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Ernest James Istook Jr. (born February 11 1950, in Fort Worth, Texas) is a U.S. representative from Oklahoma. He is a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives for the fifth district. He defeated House Republican Whip Mickey Edwards in 1992, the 3rd ranking Republican Congressman, and also a well-known former Federal Prosecutor/ Gubernatorial nominee Bill Price to take the seat.
Istook's successful campaigns had all had a theme consistently has been pro-life (anti-abortion), favoring tax cuts, and a general platform of "less government and lower taxes"
(map) of that state, residing in Warr Acres in Oklahoma County, and was first elected in 1992. On October 3, 2005 Istook announced he was running for governor of Oklahoma, against incumbent Democrat Brad Henry.
With Republican registration up 5% since the last election, and a strong fundraising appeal to Oklahomans, Istook is a serious contender who could successfully challenge the popular, amiable Gov. Brad Henry.
Istook, a Mormon, graduated from Castleberry High School in Fort Worth in 1967. He received a bachelor of arts degree from Baylor University (in Waco, Texas) in 1971 and received a law degree from Oklahoma City University in 1976 and practiced as an attorney. He serves on the Appropriations and Homeland Security committees. His wife is Judy Istook. They have five children: Ernest III ("Butch"), Chad, Amy, Diana and Emily. They also have three granddaughters and one grandson.
Istook also worked as a journalist, served as director of the Oklahoma State Alcoholic and Beverage Control Board (1977-1978), was legal counsel to Oklahoma Gov. David L. Boren (1978), and was a member of the board of the Oklahoma County metropolitan library system (1982-1986), chairman of the Warr Acres city council(1982-1986), director of the Warr Acres chamber of commerce, and was an Oklahoma state representative from 1987-1993. He was elected to the U.S. House of representatives in 1992 and began serving in 1993 (103rd Congress). He is a conservative member of the GOP. For several years he chaired the subcommittee that oversaw highway funding, but left the chairmanship in 2005 to look at running for Governor.
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| Oklahoma's current delegation to the United States Congress | |
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| Senators |
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| Representatives (ordered by district) |
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