{{Short description|Musician and politician}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = David B. Hooten | image = File:David B. Hooten.jpg | office = County Clerk of Oklahoma County | term_start = 2016 | term_end = June 17, 2022 | predecessor = Carolynn Caudill | successor = Maressa Treat | birth_date = December 31, 1962 | birth_place = Frascati, Republic of Italy | party = Republican Party (after 2014)<br />Democratic Party (until 2014) | alma_mater = University of North Texas<br />University of Oklahoma | website = davidhooten.com }}
'''David Benjamin Hooten''' (born December 31, 1962) is an American musician and politician who served as the County Clerk for Oklahoma County, Oklahoma from 2016 to 2022.
==Early life, family and career== David Benjimen Hooten was born in Frascati, Italy, to Capt. Leon E. Hooten Jr. (USAF) and his wife Lucia (née Di Beniditto).<ref name="Oklahoman-1989" /> Lucia owned a restaurant in Duncan, Oklahoma she started in 1972 called Mama Lucia's. In 1995 Hooten bought the restaurant from his mother and ran it until its closure in 2003.<ref name="okgazette.com" /> David was the youngest of seven children. He attended school in Duncan, Oklahoma and Norman, Oklahoma.<ref name="Oklahoman-1989">{{cite news |last1=Lynn |first1=Linda |title=Trumpet Player Branching Out, Expanding Musical Horizons |url=https://www.oklahoman.com/story/news/1989/01/20/trumpet-player-branching-out-expanding-musical-horizons/62626510007/ |access-date=5 July 2022 |publisher=The Oklahoman |date=20 January 1989}}</ref> His family traveled across Europe during his father's military career. Hooten discusses in interviews how he loved music from a young age and he bought his first trumpet from a local antique store.<ref name="Oklahoman-1989" /><ref name="okgazette.com" />
Hooten studied music in college and worked part time as a Calvin Klein model.<ref name="okgazette.com" /> He received a bachelor's degree in music education at North Texas State University, where he was principal trumpet in the University Symphony Orchestra.<ref name="Oklahoman-1989" /> He later received a Master's in Trumpet performance from the University of Oklahoma in 1989.<ref name="okgazette.com" />
===Musical career=== Hooten's first album, The Trumpet Shall Sound, was released in 1989 and featured a rendition of Amazing Grace.<ref name="okgazette.com" /> He later performed Amazing Grace at the Memorial Ceremony for the victims of the Oklahoma City bombing. In September 1999, Hooten performed for John Paul II at the Vatican.<ref name="Conn-Selmer">{{cite web |title=David Hooten Artist's Biography |url=http://www.conn-selmer.com/en-us/artist-information/centerstage/artist-roster/david-hooten/ |website=conn-selmer.com |access-date=5 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160821200951/http://www.conn-selmer.com/en-us/artist-information/centerstage/artist-roster/david-hooten/ |archive-date=21 August 2016 |location=Wayback Machine}}</ref> Hooten also performed for the Thai Royal Family, Ronald Reagan, and George W. Bush.<ref name="okgazette.com">{{cite news |last1=Beutler |first1=Mark |title=Hooten to perform at the Palmer Cup in Illinois |url=https://www.okgazette.com/oklahoma/hooten-to-perform-at-the-palmer-cup-in-illinois/Content?oid=2957197 |access-date=5 July 2022 |publisher=Oklahoma Gazette |date=11 June 2015 |archive-date=5 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220705215324/https://www.okgazette.com/oklahoma/hooten-to-perform-at-the-palmer-cup-in-illinois/Content?oid=2957197 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In 2009, he played at Wade Christensen and Mary Fallin's wedding reception.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Wallace |first1=Helen Ford |title=Mary Fallin, D. Wade Christensen celebrate at a wedding reception |url=https://www.oklahoman.com/story/lifestyle/columns/2010/01/18/mary-fallin-d-wade-christensen-celebrate-at-a-wedding-reception/60948533007/ |access-date=11 May 2024 |work=The Oklahoman |date=January 18, 2010}}</ref>
==Early campaigns== ===2004 Oklahoma House campaign=== In 2004 Hooten filed as a Democrat to run for Oklahoma House of Representatives in District 87. His opponent, fellow Democrat John Morgan, challenged his candidacy by claiming that Hooten was not properly registered with the State Election Board. Hooten's attorney produced a voter registration card from August, 2002, but Hooten stated he could not recall when he last voted. State Election Board chairman Glo Henley stated that she believed Hooten's name was purged from the voter roll for failing to vote for at least two years. The board voted 2–1 to remove him from the ballot.<ref name="Oklahoman-16June2004">{{cite news |last1=Greiner |first1=John |title=Board yanks Cole's rival from ballot Office seeker plans to take matter to Supreme Court. |url=https://www.oklahoman.com/story/news/2004/06/16/board-yanks-coles-rival-from-ballot-br-office-seeker-plans-to-take-matter-to-supreme-court/61985491007/ |access-date=5 July 2022 |publisher=The Oklahoman |date=16 June 2004}}</ref>
===2014 Oklahoma Senate campaign=== In 2014 Hooten ran for State Senate in District 40, this time as a Republican. His campaign was harmed when reports of a 2001 conviction for DUI and leaving the scene of an accident surfaced.<ref name="McCarville Report 2014">{{cite news |last1=McCarville |first1=Mike |title=Criminal Misdemeanor Guilty Pleas Dog Hooten's Senate Bid |url=http://mccarvillereport.com/archives/20277 |access-date=5 July 2022 |publisher=McCarville Report |date=11 April 2014}}</ref> Hooten finished fourth out of six candidates with 11.3% of the vote.<ref>{{cite web |title=June 24 2014 Official Results |url=https://results.okelections.us/OKER/?elecDate=20140624 |website=okelections.us |publisher=Oklahoma State Election Board |access-date=5 July 2022}}</ref>
==Oklahoma County Clerk== === 2016 campaign === In 2016 Hooten was one of three Republicans to challenge five term incumbent Carolynn Caudill in the Republican primary for Oklahoma County Clerk.<ref name="Oklahoman-27June2016">{{cite news |last1=Crum |first1=William |title=Primary candidates for Oklahoma County posts |url=https://www.oklahoman.com/story/news/columns/2016/06/27/primary-candidates-for-oklahoma-county-posts/60666465007/ |access-date=5 July 2022 |publisher=The Oklahoman |date=27 June 2016}}</ref> He advanced to a runoff with Caudill.<ref>{{cite news |title=Oklahoma County Clerk's race digs into candidates' pasts |url=https://kfor.com/news/oklahoma-county-court-clerks-race-digs-into-candidates-pasts/ |access-date=5 July 2022 |publisher=KFOR-TV |date=20 August 2016 |archive-date=5 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220705220708/https://kfor.com/news/oklahoma-county-court-clerks-race-digs-into-candidates-pasts/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> He later won the Republican primary.<ref>{{cite news |title=For those who bother to vote, tone can matter in a campaign |url=https://www.oklahoman.com/story/opinion/editorials/2016/08/25/for-those-who-bother-to-vote-tone-can-matter-in-a-campaign/60655640007/ |access-date=5 July 2022 |publisher=The Oklahoman |date=25 August 2016}}</ref>
=== Tenure === Within a month of taking office, Hooten terminated five employees who would go on to file wrongful termination claims, charging that they were fired because they had been volunteers for the campaign of the incumbent, Carolyn Caudill, whom Hooten defeated in a primary runoff for the GOP nomination.<ref>{{cite news|last=Clay|first=Nolan|date=February 27, 2017|url=http://oklahoman.com/article/5539441/new-oklahoma-county-clerk-david-hooten-accused-of-wrongful-terminations|title=New Oklahoma County Clerk David Hooten accused of wrongful terminations|work=The Oklahoman|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112035103/http://oklahoman.com/article/5539441/new-oklahoma-county-clerk-david-hooten-accused-of-wrongful-terminations|archive-date=November 12, 2020|access-date=September 22, 2023|via=Wayback Machine}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Schwab |first=Kyle |url=https://www.oklahoman.com/story/news/local/oklahoma-city/2018/03/03/seven-fired-oklahoma-county-deputy-clerks-sue-for-wrongful-termination/60540068007/ |title=Seven fired Oklahoma County deputy clerks sue for wrongful termination |work=The Oklahoman |date=March 3, 2018 |access-date=November 1, 2024}}</ref> In November 2018 the County Commissioners voted to pay $175,000 to Leona Porter, a county employee since 1988 and the former wife of civil rights leader E. Melvin Porter to settle her claims of discrimination by Hooten. According to the lawsuit Hooten reduced Porter's work responsibilities and pay, eventually requiring her to sit in a rocking chair at the entrance to the County Clerk's Office as a greeter before finally deciding to fire her. The settlement will be funded by an increase in property taxes.<ref>{{Cite news|newspaper= The Sunday Oklahoman|title= Discrimination case settled for $175K|author= Nolan Clay|date= December 16, 2018|url= https://newsok.com/article/5617759/oklahoma-county-settles-age-and-race-discrimination-lawsuit-for-175000?earlyAccess=true }}{{dead link|date=November 2024}}</ref>
Hooten was investigated by the Oklahoma County Sheriff's Department after an audio recording by one of his female employees in the County Clerk's Office was reported. In it, Hooten details a team-building trip that would require employees to face their fears, participate in physical activities that would make them sore, and engage in mandatory alcohol use. He claims that his brain has been chemically altered to prevent him from ever getting drunk.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Onstot |first=Evan |date=June 14, 2022 |title=New details emerge into complaints filed against Oklahoma County clerk |url=https://www.koco.com/article/oklahoma-county-clerk-complaints-filed-hooten/40278721 |access-date=June 16, 2022 |website=KOCO |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Jones |first1=Storme |title=Employees Speak Out After Oklahoma County Clerk Plans Mandatory Training To Include Drinking, Gambling |url=https://www.news9.com/story/62a284a3d2579c0725b58402/employees-speak-out-after-oklahoma-county-clerk-plans-mandatory-training-to-include-drinking-gambling- |access-date=November 1, 2024 |work=KWTV-DT |date=June 9, 2022 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Patterson |first1=Matt |title=Prater seeks to remove David Hooten from office, Blumert outlines awkward messages |url=https://nondoc.com/2022/06/16/prater-seeks-to-remove-david-hooten-from-office-blumert-outlines-awkward-messages/ |access-date=November 1, 2024 |work=NonDoc |date=June 16, 2022}}</ref> He announced he would resign on June 17, 2022, after Oklahoma County District Attorney David Prater recommended he be suspended and removed "on the grounds of oppression in office, corruption in office and willful maladministration."<ref name="Oklahoman-Resign16June">{{cite news |last1=Williams |first1=JaNae |title=Oklahoma County Clerk David Hooten to resign while continuing to deny sexual harassment allegations |url=https://www.oklahoman.com/story/news/2022/06/16/david-hooten-oklahoma-county-clerk-resigns-amid-sexual-harassment-allegations/7637999001/ |access-date=17 June 2022 |publisher=The Oklahoman |date=16 June 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Raache |first1=Hicham |title=Oklahoma County Clerk resigns amid sexual harassment allegations |url=https://kfor.com/news/local/oklahoma-county-clerk-resigning-amid-alleged-sexual-harassment-controversy/ |access-date=November 1, 2024 |work=KFOR-TV |date=June 17, 2022 |archive-date=October 29, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231029184525/https://kfor.com/news/local/oklahoma-county-clerk-resigning-amid-alleged-sexual-harassment-controversy/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Embattled Oklahoma County clerk to resign Friday, spokesperson says |url=https://okcfox.com/news/local/david-hooten-oklahoma-county-clerk-investigation-sexual-harassment-alcohol-gambling-david-prater-corruption-wilful-maladministration |access-date=November 1, 2024 |work=KOKH-TV |date=June 16, 2022 |language=en}}</ref>
==Later campaigns== === 2022 State Treasurer campaign === Hooten ran for the Republican nomination for Oklahoma State Treasurer in the 2022 Oklahoma State Treasurer election.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Williams |first1=JaNae |title=Oklahoma County Clerk David Hooten announces run for state treasurer |url=https://www.oklahoman.com/story/news/2021/06/18/oklahoma-county-clerk-david-hooten-campaign-begins-state-treasurer-randy-mcdaniel/7730098002/ |work=The Oklahoman |access-date=January 28, 2022 |date=June 18, 2021}}</ref> He placed third in the June 28th primary and did not advance to the August runoff.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Forman |first1=Carmen |title=Oklahoma treasurer's race: Republican Clark Jolley to run |url=https://www.oklahoman.com/story/news/2021/11/09/oklahoma-treasurers-race-republican-clark-jolley-run-statewide/6336784001/ |work=The Oklahoman |access-date=January 28, 2022 |date=November 9, 2021}}</ref>
===2024 Oklahoma House campaign=== In April 2024, Hooten filed as a Republican to run for the Oklahoma House of Representatives's 85th district against Democratic House Minority Leader Cyndi Munson.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Hoberock |first1=Barbara |title=Candidate filing draws 285 hopefuls |url=https://oklahomavoice.com/2024/04/05/candidate-filing-draws-285-hopefuls/ |access-date=September 29, 2024 |work=Oklahoma Voice |date=April 5, 2024}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hooten, David B.}} Category:1962 births Category:American politicians who switched parties Category:Candidates in the 2022 United States elections Category:County clerks in Oklahoma Category:Living people Category:University of North Texas alumni Category:University of Oklahoma alumni Category:Candidates in the 2024 United States elections