{{Short description|American politician (1952–2024)}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Ralph Okerlund | image = Okerlund.JPG | caption = Okerlund in 2013 | office = Majority Leader of the Utah Senate | term_start = January 28, 2013 | term_end = December 31, 2020 | predecessor = Scott K. Jenkins | successor = Evan Vickers | state_senate1 = Utah | district1 = 24th | term_start1 = January 1, 2009 | term_end1 = December 30, 2020 | predecessor1 = Darin G. Peterson | successor1 = Derrin Owens | birth_date = {{birth date|1952|7|28}} | birth_place = Salina, Utah, U.S. | death_date = {{death date and age|2024|10|9|1952|7|28}} | death_place = Monroe, Utah, U.S. | party = Republican | education = Dixie State University<br>University of Utah (BA) }}
'''Ralph Ole Okerlund'''<ref name="PVS">{{cite web |url= http://votesmart.org/candidate/biography/95310 |title= Ralph Okerlund's Biography |publisher= Project Vote Smart |accessdate= February 10, 2014}}</ref> (July 28, 1952 – October 9, 2024) was an American politician and a Republican member of the Utah State Senate that represented District 24 from 2009 to 2020.<ref name="UL">{{cite web |url=http://www.utahsenate.org/aspx/senmember.aspx?dist=24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101007040853/http://www.utahsenate.org/aspx/senmember.aspx?dist=24 |url-status=usurped |archive-date=October 7, 2010 |title=Okerlund, Ralph |publisher=Utah State Legislature |location=Salt Lake City, Utah |accessdate=February 10, 2014}}</ref> He was the Senate's majority leader from January 28, 2013, to 2020.
==Background== Okerlund earned his AA from Dixie State College (now Utah Tech University) and his BS in political science from the University of Utah.<ref name="senate">{{cite web |url=http://www.utahsenate.org/aspx/senmember.aspx?dist=24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101007040853/http://www.utahsenate.org/aspx/senmember.aspx?dist=24 |url-status=usurped |archive-date=October 7, 2010 |title= Okerlund, Ralph |publisher= Utah State Senate |accessdate= April 15, 2014 }}</ref> He has worked in agriculture.<ref name="senate" /> Okerlund was married to his wife, Cindy and they have three children.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://votesmart.org/candidate/95310/ralph-okerlund#.U067ZfldX-A |title=Ralph Okerlund's Political Summary |publisher= Project Vote Smart |accessdate= April 15, 2014 }}</ref> He died on October 9, 2024 at the age of 72.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ralph Okerlund |url=https://www.maglebymortuary.com/obituaries/ralph-okerlund |website=Magleby Mortuary |access-date=11 October 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Mahon |first1=Spencer |title=Utah lawmaker Ralph Okerlund has died, state officials say |url=https://www.abc4.com/news/politics/utah-republican-lawmaker-ralph-okerlund-has-died/ |access-date=11 October 2024 |publisher=ABC4 |date=10 October 2024}}</ref>
==Political career== Before he was a senator, Okerlund was on the Monroe City Council, served as Monroe City Mayor and the Sevier County Commissioner, was president of Utah State Association of Commissioners and Councilmen, and was president of Utah Association of Counties.<ref name="senate" /> Okerlund was elected to the Senate in 2008.<ref name="senate" />
In 2016, Okerlund served on the following committees:<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://senate.utah.gov/senators/district24.html|title=District 24 Senator - Utah State Senate|website=senate.utah.gov|access-date=2016-04-01}}</ref> *Executive Appropriations Committee *Executive Offices and Criminal Justice Appropriations Subcommittee *Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environmental Quality Appropriations Subcommittee *Senate Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee *Senate Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee <ref name="senate" />
During the 2014 General Session, Okerlund was conducting a meeting with House and Senate GOP leaders when he stepped out into the hallway and apparently passed out.<ref name="news">{{cite web |url=http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865598505/Utah-Senate-Majority-Leader-Ralph-Okerlund-collapses-rushed-to-hospital.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140313150126/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865598505/Utah-Senate-Majority-Leader-Ralph-Okerlund-collapses-rushed-to-hospital.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 13, 2014 |title= Utah Senate Majority Leader Ralph Okerlund 'doing well' after being rushed to hospital |author=Amy Joi O'Donoghue |publisher=Deseret News |accessdate= April 15, 2014 }}</ref> He said he had felt light-headed.<ref name="news" /> He was not able to return for the last two days of the session.<ref name="senate" /><ref name="news" />
==Elections== {{Election box begin no change|title=2016 Utah State Senate election District 24}} {{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Republican Party (US)|candidate=Ralph Okerlund (unopposed)|votes= -- |percentage= -- }} {{Election box end}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ballotpedia.org/Utah_State_Senate_elections,_2016|title=Utah State Senate Elections, 2016 - Ballotpedia|website=ballotpedia.org|access-date=2016-08-03}}</ref>
{{Election box begin no change|title=2012 Utah State Senate election District 24}} {{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Republican Party (US)|candidate=Ralph Okerlund|votes=29,588|percentage=86.4%}} {{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Constitution Party (US)|candidate=Trestin Meacham|votes=4,647|percentage=13.6%}} {{Election box end}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ballotpedia.org/Ralph_Okerlund|title=Ralph Okerlund - Ballotpedia|website=ballotpedia.org|access-date=2016-03-31}}</ref>{{Election box begin no change|title=2008 Utah State Senate election District 24}} {{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Republican Party (US)|candidate=Ralph Okerlund|votes=19,073|percentage=67.60%}} {{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Democratic Party (US)|candidate=Tobiah Dillon|votes=6,571|percentage=22.9%}} {{Election box end}}
== Legislation ==
=== 2016 sponsored bills === {| class="wikitable" !Bill Number !Bill Title !Bill Status |- |[http://le.utah.gov/~2016/bills/static/SB0063.html S.B. 63] |Survey Monument Replacement |Governor Signed 3/22/2016 |- |[http://le.utah.gov/~2016/bills/static/SB0070.html S.B. 70] |Insurance Modifications |Senate/Filed for bills not passed 3/10/2016 |- |[http://le.utah.gov/~2016/bills/static/SB0071.html S.B. 71] |Children's Justice Center Amendments |Governor Signed 3/25/2016 |- |[http://le.utah.gov/~2016/bills/static/SB0102.html S.B. 102] |High Cost Infrastructure Amendments |Governor Signed 3/28/2016 |- |[http://le.utah.gov/~2016/bills/static/SB0134.html S.B. 134] |Oil and Gas Conservation Account Amendments |Sent to Governor 3/15/2016 |- |[http://le.utah.gov/~2016/bills/static/SB0144.html S.B. 144] |Dead and Domestic Animal Disposal Amendments |Governor Signed 3/17/2016 |- |[http://le.utah.gov/~2016/bills/static/SB0147.html S.B. 147] |Revisor's Technical Corrections to Utah Code |Governor Signed 3/28/2016 |- |[http://le.utah.gov/~2016/bills/static/SB0205.html S.B. 205] |Ethics Revisions |Governor Signed 3/28/2016 |- |[http://le.utah.gov/~2016/bills/static/SB0257.html S.B. 257] |Public-Private Partnership Amendments |Senate/Filed for bills not passed 3/10/2016 |- |[http://le.utah.gov/~2016/bills/static/SB0258.html S.B. 258] |Distribution of Local Sales Tax Revenue |Governor Signed 3/28/2016 |- |[http://le.utah.gov/~2016/bills/static/SCR004.html SCR 4] |Concurrent Resolution- Old Spanish Trail Designation |Governor Signed 3/1/2016 |- |[http://le.utah.gov/~2016/bills/static/SCR010.html SCR 10] |Communications Spectrum Translator System Concurrent Resolution |Governor Signed 3/10/2016 |- |[http://le.utah.gov/~2016/bills/static/SCR014.html SCR 14] |Concurrent Resolution Designating Utah Broadcasters Awareness Week |Governor Signed 3/18/2016 |- |[http://le.utah.gov/~2016/bills/static/SJR005.html SJR 5] |Joint Resolution Authorizing Pay of In-session Employees |Sent to Lt. Gov 2/19/2016 |} <ref>{{Cite web|url = http://le.utah.gov/asp/billsintro/SenResults.asp?Listbox2=OKERLR|title = 2016 -- Legislation(Senate)|website = le.utah.gov|access-date = 2016-03-31}}</ref>
Senator Okerlund was the Floor Sponsor for the following bills: * [http://le.utah.gov/~2016/bills/static/HB0031.html H.B. 31] Enterprise Zone Amendments * [http://le.utah.gov/~2016/bills/static/HB0052.html H.B. 52] Office of Outdoor Recreation Amendments * [http://le.utah.gov/~2016/bills/static/HB0086.html H.B. 86] Postretirement Employment Restrictions * [http://le.utah.gov/~2016/bills/static/HB0110.html H.B. 110] Election Law Changes * [http://le.utah.gov/~2016/bills/static/HB0154.html H.B. 154] County Personnel Requirements * [http://le.utah.gov/~2016/bills/static/HB0169.html H.B. 169] Little Sahara State Park Designation * [http://le.utah.gov/~2016/bills/static/HB0217.html H.B. 217] Small School Funding * [http://le.utah.gov/~2016/bills/static/HB0219.html H.B. 219] Resource Management Planning * [http://le.utah.gov/~2016/bills/static/HB0266.html H.B. 266] Unclaimed Capital Credits Amendments * [http://le.utah.gov/~2016/bills/static/HB0283.html H.B. 283] Public Utility Easement Amendments * [http://le.utah.gov/~2016/bills/static/HB0287.html H.B. 287] Commission for the Stewardship of Public Lands and Private Donations for Public Lands Litigation * [http://le.utah.gov/~2016/bills/static/HB0341.html H.B. 341] Interlocal Cooperation Act Amendments * [http://le.utah.gov/~2016/bills/static/HB0479.html H.B. 479] Jail Contracting Rate Amendments * [http://le.utah.gov/~2016/bills/static/HCR002.html HCR 2] Concurrent Resolution Recognizing the 40th Anniversary of the Utah Indoor Clean Air Act * [http://le.utah.gov/~2016/bills/static/HJR005.html HJR 5] Joint Rules Resolution on Redistricting Standards
===Notable legislation=== In 2014, Senator Okerlund sponsored S.B. 88 Substitute Child Interview Amendments, which clarifies the right of child victims to keep confidential their interviews that are conducted at a Children's Justice Center, including video and audio recordings, and transcripts of those recordings.<ref name="child">{{cite web |url=http://le.utah.gov/~2014/bills/static/SB0088.html |title= S.B. 88 Substitute Child Interview Amendments |accessdate= April 15, 2014 }}</ref> This bill helps protect children who have suffered from abuse.<ref name="child" /> It was passed and signed by the Governor.<ref name="child" />
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20101007040853/http://www.utahsenate.org/aspx/senmember.aspx?dist=24 Official page]}} at the Utah State Senate *{{CongLinks | congbio = | votesmart = 95310 | fec = | congress = }} *[http://ballotpedia.org/Ralph_Okerlund Ralph Okerlund] at Ballotpedia *[http://www.followthemoney.org/database/uniquecandidate.phtml?uc=9220 Ralph Okerlund] at the National Institute on Money in State Politics
{{s-start}} {{s-par|us-ut-sen}} {{s-bef|before=Scott K. Jenkins}} {{s-ttl|title=Majority Leader of the Utah Senate|years=2013–2019}} {{s-aft|after=Evan Vickers}} {{s-end}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Okerlund, Ralph}} Category:1952 births Category:2024 deaths Category:21st-century members of the Utah Legislature Category:Utah Tech University alumni Category:People from Monroe, Utah Category:Place of birth missing Category:University of Utah alumni Category:Republican Party Utah state senators