Haste takes oath, begins first Senate term

John Haste is now officially on the job as State Senator for District 36.  The Broken Arrow Republican was sworn in during a ceremony at the Capitol on Wednesday alongside friends, family and other supporters in the Senate Chamber.

“I want to thank the citizens of District 36 for letting me be their voice in the Senate,” Haste said.  “There are three main areas we must focus on to make Oklahoma better for future generations. I’ll promote legislation to improve our education system and ensure adequate funding for our classrooms and teachers. We must expand and diversify our economy by attracting new industries and businesses to our communities to help secure more stable economic drivers and grow our tax base. Finally, we must address the many healthcare challenges facing our state including improving access and quality of care for all Oklahomans especially those in rural areas and improving access and funding for mental health treatment.”

Haste said he will also push for independent audits of state agencies, to cap tax credits and find other efficiencies in the budget system to free up funds for vital state services like education, health and mental health.

Haste was born and spent his early childhood in rural Arkansas before attending secondary schools and college in Tennessee.  His career has taken him all over the country and world, but he and his wife, Jennifer, chose to move to Oklahoma in 2004 because they loved the people and the promise of the state. 

John and Jennifer have been married for 20 years.  They are members of First Baptist Church of Broken Arrow where he serves as an usher and as chairman of the personnel board.  He has an extensive business and management background and has previously served as the Vice Chair and Chair of the OSU Medical Authority (OSUMA) and the OSU Medical Trust (OSUMT). 

Senate President Pro Tempore Designate Greg Treat said he was looking forward to working with Haste. 

“Senator Haste represents the core values that make Oklahoma great.  His professional experience will be a tremendous asset to our caucus.   I know Senator Haste will be a strong voice on behalf of District 36 in the State Senate,” said Treat, R-Oklahoma City.

The Senate will hold a one day organizational meeting on January 8, and the 2019 session will formally get underway on February 4.

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