Hiett was born in Kellyville, Oklahoma to Jim and Beverly Hiett. He is married to Bridget Anne Beil, with whom he has three children named Jimmy, John and Hillary.[1]
Political career
Hiett has said he was motivated to enter politics when the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture quarantined his herd of cattle, and extended the quarantine even after receiving blood tests on the animals that were negative for any disease. Hiett had to appear before the state Board of Agriculture to get the quarantine lifted.[2]
Representing the 29th House District, Hiett served in the Oklahoma House from 1995 to 2007, quickly becoming the House Minority Leader in 2002.[3] After the Republicans took control of the House in 2005, Hiett was elected Speaker, the first Republican to serve in over eighty years. Hiett is only the second Republican to hold that position.[4] The first was George B. Schwabe, who served from 1921-23.
Hiett entered the Republican primary election to replace outgoing Republican Mary Fallin as Lieutenant Governor of Oklahoma. In the primaries on July 25, 2006, Hiett faced Nancy Riley and Scott Pruitt. Riley received 23% of the vote, Pruitt received 34%, and Hiett received 43%.[5] Hiett, according to Oklahoma state law, had to face Pruitt in a runoff, with the winner receiving the party's nomination.
Following the run-off election on August 22, 2006, Hiett received 66,217 votes and 50.92% as opposed to Pruitt's 63,812 votes and 49.08%.[6] Hiett was the Republican nominee for Lt. Governor, but he lost to DemocraticHouse Minority LeaderJari Askins in the November general election.[7]
Electoral history
Oklahoma House of Representatives 29th District Republican Primary Election, 1994
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
Todd Hiett
1,190
59.41
Republican
Kevin Farmer
813
40.59
Oklahoma House of Representatives 29th District Election, 1994
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
Todd Hiett
5,131
53.72
Democratic
David Thompson (incumbent)
4,420
46.28
Oklahoma House of Representatives 29th District Election, 1996
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
Todd Hiett (incumbent)
6,604
57.52
Democratic
David Thompson
4,878
42.48
Oklahoma House of Representatives 29th District Election, 1998
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
Todd Hiett (incumbent)
5,251
58.20
Democratic
Edmond Tex Slyman
3,771
41.80
Oklahoma House of Representatives 29th District Election, 2000
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
Todd Hiett (incumbent)
n/a
100.00
Oklahoma House of Representatives 29th District Election, 2002
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican
Todd Hiett (incumbent)
n/a
100.00
Oklahoma House of Representatives 29th District Election, 2004