David Parker (Mississippi politician)
{{short description|American politician}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = David Parker
| birth_name = David Parker
| birth_place = Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.
| occupation = Optometrist
| office = Member of the Mississippi State Senate from the 2nd district
| termstart = January 5, 2016
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1969|9|11}}
| children = 4
| spouse = Ashleigh Beckett
| party = Republican Party
| alma_mater = Christian Brothers University
Southern College of Optometry
| office1 = Member of the Mississippi State Senate from the 19th district
| termstart1 = December 11, 2012
| termend1 = January 5, 2016
| predecessor1 = Merle Flowers
| predecessor = Bill Stone
| successor1 = Kevin Blackwell
| image = David Parker MS.jpg
}}
David Parker (born 1969) is an American optometrist and politician. He serves as a Republican member of the Mississippi State Senate for District 2, which includes part of DeSoto county.
Early life
David Parker was born on September 9, 1969, in Memphis, Tennessee.{{cite web|title=David Parker|url=http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/members/senate/parker.xml|website=Mississippi State Senate|access-date=January 30, 2016}} He was educated at Greenbrook Elementary and Southaven High School in Southaven, Mississippi. He graduated from Christian Brothers University on the pre-optometry track. He graduated from the Southern College of Optometry magna cum laude.{{Cite web |last=Long |first=Robert Lee |date=August 24, 2012 |title=Parker running for State Senate |url=http://www.desototimes.com/news/parker-running-for-state-senate/article_599fa2e7-3b27-522a-b974-d7e95651ca08.html |access-date=March 31, 2024 |website=DeSoto Times-Tribune |language=en}}
Career
Parker works as an optometrist at his own business that he founded. He is a member of the American Optometric Association and the Mississippi Optometric Association.
A Republican, Parker won a special election in 2012 to replace retiring senator Merle Flowers in District 19 after defeating Rep. Pat Nelson.{{Cite web |last=Hall |first=Sam |date=November 29, 2012 |title=David Parker Defeats Rep. Pat Nelson To Replace Retired Sen. Merle Flowers |url=https://magnoliatribune.com/2012/11/28/david_parker_defeats_rep-_pat_nelson_to_replace_retired_sen-_merle_flowers/ |access-date=March 31, 2024 |website=Magnolia Tribune |language=en-US |agency=Clarion-Ledger}} The district included parts of DeSoto County and was the most populous district in the state.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=January 9, 2015 |title=State Senator David Parker qualifies for re-election |url=https://magnoliatribune.com/2015/01/08/state_senator_david_parker_qualifies_for_re-election/ |access-date=March 31, 2024 |website=Magnolia Tribune |language=en-US}} Legislative redistricting created a new district in DeSoto county, resulting in Parker to run in District 2 for the Mississippi State Senate in 2015. He won the election. In 2019, his seat was considered "Safe Republican" by the Mississippi Center for Public Policy.{{Cite web |last=Ulmer |first=Sarah |date=2019-10-24 |title=MCPP: Republicans look to expand majority in the Senate |url=https://magnoliatribune.com.dream.website/2019/10/24/mcpp-republicans-look-to-expand-majority-in-senate/ |access-date=2024-03-31 |website=Magnolia Tribune |language=en-US}}
He voted to defund Common Core in 2014 on an amendment, which ultimately failed.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=March 13, 2014 |title=Mississippi Tea Party urges its members to flood Supertalk with calls over Common Core funding vote |url=https://magnoliatribune.com/2014/03/13/mississippi_tea_party_urges_its_members_to_flood_supertalk_with_calls_over_/ |access-date=March 31, 2024 |website=Magnolia Tribune |language=en-US}} In the aftermath of the Charleston church shooting in June 2015, Parker called for the Confederate battle flag to be removed from the flag of Mississippi, suggesting it was divisive.{{cite news|author=Long, Robert Lee|title=Parker calls for change in state flag|url=http://www.desototimes.com/news/parker-calls-for-change-in-state-flag/article_58dcd308-19e9-11e5-be71-dffe4ff2580e.html|access-date=January 30, 2016|work=DeSoto Times-Tribune|date=June 23, 2015}} He was part of the legislative redistricting committee in the senate in 2021.{{Cite web |last=Ulmer |first=Sarah |date=2021-08-06 |title=First legislative redistricting hearing takes place in Meridian |url=https://magnoliatribune.com/2021/08/06/first-legislative-redistricting-hearing-takes-place-in-meridian/ |access-date=2024-03-31 |website=Magnolia Tribune |language=en-US}} He authored a proposal to reinstate the ballot initiative in the state.{{Cite web |last=Ulmer |first=Sarah |date=2024-03-04 |title=Senate Offers Its Proposed Legislation to Rectify State’s Ballot Initiative Process |url=https://magnoliatribune.com/2024/03/04/senate-offers-its-proposed-legislation-to-rectify-states-ballot-initiative-process/ |access-date=2024-03-31 |website=Magnolia Tribune |language=en-US}}
He declined to run for the 1st Congressional District upon Alan Nunnelee's death.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=February 21, 2015 |title=State Sen. David Parker will not seek MS01 seat |url=https://magnoliatribune.com/2015/02/20/state_sen-_david_parker_will_not_seek_ms01_seat/ |access-date=March 31, 2024 |website=Magnolia Tribune |language=en-US}}
Personal life
Parker is married to Ashleigh Beckett and has four children. They reside in Olive Branch, Mississippi. He is a member of the United Methodist Church.
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Mississippi State Senators}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Parker, David}}
Category:Christian Brothers University alumni
Category:People from Olive Branch, Mississippi
Category:Politicians from Memphis, Tennessee
Category:American optometrists
Category:Republican Party Mississippi state senators
Category:21st-century members of the Mississippi Legislature