Three Oklahomans will be on the ballot for the general election November 3 seeking the Congressional District 4 seat. Voters will chose from the incumbent, Republican Tom Cole, Democrat Mitchell Jacob, and Independent Rocco Bonacci.
The following is a short bio on Cole and Jacob. There was no bio available on Bonacci.
TOM COLE
Tom Cole said he is a leading advocate for a strong national defense and protecting taxpayers and promoting small businesses. He says he is a leader on issues dealing with Native Americans and tribal governments.
Identified by Time Magazine as “one of the sharpest minds in the House,” Cole was named as one of “Five Freshmen to Watch” by Roll Call at the outset of his congressional career.
In Washington, Cole serves as the chairman of the Appropriations Committee, where he is leading the fight in investing in critical national infrastructure, securing the border and national security, while cutting overall spending in wasteful, unnecessary programs to reduce the national debt.
Cole served as chairman of the Oklahoma Republican Party and as a member of the Oklahoma State Senate. As Oklahoma’s Secretary of State, he was Governor Frank Keating’s chief legislative strategist and liaison to the state’s federal delegation. Together they worked with business and elected leaders to orchestrate the economic growth Oklahoma experienced from the late 90’s through the first decade of the 21st century.
Keating tapped Cole to lead Oklahoma’s effort to secure federal funds to assist in the rebuilding of Oklahoma City in the wake of the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building on April 19, 1995.
Cole co-founded a nationally recognized political and market research firm that was at the forefront of Oklahoma’s transformation from a Democratic controlled legislature to one of the most Republican in the nation.
He is a former college instructor in history and politics, holding a B.A. from Grinnell College, an M.A. from Yale University, and a Ph.D. from the University of Oklahoma. Cole has been a Thomas Watson Fellow and a Fulbright Fellow at the University of London.
He also holds honorary degrees from Hillsdale Bible College in Moore and Oklahoma City University. He serves on the National Board of the Fullbright Association.
Cole was awarded the Congressional Leadership award by the National Congress of American Indians in 2007 and 2011 and was inducted in the Chickasaw Hall of Fame in 2004. Cole and his wife, Ellen, have one son, Mason, and reside in Moore.
MITCHELL JACOB
Mitchell Jacob, an OU Law graduate and attorney, is running for Congress in Oklahoma’s Fourth District. He is a veteran of the United States Army, where he served for five-and-a-half years and achieved the rank of sergeant. As a Cryptologic Linguist, Jacob deployed to Southern Syria in support of Operation Inherent Resolve.
A fourth-generation Oklahoman from Tulsa, Jacob advocates for quality public education, supports small businesses, promotes job creation, and believes in a livable wage and economic opportunity for all.
He emphasizes the importance of fiscal responsibility and reducing the federal deficit.
He is passionate about the Constitution and is dedicated to upholding it as the cornerstone of the country. He lives in Newcastle with his wife, Rocio Jacob, and children. An avid swimmer, Jacob also has a passion for cycling. In the summer of 2015, he rode his bicycle from Flagstaff, Arizona, to Los Angeles, California, and then returned to Flagstaff.
Above all, Jacob said he is committed to fighting for Oklahoma’s values and will stand up every day to protect the state’s future.
ROCCO BONACCI No bio available.
