2004 - Present
Term ends
November 18, 2014
Years in position	9
Party	Republican
Compensation
Base salary	$38,400/year
Per diem	$147/day
Elections and appointments
Last election	November 6, 2012
First elected	November 2, 2004
Next election	November 4, 2014
Term limits	12 years total in state legislative chambers
Education
Bachelor's	University of Central Oklahoma (1972)
Master's	Southern Nazarene University (1976)
Other	Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary (1979)
Military service
Service/branch	United States Army
Personal
Birthday	August 16, 1947
Place of birth	Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Religion	Southern Baptist
Websites
Office website

Paul Wesselhoft (b. August 16, 1947) is a Republican member of the Oklahoma House of Representatives. He has represented District 54 since 2004.

Wesselhoft earned his Bachelor of Arts in Drama at the University of Central Oklahoma in 1972; his Master of Arts in Religion from Southern Nazarene University in 1976; and a Master of Arts in Divinity from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in 1979. He is pastor of Community Chapel in Vicenza, Italy; coordinator of the Oklahoma State Department of Health; and has worked as administrative assistant and office manager for Oklahomans for Children and Families. Wesselhoft is a retired major, Airborne Ranger Chaplain, in the United States Army. He and his wife, Judy, have two children: Holly and Justin.

Committee assignments

2013-2014

At the beginning of the 2013 legislative session, Wesselhoft served on the following committees:

Oklahoma Committee Assignments, 2013
• Appropriations and Budget
• Energy and Aerospace
• General Government, Chair
• Veterans and Military Affairs

2011-2012

In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Wesselhoft served on the following committees:

Oklahoma Committee Assignments, 2011
• Energy & Utility Regulation
• Judiciary
• Veterans & Military Affairs, Chair

2009-2010

In the 2009-2010 legislative session, Wesselhoft served on the following committees:

Oklahoma Committee Assignments, 2009
• Energy & Utility Regulation

Issues

Presidential preference

2012

See also: Endorsements by state officials of presidential candidates in the 2012 election

Paul Wesselhoft endorsed Mitt Romney in the 2012 presidential election.

Legislation

Law enforcement drones

On January 17, 2013, Wesselhoft introduced HB 1556, his proposed Oklahoma Unmanned Aerial Surveillance Act. His bill would ban all surveillance by unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) except surveillance conducted with a search warrant, of public property, in a search and rescue operation, for the purpose of responding to natural disasters, or with informed consent of the party under surveillance. The bill would create several misdemeanor offenses for violations of its provisions as well as allow people injured by violations to sue the individuals or agencies involved. Wesselhoft's bill was referred to the Energy & Aerospace Committee on February 5.

"Caylee's Law"

Wesselhoft is one of several lawmakers around the nation who plan to introduce legislation known as "Caylee's Law." Named after the child whose death lead to the Casey Anthony murder trial, the laws would propose a range of provisions which mandate timely reporting of missing or deceased children. Wesselhoft plans to propose the law at the beginning of 2012 session.

Elections

2012

See also: Oklahoma House of Representatives elections, 2012

Wesselhoft ran in the 2012 election for Oklahoma House District 54. Wesselhoft ran unopposed in the Republican primary on June 26 and was unchallenged in the general election which took place on November 6, 2012.

2010

Wessselhoft won re-election to the Oklahoma House of Representatives. He ran unopposed in the Republican primary. He was also unopposed in the general election on November 2, 2010. Vote totals were not reported for unopposed candidates.

2008

On November 4, 2008, Wesselhoft won re-election to the Oklahoma House of Representatives. Because he ran unopposed, the number of votes was not published. $44,599 was raised for this campaign.

Campaign donors

2012

Campaign donor information is not yet available for this year.

2010

In 2010, a year in which Wesselhoft was up for re-election, he collected $11,905 in donations.

His largest contributors in 2010 were:

Oklahoma House of Representatives 2010 election - Campaign Contributions
Top contributors to Paul Wesselhoft's campaign in 2010
Choctaw Nation Of Oklahoma	$3,000
Chickasaw Nation	$1,000
Koch Industries	$1,000
Ostrander Consulting	$1,000
Oklahoma Association Of Optometric Physicians	$1,000
Total Raised in 2010	$11,905

2008

In 2008, Wesselhoft collected $44,599 in donations.

These were the largest contributors in 2008.

Donor	Amount
CHEROKEE NATION	$5,000
OKLAHOMA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS	$3,500
CHOCTAW NATION OF OKLAHOMA	$3,500
CHICKASAW NATION	$3,000
OKLAHOMA INDEPENDENT PETROLEUM ASSOCIATION	$2,000
OKLAHOMA SOCIETY OF ACCOUNTANTS	$1,250
OKLAHOMA ASSOCIATION OF OPTOMETRIC PHYSICIANS	$1,100

Recent news

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External links

Suggest a link

• House website
• Project Vote Smart biographical profile
• Project Vote Smart legislative profile
• Campaign Contributions: 2008, 2006, 2004
• Representative Wesselhoft's LinkedIn

References

Political offices
Preceded by '	Oklahoma House of Representatives - District 54 2004–present	Succeeded by NA

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