{{short description|American politician and educator}} {{Infobox officeholder | name=Susan Paddack | image = Paddack bio.jpg | state_senate=Oklahoma | district=13th | term_start= November 17, 2004 | term_end= November 22, 2016 | preceded= Dick Wilkerson | succeeded= Greg McCortney | party=Democratic | birth_place=Baytown, Texas, U.S. | alma_mater=Brownfield High School<br>University of Colorado<br>East Central University | profession= Educator | spouse= Gary Paddack }} '''Susan Paddack''' (born in Baytown, Texas) is a Democratic politician and former educator in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. She served in the Oklahoma State Senate representing District 13, which includes Pontotoc and Hughes counties and parts of Garvin and Coal counties, since 2004. As of 2013, she served as Minority Whip and Vice Chair of the Judiciary Committee.
Paddack was a candidate for the role of Oklahoma Superintendent of Public Instruction, but ultimately failed to win the election against her Republican opponent, Janet Barresi.
Prior to her political career, Paddack was a science teacher and adjunct professor.
==Early life== Susan Paddack was born in Baytown, Texas. Her father was Vice President of the General Telephone Company and her mother was a stay-at-home mom. After graduating from high school in Brownfield, Texas, Paddack went on to earn a bachelor's degree in Education from the University of Colorado after attending Texas Tech University for two years and a master's of education degree from East Central University. Paddack and her husband moved to Ada, Oklahoma in the early 1980s.<ref>[http://www.oksenate.gov/Senators/biographies/paddack_bio.html Senator Susan Paddack - District 13] ''official State Senate website''</ref> Paddack was the first person in her family to obtain a college education, let alone a master's degree.
===Educational career=== Paddack was Director of Local Education Foundation Outreach for the Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence for over nine years.<ref>[http://www.ofe.org/news/2005/2005-10-27.htm Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence press release]</ref> She was also a science teacher in secondary schools as well as adjunct faculty member in the Education Department at East Central University.<ref>[http://dc.library.okstate.edu/digital/collection/legislature/id/263/rec/35 Susan Paddack -- Women of the Oklahoma Legislature Oral History Project]</ref>
==Political career== In 2004 Paddack was elected to the Oklahoma State Senate where she currently serves. While campaigning, Paddack commonly told constituents that she was a "Texan by birth but an Oklahoman by choice." Paddack was named "50 Women Making a Difference" in Oklahoma by the ''Journal Record'' in 2004 <ref>[http://www.oksenate.gov/Senators/biographies/paddack_bio.html Susan Paddack Senate site]</ref> and 2008.<ref>[http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4182/is_20080722/ai_n27940455/ 50 Making a Difference, ''The Journal Record'', 2008]</ref>
Paddack ran for Oklahoma Superintendent of Public Instruction in the 2010 election, but was defeated by Republican Janet Barresi.
===Senate Committees=== *Appropriations *Appropriation Subcommittee on General Government and Transportation *Appropriation Subcommittee on Public Safety and Judiciary *Education *Finance *Pensions *Public Safety *Transportation
==References== <references />
==External links== *[https://library.okstate.edu/oralhistory/digital/wotol/ Women of the Oklahoma Legislature Oral History Project -- OSU Library] *[http://www.votesmart.org/bio.php?can_id=46298 Project Vote Smart - Susan Paddack (OK)] profile *''Follow the Money'' - Susan Paddack **[http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?c=106230 2008] [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?c=79059 2006] [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?c=70354 2004] campaign contributions
{{s-start}} {{s-ppo}} {{s-bef|before=Sandy Garrett}} {{s-ttl|title=Democratic nominee for Oklahoma Superintendent of Public Instruction|years=2010}} {{s-aft|after=John Cox}} {{s-end}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Paddack, Susan}} <!-- Category:1900 births --> Category:Living people Category:Democratic Party Oklahoma state senators Category:21st-century members of the Oklahoma Legislature Category:Women state legislators in Oklahoma Category:Politicians from Ada, Oklahoma Category:21st-century American women politicians Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:People from Baytown, Texas Category:University of Colorado Boulder alumni Category:East Central University alumni Category:East Central University faculty Category:American women academics Category:Candidates in the 2010 United States elections