Jim Grego

In 2018, the former State Representative for District 17, Brian Renegar was unable to run for reelection due to term limits,{{cite news |last1=Beaty |first1=James |title=Cox ready to run for District 17 seat |url=https://www.mcalesternews.com/news/local_news/cox-ready-to-run-for-district-17-seat/article_46441093-e794-5bde-9bdb-57d3064f11a3.html |access-date=3 July 2020 |work=McAlester News-Capital |date=12 November 2017}} and Grego ran for the open seat. Grego came in second in a five-way Republican primary, advancing to a runoff against Joshua Hass, which he won. He went on to defeat Peggy DeFrange in the general election.

As of July 2020, Grego sits on the following committees:{{cite web |title=Representative Jim Grego |url=https://www.okhouse.gov/members/District.aspx?District=17 |website=Oklahoma State Legislature |access-date=3 July 2020 |archive-date=26 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181126121331/https://www.okhouse.gov/members/District.aspx?District=17 |url-status=dead }}

• Agriculture and Rural Development (Vice Chair)
• A&B Natural Resources and Regulatory Services
• Public Health
• Transportation

In 2024, Grego co-authored House bill 3749{{Cite web |title=Bill Information |url=http://www.oklegislature.gov/BillInfo.aspx?Bill=HB%203749%20&Session=2400 |access-date=2024-03-30 |website=www.oklegislature.gov}} and Senate bill 1427,{{Cite web |title=Bill Information |url=http://www.oklegislature.gov/BillInfo.aspx?Bill=SB%201427&Session=2400 |access-date=2024-03-30 |website=www.oklegislature.gov}} along with Senator Warren Hamilton to carve out 8.3 million dollars to bring back the Oklahoma State Penitentiary Rodeo, despite others, such as a representative of the Arnall Family Foundation, calling out the move as exploitative and dangerous toward the inmates and animals and a waste of funds that could be spent on reforms.{{Cite web |last=Arnall |first=Sue Ann |title=Oklahoma needs to focus on prison reforms, not exploiting inmates with rodeo |url=https://www.oklahoman.com/story/opinion/2024/03/28/oklahoma-state-penitentiary-rodeo-step-wrong-direction-opinion-sue-ann-arnall/73080682007/ |access-date=2024-03-30 |website=The Oklahoman |language=en-US}} The Oklahoma Department of Corrections claims "the total cost of the renovations is $9.3 million, and after contributing $1 million, they're asking the legislature to help fund the remaining $8.3 million, but some lawmakers argue that money should be spent on other issues," such as Representative Andy Fugate.{{Cite web |last=Arata |first=Katie |date=2024-03-10 |title=Oklahoma House passes bill to bring back the nation's largest prison rodeo |url=https://okcfox.com/news/local/oklahoma-house-passes-bill-to-bring-back-the-nations-largest-prison-rodeo-mcalester-prisoners-pbr-representative-jim-grego-hb3749-senator-warren-hamilton-oklahoma-department-of-corrections-odoc-legislative-session |access-date=2024-03-30 |website=KOKH |language=en}} As of 2024, Louisiana "is the only state that has a behind-the-walls prison rodeo."{{Cite web |title=Grego Bill to Help Restore Prison Rodeo Passes House |url=https://www.okhouse.gov/posts/news-20240308_3 |access-date=2024-03-30 |website=Oklahoma House of Representatives |language=en}} ODOC Executive Director Steve Harpe claims that it would bring in revenue for the department and support functions like a call center, and that Netflix, ESPN, and PBR are eyeing Oklahoma because of it.{{Cite web |last=Suares |first=Wendy |date=2023-11-16 |title=Convict Cowboys: New details on the return of the Oklahoma Prison Rodeo |url=https://okcfox.com/news/fox-25-investigates/convict-cowboys-new-details-on-the-return-of-the-oklahoma-prison-rodeo-netflix-pbr-espn-odoc-department-of-corrections-mcalester-bucking-broncos-spinning-bulls-steve-harpe-entertainment-arena-renovations-inmates-million-dollar-investment |access-date=2024-03-30 |website=KOKH |language=en}} Efforts for the rodeo revival stemmed father back than 2024, and 2023, George Young said that taxpayer dollars being used to revive the rodeo could be better spent on education programs for inmates or initiatives to improve prison health care.{{Cite web |last=Forman |first=Carmen |title=Could the McAlester state prison rodeo be returning? See inside a new effort to revive it |url=https://www.oklahoman.com/story/news/2023/09/01/department-corrections-trying-to-revive-prison-rodeo-at-oklahoma-state-penitentiary-mcalester/70731642007/ |access-date=2024-03-30 |website=The Oklahoman |language=en-US}}

{{Election box begin no change|title=2018 Republican primary: Oklahoma House of Representatives, District 17}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Republican Party (US)|candidate={{checked}} Joshua Hass|votes=803|percentage=35.0%}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Republican Party (US)|candidate={{checked}} Jim Grego|votes=664|percentage=28.9%}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Republican Party (US)|candidate=Bobby Cox|votes=425|percentage=18.5%}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Republican Party (US)|candidate=Paul Marean|votes=263|percentage=11.5%}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Republican Party (US)|candidate=Marilyn Welton|votes=141|percentage=6.1%}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change|title=2018 Republican primary runoff: Oklahoma House of Representatives, District 17}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Republican Party (US)|candidate={{checked}} Jim Grego|votes=776|percentage=51.1%}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Republican Party (US)|candidate=Joshua Hass|votes=742|percentage=48.9%}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change|title=2018 general election: Oklahoma House of Representatives, District 17}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Republican Party (US)|candidate={{checked}} Jim Grego|votes=6,984|percentage=63.4%}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Democratic Party (US)|candidate=Peggy DeFrange|votes=4,032|percentage=36.6%}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change|title=2020 Republican primary: Oklahoma House of Representatives, District 17}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Republican Party (US)|candidate={{checked}} Jim Grego|votes=2,100|percentage=61.9%}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Republican Party (US)|candidate=Shannon Rowell|votes=1,294|percentage=38.1%}}

{{Election box end}}

Grego was born in 1955 in McAlester, Oklahoma and earned a Bachelor's degree from Oklahoma State University in 1977. He and his wife, Sandy, have two children.

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Category:Living people

Category:Republican Party members of the Oklahoma House of Representatives

Category:21st-century members of the Oklahoma Legislature

Category:People from McAlester, Oklahoma

Category:People from Latimer County, Oklahoma

Category:Oklahoma State University alumni

Category:1955 births