Jon Echols
Jon Echols | |
|---|---|
 Official portrait | |
| Member of the Oklahoma House of Representatives from the 90th district | |
| In office November 14, 2012 – November 20, 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Charles Key |
| Succeeded by | Emily Gise |
| Personal details | |
| Born | December 3, 1979 |
| Political party | Republican |
| Education | University of Oklahoma (BA) Oklahoma City University (JD) |
Jon Echols (born December 3, 1979) is an American politician who served in the Oklahoma House of Representatives representing the 90th district from 2012 to 2024. He was the Majority Floor Leader.
Early life, education, and career
[edit]John Echols grew up in Oklahoma City.[1] His mother was an attorney and special education teacher, while his father, David Echols, is an attorney and a member of the Oklahoma City Community College Board of Regenets.[2] He graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a bachelor's degree in political science and from Oklahoma City University School of Law with a Juris Doctor.[3]
Echols co-foundered Turn Key Health Clinics in 2009 and is the company's president.[2] Echols has said that "he works for the company’s CEO mostly outside of Oklahoma to minimize perceived conflicts of interest."[4][5] He also worked for the law firm Crowe and Dunlevy.[2]
Oklahoma House of Representatives
[edit]Echols ran for the 90th district of the Oklahoma House of Representatives in 2012 to succeed Charles Key.[6] He won the election and was reelected until he was term limited in 2024. From 2016 to 2024, he served as the majority floor leader of the house and he holds the record for longest serving majority leader.[2]
Tenure
[edit]Echols received the 2015 Distinguished Service Award for Higher Education from the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education and the Council of College and University Presidents.[1] He would go on to receive the award in 2020 and 2021 as well.[7][8]
In 2016, Echols asked Sheriff Vic Regalado's office to change a bid requirement on a medical contract for the Tulsa County jail so his company, Turn Key Health Clinic, could bid. Echols said he asked for the change so that in-county companies would have a fair opportunity to make bids.[9]
In 2023, Echols was the House author on Senate Bill 840 (co-authored by Sen. Greg McCortney, R-Ada), a bill that "deals with name, image, likeness — the new endorsements phenomenon known as NIL." Echols marked it as "high-priority."[10]
In October 2023, Echols voiced support for Israel in the 2023 Israel–Hamas war, calling Hamas a terrorist organization and saying that Israel is in its rights to "wipe" Hamas out, but pointing out that Hamas is "not our Muslim brothers and sisters"and differentiating between Hamas and Palestinian civilians in Gaza.[11]
In 2024, Echols introduced House Bill 4156, a state immigration law creating the crime of "impermissible occupation." Attorney General Gentner Drummond helped draft the bill.[12]
2026 attorney general campaign
[edit]On February 26, 2025, Echols officially launched a campaign for Attorney General of Oklahoma.[13]
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Representative Jon Echols honored for his support of Higher Ed". occc.edu. Oklahoma City Community College. February 6, 2015. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
- ^ a b c d Hancock, Andrea (February 26, 2025). "Former House Rep. Jon Echols announces bid for AG". NonDoc. Retrieved February 27, 2025.
- ^ "Representative Jon Echols". Oklahoma House of Representatives. Retrieved February 26, 2025.
- ^ Bryen, Whitney (February 22, 2023). "Oklahoma sheriff, jail health care provider seek public money to increase staff after two women died". KOSU. Oklahoma Watch. Retrieved June 8, 2023.
- ^ Stafford, Wayne (February 22, 2023). "Half million dollar proposal seeks more health professionals at Cleveland County jail". KOKH-TV. Retrieved February 26, 2025.
- ^ Rolland, Megan (April 13, 2012). "Oklahoma County legislative incumbents unchallenged". The Oklahoman. Retrieved February 26, 2025.
- ^ "House Majority Floor Leader Jon Echols Receives Higher Education Distinguished Service Award". Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education. October 14, 2020. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
- ^ "Echols earns Distinguished Service Award". The Journal Record. December 10, 2021. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
- ^ Branstetter, Ziva (July 14, 2016). "Sheriff changed bid requirement after meeting with lawmaker seeking contract". The Frontier. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
- ^ Krehbiel, Randy (April 3, 2023). "College athletes' name, image, likeness bill is first Senate measure passed by Oklahoma House". Tulsa World.
- ^ Mitchell, Scott; Dunnington, Jason; Echols, Jon. "Your Vote Counts: Domestic Violence". KOTV-DT. Retrieved 2023-10-16.
- ^ Ramos, Lionel (April 19, 2024). "Oklahoma's anti-immigration bill inches closer to becoming law; legal challenges expected". KOSU. Retrieved February 26, 2025.
- ^ Ramos, Lionel (February 25, 2025). "Former House Rep. Jon Echols files to run for Oklahoma State Attorney General". KGOU. Retrieved February 26, 2025.
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