Tom Gann

{{Infobox officeholder

|name = Tom Gann

|image = Gann, Tom.jpg

|caption =

|state_house = Oklahoma

|district = 8th

|term_start = November 17, 2016

|term_end =

|predecessor = Ben Sherrer

|successor =

|birth_name =

|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1959|1|11}}

|birth_place = Wagoner, Oklahoma, U.S.

|party = Republican

}}

Tom Gann (born January 11, 1959) is an American politician who has served in the Oklahoma House of Representatives from the 8th district since 2016.{{cite web|url=https://www.okhouse.gov/Members/District.aspx?District=8 |title=Representative Tom Gann |publisher=Okhouse.gov |access-date=2019-12-17}}{{cite web|url=https://www.claremoreprogress.com/news/gann-sworn-in-to-serve-second-term-for-house-district/article_27d65042-e905-11e8-a9b5-0b4233a51f51.html |title=Gann Sworn in to Serve Second Term for House District 8 |publisher=Claremoreprogress.com |date=2018-11-15 |access-date=2019-12-17}} 8th House District which covers Mayes, Rogers, and Wagoner Counties. He was re-elected by default in 2020.{{Cite news |last=Savage |first=Tres |date=2020 |title=More than 40 Oklahoma legislators re-elected by default |work=NonDoc |url=https://nondoc.com/2020/04/10/46-oklahoma-legislators-re-elected-by-default/}}

Personal life and political views

Tom Gann was born in "Wagoner and grew up in Tahlequah where he later graduated from Northeastern State University with degrees in marketing and accounting." He served on Ft. Gibson School Board. He calls himself a "limited government conservative" who is against vaccine mandates.{{Cite web |title=Oklahoma House of Representatives |url=https://www.okhouse.gov/representatives/tom-gann |access-date=2024-02-03 |website=Oklahoma House of Representatives |language=en}} Gann "is retired from Tulsa International Airport where he was the Airport Auditor for 10 years." He and his wife have 3 children and 8 grandchildren."{{Cite web |title=Tom Gann for Oklahoma State Representative House District 8 |url=https://www.gannforhouse.com/ |access-date=2024-02-03 |website=www.gannforhouse.com}} He attends church in Inola and supports crisis pregnancy centers.{{Cite web |title=Representative Tom Gann - Oklahoma House of Representatives |url=https://former.okhouse.gov/Members/District.aspx?District=8 |access-date=2024-02-03 |website=former.okhouse.gov}}

CAIR Oklahoma states Gann is against abortion.{{Cite web |last=Habrock |first=Lani |title=Tom Gann |url=https://www.cairoklahoma.com/candidates/tom-gann/ |access-date=2024-02-03 |website=CAIR Oklahoma |language=en-US}}

Oklahoma House of Representatives

= Electoral history =

{{Election box begin no change

| title = 2018 Oklahoma House of Representatives election: District 8 general{{Cite web|title=Tom Gann|url=https://ballotpedia.org/Tom_Gann|access-date=2024-01-27|website=Ballotpedia|language=en}}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Oklahoma Republican Party

| candidate = Tom Gann

| votes = 6,863

| percentage = 57.2

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Oklahoma Democratic Party

| candidate = Darrell Moore

| votes = 5,137

| percentage = 42.8

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 12,000

| percentage = 100.00

}}

{{Election box gain with party link no swing

|winner = Oklahoma Republican Party

|loser = Oklahoma Democratic Party

}}

= Legislation =

In 2024 Gann, along with Warren Hamilton, introduced bill HB 3115 titled "Public libraries; Opposition to Marxism and Defense of Oklahoma Children Act of 2024; associations; Department of Libraries Board; required credentials; effective date." The bill, if passed, would keep tax-funded libraries from being affiliated with the largest library associations in the state and country, the Oklahoma Library Association (OLA) and the American Library Association (ALA), accusing them of spreading Marxism.{{Cite web |title=Bill Information |url=http://oklegislature.gov/BillInfo.aspx?Bill=HB%203115%20&Session=2400 |access-date=2024-02-03 |website=oklegislature.gov}} The ALA is the "oldest, largest and most influential library association in the world" and it advocates for librarians and libraries in legislation and other areas.{{Cite web |last=HCHO |date=2015-05-11 |title=American Library Association Fact Sheet |url=https://www.ala.org/news/american-library-association-fact-sheet |access-date=2024-02-03 |website=News and Press Center |language=en}} It is an accrediting body for universities, such as the University of Oklahoma, who award Masters of Library and Information Studies, or the MLIS, programs.{{Cite web |last=ALA |date=2006-07-24 |title=Directory of ALA-Accredited and Candidate Programs in Library and Information Studies |url=https://www.ala.org/educationcareers/accreditedprograms/directory |access-date=2024-02-03 |website=Education & Careers |language=en}} The OLA "works to strengthen the quality of libraries, library services and librarianship in Oklahoma" and its members "work in public, school, academic and special libraries of all sizes."{{Cite web |title=About OLA - Oklahoma Library Association |url=https://www.oklibs.org/page/about_OLA# |access-date=2024-02-03 |website=www.oklibs.org}}

= Voting history =

In 2024, he voted against HB 3329 which still passed the house floor. It is intended to provide free menstrual products in school bathrooms.{{Cite web |title=House Votes |url=http://webserver1.lsb.state.ok.us/cf/2023-24%20SUPPORT%20DOCUMENTS/votes/House/HB3329_VOTES.HTM |access-date=2024-03-12 |website=webserver1.lsb.state.ok.us}} He voted in favor of a bill that would require adults to show and ID before accessing porn sites.{{Cite web |title=House Votes |url=http://webserver1.lsb.state.ok.us/cf/2023-24%20SUPPORT%20DOCUMENTS/votes/House/HB3097_VOTES.HTM |access-date=2024-03-12 |website=webserver1.lsb.state.ok.us}}

References

Category:1959 births

Category:Living people

Category:Republican Party members of the Oklahoma House of Representatives

Category:21st-century members of the Oklahoma Legislature