David Walters | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 24thGovernor of Oklahoma | |
| In office January 14, 1991 – January 9, 1995 | |
| Lieutenant | Jack Mildren |
| Preceded by | Henry Bellmon |
| Succeeded by | Frank Keating |
| Personal details | |
| Born | David Lee Walters (1951-11-20)November 20, 1951 (age 73) Canute, Oklahoma, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Children | 4 |
| Education | University of Oklahoma(BS) Harvard University(MBA) |
David Lee Walters (born November 20, 1951) is an American businessman and politician who served as the 24thgovernor of Oklahoma from 1991 to 1995.
Born inCanute, Oklahoma, Walters was a project manager for GovernorDavid Boren and the youngest executive officer working for theUniversity of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center. He also worked in commercialreal estate. As governor, he increased education funding, but his term was marred by controversies that ended with him pleading guilty to amisdemeanor election violation. He did not seek re-election and was defeated in a2002 campaign for theUnited States Senate. He is theCEO of Walters Power International, a global provider of local power.[1]
Walters was born nearCanute, Oklahoma, and graduated asvaledictorian from Canute High School in 1969.[2] He earned a bachelor's degree in industrial engineering from theUniversity of Oklahoma in 1973 and a master's degree in business administration fromHarvard University in 1977.[2]
He worked as the project manager for GovernorDavid Boren and as the assistant and associate provost of theUniversity of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center. At the age of 29, he was the youngest executive officer in the university’s history. In 1982, he joined The Burks Group, a commercialreal estate company. He was appointed co-chairman of the governor's 100-member Reform Commission in 1984 and became the president of American Fidelity Property Company in 1985.
In1986, Walters was theDemocratic nominee forgovernor of Oklahoma, but was defeated by RepublicanHenry L. Bellmon, who returned to the governorship after completing his first term 20 years earlier.
On November 6, 1990 Walters was elected governor, carrying 75 of the state’s 77 counties. During his term education funding increased by approximately 30 percent and a $350 millionbond issue forhigher education brought construction and renovation to every state college campus.
Walters planned on making the Blue Room, a large ceremonial hall in theState Capitol, into his office.[3]
While in office he was accused of election violations in that he conspired to hide $18,000 in campaign donations by attributing them to someone else. At the end of procedures, Governor Walters asked prosecutors what they wanted to end the rather lengthy process. An agreement was reached that the governor would plead guilty to a misdemeanor offense and pay a fine, in return for which his record would be expunged in twelve months. Though Walters claimed his innocence of the charges, he said it was in the best interest of the state and his family to accept the plea agreement. Twelve months later the charge was expunged from his record.[4][5] He did not run for re-election in 1994, citing the pressure and negative publicity of political office, which he partly blamed for the suicide of his son in 1991.[5]
In2002, Walters was the unsuccessfulDemocratic nominee for theUnited States Senate, losing to incumbentJim Inhofe.[6]
| Party political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Democratic nominee forGovernor of Oklahoma 1986,1990 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Chair of theDemocratic Governors Association 1992–1993 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Democratic nominee forU.S. Senator fromOklahoma (Class 2) 2002 | Succeeded by |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Governor of Oklahoma 1991–1995 | Succeeded by |
| U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial) | ||
| Preceded byas Former Governor | Order of precedence of the United States | Succeeded byas Former Governor |
| Territorial(1890–1907) |  | |
|---|---|---|
| State(since 1907) | ||
Italics indicate acting governors | ||
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |
