Sherrie Conley is an American politician who has served as a Republican representing District 20 in the Oklahoma House of Representatives since 2018.
Early life and career
Conley moved to Central Oklahoma in the 1970s and grew up in southwest Oklahoma City. She attended Moore Public Schools and graduated from Moore High School in 1981. She earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Central Oklahoma, received her teaching certification in 1991, and earned a master's degree in education administration from Southwestern Oklahoma State University in 2016. She worked as a teacher in the 1990s and 2000s and was an Oklahoma City Public Schools administrator before her election to the Oklahoma House of Representatives.[1]
Political career
In 2018, Conley ran to represent the 20th district in the Oklahoma House of Representatives. She defeated incumbent Bobby Cleveland in the Republican primary runoff, and went on to win the general election against the Democratic candidate Steve Jarman. She faced a Republican primary challenge in 2020 and 2022, but won re-election both times.[2]
In 2023, she was an author of SB 126, "which would require districts be notified if a student is arrested for a serious offense."[3]
HB 1775
In 2021, Conley helped author Oklahoma HB 1775, which prohibits teaching eight concepts about race and gender. The bill was advanced by proponents as preventing teaching critical race theory. The bill generated controversy in 2023 after it was criticized for effecting lessons on the Tulsa Race Massacre. Conley, reacting to the controversy and in reference to the Tulsa massacre, said:
“it’s just a terrible tragedy in our state, and whether or not it was actually racism that caused the thoughts of the people that started it — we can try to speculate but to know for sure, I don’t think that we can.”[4]
The remarks were compared to similar remarks by Ryan Walters made a week earlier by the Tulsa-based The Black Wall Street Times.[5] She released a press release the next day clarifying:
"it is a well-established historical fact that the Tulsa Race Massacre was motivated by race. I was attempting to convey that I can never know another individual’s true intent because I cannot think their thoughts, nor was I alive during the time this event happened. I would like to apologize for any hurt caused by my statements; that was never my intent."[6]
Leadership and committees
Conley serves as the Majority Caucus Secretary. She currently sits on the following committees:[1]
- A&B Education
- Common Education
- Health Services and Long-Term Care
- Higher Education and Career Tech
- State Powers
- Transportation
Electoral history
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Bobby Cleveland | 2,226 | 43.0% | |
| Republican | Sherrie Conley | 860 | 16.6% | |
| Republican | Tina Swayze | 833 | 16.1% | |
| Republican | Jimmy Smith | 791 | 15.3% | |
| Republican | Anthony Mackey | 463 | 9.0% | |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Sherrie Conley | 1,951 | 50.9% | |
| Republican | Bobby Cleveland | 1,884 | 49.1% | |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Sherrie Conley | 8,890 | 72.2% | |
| Democratic | Steve Jarman | 3,417 | 27.8% | |
References
- ^ a b "Representative Sherrie Conley". Oklahoma State Legislature. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
- ^ a b c d "Sherrie Conley". Ballotpedia. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
- ^ World, Randy Krehbiel Tulsa. "Senate education bills kept alive in Oklahoma House committee votes". Tulsa World. Retrieved 2023-04-13.
- ^ Taylor, Jillian (August 3, 2023). "After a state law banning some lessons on race, Oklahoma teachers tread lightly on the Tulsa Race Massacre". The Frontier. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
- ^ Morris, Nate (August 3, 2023). "Another Republican says racism didn't cause Tulsa Race Massacre". The Black Wall Street Times. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
- ^ Bailey, Brianna (August 4, 2023). "Rep. Sherrie Conley apologies for her remarks on the Tulsa Race Massacre". The Frontier. Retrieved 4 August 2023.