Tom Adelson
Member of the Oklahoma Senate
from the 33rd district
In office
November 2004 – November 2012
Preceded byPenny Williams
Succeeded byNathan Dahm
Oklahoma Secretary of Health
In office
2003–2004
GovernorBrad Henry
Preceded byHoward Hendrick
As Secretary of Health and Human Services
Succeeded byTerry Cline
Personal details
Born1965
Tulsa, Oklahoma, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Height5 ft 10 in (178 cm)
SpouseBernadette Adelson
Residence(s)Tulsa, Oklahoma
Alma materStanford University,
Dedman School of Law
ProfessionAttorney,
educator,
public administration

Tom Adelson is an American politician from Oklahoma. He was an Oklahoma State Senator representing the 33rd Senate District, located in Tulsa County, from 2004 to 2012. Adelson is a Democrat who was first elected in 2004. Prior to his election, Adelson served Governor of Oklahoma Brad Henry's first Oklahoma Secretary of Health from 2003 to 2004.

Adelson was the Democratic nominee for mayor of Tulsa in the 2009 election, but lost the general election to Republican nominee Dewey F. Bartlett Jr.

Adelson currently serves as the Vice President for Innovation at The University of Tulsa.[1]

Biography

Before running for the state senate, Adelson served as Oklahoma's Secretary of Health under Governor Brad Henry. He is an adjunct teacher at Booker T. Washington High School in Tulsa, where he teaches political philosophy. He has four children: Emily, Andrew, Sam and Jack. His father is Dr. Stephen Adelson, a Tulsa pediatrician. He graduated from Edison High School, Stanford University and SMU's Dedman School of Law.

State senate

Adelson was first elected in 2004 to replace outgoing Senator Penny Williams. He defeated Republican Dewey F. Bartlett, Jr. by less than 1,000 votes. During the 2007 session, Adelson passed notable health care legislation. Adelson's 'All Kids Act' covers children whose families' income is between 185 and 300 percent more than the federal poverty rate.[2] The expanded Medicaid coverage would help about 42,000 children in Oklahoma gain access to health care. The program signed into law by Governor Henry will be funded by revenue from the increase in the tobacco tax.[3] During his tenure he was the only Jewish member of the Oklahoma Senate.[4]

Leadership roles

In January 2009, Adelson was an Assistant Minority Floor Leader. He is a member of the Business and Labor Committee, the Finance Committee, and the Health and Human Services Committees.

On April 12, 2012, Adelson announced that he will not run for re-election when his current term expires.[5]

2009 Tulsa mayoral election

On July 1, 2009, Adelson announced his candidacy for mayor of Tulsa, after current Mayor Kathy Taylor (D) decided not to seek re-election.[6] Adelson was considered the frontrunner for the Democratic nomination, while 11 candidates sought the Republican nomination, including Dewey F. Bartlett Jr., whom Adelson had narrowly beat in the 2004 state senate election.[7] On September 8, 2009, Adelson received 94% of the vote in the Democratic primary, setting him up to face Bartlett (who got 54% of the Republican primary vote) and two independents in the November general election.[8] In the November 10 general election, Bartlett received about 45% of the vote to Adelson's 36% and 18% for independent Mark Perkins.[9]

Election results

2009 Tulsa mayoral election

2009 Tulsa Mayoral General Election November 10, 2009[10]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Tom Adelson 24,211 36.34
Republican Dewey F. Bartlett, Jr. 29,948 44.95
Independent Mark Perkins 11,913 17.88
Independent Lawrence Kirkpatrick 560 0.84
Total votes 66,843 100
Turnout   29.84

Democratic Primary Election September 8, 2009 [11]

Candidate Votes %
  Tom Adelson 12,588 93.86%
  A. Burns 274 2.04%
  Paul C. Tay Jr. 192 1.43%
  Robert Arizona Gwin Jr. 190 1.42%
  Prophet Kelly Lamar Clark Sr. 168 1.25%

State senate elections

General Election November 4, 2008[12]

Candidate Votes %
  Tom Adelson 18,311 63.14%
  Gary Casey 10,688 36.86%

General Election November 2, 2004[13]

Candidate Votes %
  Tom Adelson 15,836 51.48%
  Dewey F. Bartlett, Jr. 14,926 48.52%

Democratic Primary Election July 27, 2004

Candidate Votes %
  Tom Adelson 3,234 52.28%
  Tim Gilpin 2,952 47.72%

References

  1. ↑ "Executive staff, The University of Tulsa", Retrieved 2022-11-10.
  2. ↑ Jennifer Mock (June 4, 2007). "Governor signs health insurance bills". Oklahoman. Retrieved 2007-06-14.
  3. ↑ Barbara Hoberock (June 5, 2007). "Henry signs 2 health laws". Tulsa World. Archived from the original on 2011-08-07. Retrieved 2007-06-14.
  4. ↑ "Do religious beliefs influence lawmakers' decisions?". The Journal Record. May 27, 2008. Retrieved 1 October 2023.
  5. ↑ "Tulsa senator says he won't seek re-election", Associated Press in The Oklahoman, April 12, 2012.
  6. ↑ P.J. Lassek, "Democratic senator announces Tulsa mayoral candidacy", Tulsa World, July 1, 2009.
  7. ↑ P.J. Lassek & Brian Barber, "GOP battle may mark race: Eleven candidates will face each other in the Republican mayoral primary", Tulsa World, July 19, 2009.
  8. ↑ Brian Barber, "Bartlett, Adelson advance: Two candidates will join ballot with independents", Tulsa World, September 9, 2009.
  9. ↑ Bartlett to be Tulsa's next mayor, Tulsa World, November 10, 2009.
  10. ↑ "Election Results November 10, 2009 (Summary)" (PDF). Tulsa County Election Board. 2009-11-10. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 11, 2009. Retrieved 2009-11-11.
  11. ↑ "2009 Primary Results" (PDF). Tulsa County Election Board. Retrieved 2009-09-09.
  12. ↑ "2008 General Results". State Election Board. Archived from the original on November 7, 2008. Retrieved 2008-11-09.
  13. ↑ "2004 General Results". State Election Board. Archived from the original on 2007-04-02. Retrieved 2007-04-08.
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