Drew Perkins

Drew A. Perkins (born March 21, 1956) is an American politician serving in the Wyoming Senate from the 29th district as a member of the Republican Party. He served as President of the Senate from 2019 to 2021.

For the computer scientist, see Drew D. Perkins.

Drew Perkins
President of the Wyoming Senate
In office
January 8, 2019 – January 12, 2021
Preceded byEli Bebout[1]
Succeeded byDan Dockstader
Majority Leader of the Wyoming Senate
In office
2017–2019
Preceded byPhil Nicholas[2]
Succeeded byDan Dockstader[3]
Member of the Wyoming Senate
from the 29th district
Assumed office
January 3, 2007
Preceded byBill Hawks
Member of the Natrona County Commission
In office
September 29, 2003 – 2006
Preceded byMike Haigler
Personal details
Born (1956-03-21) March 21, 1956
Boise, Idaho, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
SpouseKristie Marie Dittburner
Children2
EducationBrigham Young University (BS)
Southeastern University (MS)
University of Wyoming (JD)

Perkins was born in Boise, Idaho, and educated at Brigham Young University, Southeastern University, and the University of Wyoming. He entered politics in the 2000s with unsuccessful campaigns for a seat on the Natrona County Commission, but was appointed to the commission in 2003. He served on the commission until his election to the Wyoming Senate. In the state senate he rose from Vice President to Majority Leader and then to President of the Senate.

Early life

Drew A. Perkins was born on March 21, 1956, in Boise, Idaho.[4] He graduated from Kelly Walsh High School.[5] From 1977 to 1980, he attended Brigham Young University and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in accounting. From 1981 to 1983, he attended Southeastern University and graduated with a Master of Science in taxation. From 1989 to 1992, he attended the University of Wyoming and graduated with a Juris Doctor.[4] During his time at the University of Wyoming he was on the Dean's List.[6][7]

On August 5, 1986, he married Kristie Marie Dittburner inside the Salt Lake Temple in Salt Lake City, Utah.[8] He would later have two children with her.[4]

Career

Local politics

In 2000, Ron Ketchum died leaving a vacancy on the Natrona County Commission. Perkins was one of the possible candidates to be nominated by the Natrona County Republican Party, but Ed Opella, Art Volk, and Dick Lindsey were the three selected.[9] Lindsey was later selected by the Natron County Commission to fill the vacancy on June 16.[10]

In 2002, Perkins ran in the Republican primary for the nomination for a seat on the three-member Natrona County Commission, but placed fifth in the primary.[11][12]

On August 29, 2003, Mike Haigler left the Natrona County Commission to become the Natrona County Road and Bridge Department supervisor. The Natrona County Republican Party selected Perkins, Tom Zimmerman, and Doug Cooper as possible nominees on September 16, and the Natrona County Commission selected Perkins on September 24. On September 29, Perkins was inaugurated as a member of the commission.[13][14][15] In 2004, he ran in the Republican primary, where he placed first, and defeated the Democratic nominee Dick Sadler in a separate county commissioner special election for a two-year term.[16][17][18]

Elections

In 2006, Perkins ran with the Republican nomination for a seat in the Wyoming Senate from the 29th district and defeated former Cheyenne mayor and state representative Larry R. Clapp in the general election.[19][20] During the campaign he was endorsed by incumbent Senator Bill Hawks.[21] In May 2010, Perkins filed to run for reelection and won without opposition in the general election.[22][23]

In 2014, Perkins stated that he would not run in the Secretary of State election.[24] He ran for reelection, defeated Bob Ide in the Republican primary after spending $12,270.15, and won reelection without opposition in the general election.[25][26][27] In 2018, Perkins faced no opposition in the primary or general elections.[28][29]

Tenure

In 2010, Perkins endorsed Cindy Hill for Wyoming Superintendent of Public Instruction.[30]

From 2011 to 2012, he served as chairman of the Judiciary committee and the Select Committee on Capital Finance and Investments.[31]

On November 15, 2014, Perkins was selected by the Republican caucus to serve as Vice President of the Senate.[32] He served as Vice President of the Senate from 2015 to 2017.[33] On November 19, 2016, the Republican caucus selected Perkins to serve as the Senate Majority Leader and replaced him with Michael Von Flatern as Vice President of the Senate.[34] He served as Majority Leader of the Senate from 2017 to 2019.[33] On November 16, 2018, Perkins was selected by the Republican caucus to serve as President of the Senate and took office on January 8, 2019.[35][36][33]

Political positions

In 2016, the Wyoming Senate voted 20 to 10, with Perkins against, against a $268 million Medicaid expansion.[37]

Crime

In 2009, Perkins introduced legislation, which was approved by the Wyoming Senate, that would require ignition interlock devices in the cars of drivers who had been convicted for drunk driving twice or with a blood alcohol content of .15%.[38] He oppose prohibiting cell phone usage while driving as he believed that it would only give young people criminal records as they would not care about the law.[39]

In 2012, Perkins was named as legislator of the year by the Wyoming Association of Sheriff and Chiefs of Police.[40]

Electoral history
Drew Perkins electoral history
2006 Wyoming Senate 29th district election[20]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Drew Perkins 3,335 51.06%
Democratic Larry D. Clapp 3,196 48.94%
Total votes 6,531 100.00%
2010 Wyoming Senate 29th district election[23]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Drew Perkins (incumbent) 4,685 98.53%
Independent Write-ins 70 1.47%
Total votes 4,755 100.00%
Overvote Invalid votes 1
Undervote Invalid votes 1,186
2014 Wyoming Senate 29th district Republican primary[26]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Drew Perkins (incumbent) 1,480 50.56%
Republican Bob Ide 1,441 49.23%
Republican Write-ins 6 0.20%
Total votes 2,927 100.00%
Undervote Invalid votes 132
2014 Wyoming Senate 29th district election[27]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Drew Perkins (incumbent) 4,613 97.65%
Independent Write-ins 111 2.35%
Total votes 4,724 100.00%
Undervote Invalid votes 1,190
2018 Wyoming Senate 29th district Republican primary[28]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Drew Perkins (incumbent) 3,169 98.51%
Republican Write-ins 48 1.49%
Total votes 3217 100.00%
Overvote Invalid votes 1
Undervote Invalid votes 876
2018 Wyoming Senate 29th district election[29]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Drew Perkins (incumbent) 5,282 97.62%
Independent Write-ins 129 2.38%
Total votes 5,411 100.00%
Undervote Invalid votes 1,276

References
  1. "Past Officers of Wyoming's State Legislature" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on August 5, 2020. Retrieved August 5, 2020.
  2. "Senator Phil Nicholas". Archived from the original on July 13, 2016.
  3. "Senate District 16: Senator Dan Dockstader". Archived from the original on August 5, 2020. Retrieved August 5, 2020.
  4. "Drew Perkins' Biography". Vote Smart. Archived from the original on August 2, 2020. Retrieved August 2, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. "High school". Casper Star-Tribune. August 18, 2002. p. 81. Archived from the original on August 2, 2020. Retrieved August 2, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. "Dean's List 1990". Casper Star-Tribune. June 20, 1990. p. 17. Archived from the original on August 2, 2020. Retrieved August 2, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. "Dean's List 1991". Casper Star-Tribune. January 25, 1991. p. 15. Archived from the original on August 2, 2020. Retrieved August 2, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. "Dittburner-Perkins". Casper Star-Tribune. July 6, 1986. p. 15. Archived from the original on August 2, 2020. Retrieved August 2, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. "GOP panel nominates 3 to fill Ketchum's term". Casper Star-Tribune. June 9, 2000. p. 1. Archived from the original on August 2, 2020. Retrieved August 2, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.;"GOP panel nominates 3 to fill Ketchum's term continued". Casper Star-Tribune. June 9, 2000. p. 12. Archived from the original on August 2, 2020. Retrieved August 2, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. "Lindsey named to commission". Casper Star-Tribune. June 17, 2000. p. 3. Archived from the original on August 2, 2020. Retrieved August 2, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. "Dozen vie for three commission seats". Casper Star-Tribune. August 18, 2002. p. 80. Archived from the original on August 2, 2020. Retrieved August 2, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. "2002 primary results". Casper Star-Tribune. August 21, 2002. p. 3. Archived from the original on August 2, 2020. Retrieved August 2, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. "Natrona County Republican Party Selects". Casper Star-Tribune. September 17, 2003. p. 1. Archived from the original on August 2, 2020. Retrieved August 2, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. "Perkins replaces Haigler". Casper Star-Tribune. September 25, 2003. p. 1. Archived from the original on August 2, 2020. Retrieved August 2, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. "New commissioner takes oath". Casper Star-Tribune. October 1, 2003. p. 3. Archived from the original on August 2, 2020. Retrieved August 2, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. "Commission seats competitive". Casper Star-Tribune. May 29, 2004. p. 4. Archived from the original on August 2, 2020. Retrieved August 2, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. "2004 primary results". Casper Star-Tribune. August 19, 2004. p. 3. Archived from the original on August 2, 2020. Retrieved August 2, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. "2004 election results". Casper Star-Tribune. November 4, 2004. p. 3. Archived from the original on August 2, 2020. Retrieved August 2, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. "Two districts to have new faces". Casper Star-Tribune. June 3, 2006. p. 20. Archived from the original on August 2, 2020. Retrieved August 2, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. "2006 election results" (PDF). Secretary of State of Wyoming.
  21. "Bill Hawks endorsement". Casper Star-Tribune. November 2, 2006. p. 10. Archived from the original on August 2, 2020. Retrieved August 2, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  22. "Perkins runs for Senate again". Casper Star-Tribune. May 15, 2010. p. 4. Archived from the original on August 2, 2020. Retrieved August 2, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  23. "2010 election results" (PDF). Secretary of State of Wyoming. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 22, 2016.
  24. "Not running for secretary of state". Casper Star-Tribune. April 11, 2014. p. 8. Archived from the original on August 2, 2020. Retrieved August 2, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  25. "2014 Senate spending". Casper Star-Tribune. September 8, 2014. p. 1. Archived from the original on August 2, 2020. Retrieved August 2, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  26. "2014 primary results" (PDF). Secretary of State of Wyoming. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 2, 2020.
  27. "2014 election results" (PDF). Secretary of State of Wyoming. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 21, 2016.
  28. "2018 primary results" (PDF). Secretary of State of Wyoming.
  29. "2018 election results" (PDF). Secretary of State of Wyoming.
  30. "Endorse Cindy Hill". Casper Star-Tribune. October 28, 2010. p. 18. Archived from the original on August 2, 2020. Retrieved August 2, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  31. "Top races to follow in Wyoming Senate primaries". WyoFile. July 11, 2014. Archived from the original on August 9, 2020. Retrieved August 2, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  32. "Nicholas, Brown to lead state Legislature". Casper Star-Tribune. November 16, 2014. p. 3. Archived from the original on August 2, 2020. Retrieved August 2, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  33. "Senate District 29: Senator Drew Perkins". Archived from the original on August 2, 2020. Retrieved August 2, 2020.
  34. "Harshman and Bebout to lead state Legislature". Casper Star-Tribune. November 20, 2016. p. A1. Archived from the original on August 2, 2020. Retrieved August 2, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.;"Harshman and Bebout to lead state Legislature continued". Casper Star-Tribune. November 20, 2016. p. A10. Archived from the original on August 2, 2020. Retrieved August 2, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  35. "Local lawmakers to lead". Casper Star-Tribune. November 20, 2018. p. A1. Archived from the original on August 2, 2020. Retrieved August 2, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  36. "Leadership sets priorities". Casper Star-Tribune. January 9, 2019. p. A1. Archived from the original on August 2, 2020. Retrieved August 2, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  37. "Medicaid expansion defeated". Casper Star-Tribune. February 20, 2016. p. A1. Archived from the original on August 2, 2020. Retrieved August 2, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  38. "Ignition interlock device". Casper Star-Tribune. January 31, 2009. p. 4. Archived from the original on August 2, 2020. Retrieved August 2, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  39. "Senate OK with drivers using cell phones, but not texting". The Billings Gazette. January 29, 2009. p. 8. Archived from the original on August 2, 2020. Retrieved August 2, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  40. "Perkins seek re-election to state Senate". Casper Star-Tribune. April 12, 2014. p. 3. Archived from the original on August 2, 2020. Retrieved August 2, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
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