Dan Soucek
{{short description|American politician}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|honorific-prefix=Senator
|name = Dan Soucek
|image =Dan Soucek.jpg
|state_senate = North Carolina
|state = North Carolina
|district = 45th
|term_start = January 1, 2011
|term_end= April 8, 2016
|preceded = Steve Goss
|succeeded = Deanna Ballard
|party = Republican
|birth_name=Daniel Frederick Soucek
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1969|4|22}}
| birth_place=Westfield, New Jersey, U.S.
}}
Daniel Frederick Chittenden Soucek (born April 22, 1969) is a Republican former member of the North Carolina Senate, who represented the State's 45th district. During his time in office, the 45th District included Alexander, Ashe, Watauga and Wilkes counties (2011 - 2012) and after redistricting, Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Caldwell and Watauga counties. On April 8, 2016, Soucek announced his immediate resignation. In December 2015 he had said he would not seek re-election, citing the desire to spend more time with his family.{{cite news|last1=Orr|first1=Adam|title=Soucek resigns from state senate|url=http://jeffersonpost.com/news/3319/soucek-resigns-from-state-senate|accessdate=12 April 2016|publisher=The Jefferson Post|date=10 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160424030253/http://jeffersonpost.com/news/3319/soucek-resigns-from-state-senate|archive-date=24 April 2016|url-status=dead}} He served three terms in the North Carolina Senate.
Background
Dan Soucek was born in Westfield, New Jersey in 1969. He graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1991 and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in Army Aviation. He was on active duty for over eight years and served in a variety of leadership positions including Company Commander of the International Student Office at Fort Rucker in Alabama.
After resigning his commission in 1999 he moved to Boone, North Carolina to assume the role of Young Life Area Director for Watauga, Ashe, and Avery Counties. In 2004, he began working as the Asia Regional Director for Operation Christmas Child at Samaritan's Purse.{{cite web |url=http://www.ncstatesenate.com/2010/09/dan-soucek-candidate-for-nc-senate-district-45-in-his-own-words |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110114232253/http://www.ncstatesenate.com/2010/09/dan-soucek-candidate-for-nc-senate-district-45-in-his-own-words/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=2011-01-14 |title=North Carolina Republican Senate Caucus }} He was first elected to the North Carolina State Senate in 2010 and won re-election in 2012 and 2014. He was a primary sponsor of the North Carolina Marriage Amendment, which was adopted by referendum in May 2012 but ruled unconstitutional in October 2014.
His achievements include:{{cite web|url=http://www.fansofdan.com/go/biography|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100903034643/http://fansofdan.com/go/biography/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=September 3, 2010|title= Fans of Dan: Biography}}
- Qualification in the Bell AH-1 Cobra helicopter
- Qualification in the Bell UH-1 Iroquois "Huey" helicopter
- Airborne and Air Assault qualified
- AH-1 Top Gun Award recipient
- Iron Aviator triathlon champion
His duties and assignments have allowed him to work with the United States Department of State, general officers and religious leaders from many countries, international business leaders, and governments at all levels from customs officials to Governors, a Prime Minister, and a King.
He has also served as a cross country and track coach at Watauga High School, coached youth soccer and served as an adult and high school Sunday school teacher at Alliance Bible Fellowship.
In February 2013, Dan joined the North Carolina National Guard as a citizen soldier, while continuing to serve in the NC Senate.
Political positions
Conservatism
- Received 100% scores from the American Conservative Union in 2011 and 2013.{{cite web|url=http://votesmart.org/candidate/evaluations/103061/daniel-soucek#.UrLxW7R1k40|title = VoteSmart.org}}
- Received a 98% score from Civitas Action in 2011 and a 94% score in 2013.
Pro Second Amendment
- Received a 4 star rating from Grassroots North Carolina, an organization created to preserve second amendment rights.{{cite web|url=http://fansofdan.com/go/why-dan|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101030135305/http://fansofdan.com/go/why-dan/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=October 30, 2010|title = Fans of Dan:Issue Positions}}
- The NRA Political Victory Fund gave Soucek consistent "A" grades.{{cite web |title=NRA-PVF {{!}} North Carolina |url=https://www.nrapvf.org/grades/north-carolina |website=nrapvf.org |publisher=NRA-PVF |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141104214300/https://www.nrapvf.org/grades/north-carolina/ |archive-date=November 4, 2014 |language=en-us |url-status=usurped}}
Pro Business
- Endorsed by the National Federation of Independent Business.
Environmental Issues
- Received a 3% lifetime rating from the North Carolina League of Conservation Voters in 2013.
- Received a rating of 0% from Environment North Carolina in 2011 and 2013 and a 5% rating in 2015.
Endorsements
Committee assignments
| class="wikitable" | |
| Committee | Status |
|---|---|
| Appropriations on Education/Higher Education | Co-chairman |
| Appropriations/Base Budget | Member |
| Commerce | Member |
| Education/Higher Education | Co-chairman |
| Finance | Member |
| Judiciary I | Member |
| Redistricting | Member |
| Select Committee on UNC Board of Governors | Member |
| Workforce and Economic Development | Member |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.ncleg.net/ ncleg.net]
- [http://www.votesmart.org/ votesmart.org]
{{s-start}}
{{s-par|us-nc-sen}}
{{s-bef|before=Steve Goss}}
{{s-ttl|title=Member of the North Carolina Senate
from the 45th district|years=2011–2016}}
{{s-aft|after=Deanna Ballard}}
{{s-end}}
{{North Carolina State Senators}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Soucek, Dan}}
Category:Politicians from Westfield, New Jersey
Category:Republican Party North Carolina state senators
Category:United States Military Academy alumni
Category:Military personnel from Union County, New Jersey
Category:21st-century members of the North Carolina General Assembly