Mark McBride

Mark McBride (born April 3, 1961) is an American politician who has served in the Oklahoma House of Representatives from the 53rd district since 2012.[1][2] The 53rd District is dominated by Moore, the state's 7th largest city with a population of 55,000.

Mark McBride
Member of the Oklahoma House of Representatives from the 53rd district
Assumed office
November 14, 2012
Preceded byRandy Terrill
Personal details
Born (1961-04-03) April 3, 1961
Moore, Oklahoma
Political partyRepublican

McBride's family has lived in Moore since the 1940s. He graduated from Moore High School in 1979 and was an active participant in Future Farmers of America (FFA). He briefly attended Northwest Oklahoma State University before leaving to go into farming.

In March 2020, McBride authored HB 3967, an anti-BDS bill which prohibits the State of Oklahoma from contracting with any individual or company that boycotts goods or services from Israel. McBride, who has no background in law or international affairs, explained his motivation as primarily religious, saying "The Bible is clear that those who bless Israel will be blessed and those who curse Israel will be cursed." [3]

McBride has also been an outspoken defender of the oil and gas industry, defending tax breaks for the industry and authoring bills to limit opposition to proposed fossil fuel projects. In 2019, a leaked recording revealed that the oil and gas industry had been behind the language enacted in a large number of US states, including language authored by McBride which criminalized protests against fossil fuel projects.[4]

Scandals

Representative McBride has been called the "most quoted lawmaker in Oklahoma" and he is often cited in news stories on a wide variety of topics. Additionally, he routinely finds himself embroiled in scandals that receive coverage from the news media.

McBride Threatens Private Citizen - According to news reports, and evidenced by the recording of a voicemail left by Representative McBride, the legislator threatened a former employee and private citizen in May 2015. On the 2 minute and 20 second voicemail, among other things McBride says, ""I've got more f***ing stroke than, you have no idea you have no idea, I am personally going to make your life miserable ....you've badmouthed my name around." Later in the same recording, the lawmaker added, "Buddy you screw with me and I am going to get even and I'm getting even."[5][6] McBride, when interviewed, apologized to the Fox 25 reporter saying, ""Yeah, I did the wrong thing. I shouldn't have blowed up and probably said some of the things, but the message is still the same." The recipient of the voicemail denied speaking ill of McBride's businesses and expressed concern that an elected official would threaten to use his official powers to attack a citizen. No public action against Representative McBride was taken by law enforcement or by the leadership of the Oklahoma House of Representatives, the body in which he serves. then Speaker of the House Jeff Hickman said, “While the approach Mark used to address a personal matter with a former employee of his private business is not how I would have handled it, he is responsible to his constituents, not to me.” His constituents reelected him in 2016.

McBride Jokes on Open Microphone About Sexual Assault - In May 2019, Oklahoma City CBS affiliate KWTV recorded McBride joking with other lawmakers before a public event, a press conference by Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt. On the recording, McBride is heard to say, "You molested this girl after Kannady did?”, a question for Oklahoma State Representative Scott Fetgatter, and a reference to a House of Representatives colleague being investigated for assault. Fetgatter responded, “No, I was at the table and I allowed it." McBride goes further saying, "“Are you sure it wasn’t a donkey or a goat?” [7]

Turns Back on High School Test Takers - In 2020, McBride and other lawmakers drew criticism for breaking a commitment to the state's high school seniors whose ACT tests the state had committed to pay for. The media reported that the broken promise saved the state $1.9 million, but "The cost to those students — in academic opportunities and scholarship dollars — cannot be calculated." McBride chairs the Oklahoma House of Representatives committee on education appropriations and played a key role in the budgeting process. He responded to media inquiries saying, "We did what we had to do to get the budget to work.” [8]

References
  1. "McBride wins House seat for District 53". Normantranscript.com. 2012-08-29. Retrieved 2019-05-19.
  2. "Representative Mark McBride". Okhouse.gov. Retrieved 2019-05-19.
  3. "Oklahoma House Passes pro-Israel Bill". The Oklahoman. 2020-03-04. Retrieved 2020-06-19.
  4. "OIL LOBBYIST TOUTS SUCCESS IN EFFORT TO CRIMINALIZE PIPELINE PROTESTS, LEAKED RECORDING SHOWS". The Intercept. 2019-08-19. Retrieved 2019-12-19.
  5. "State Rep leaves voicemail containing threats for private citizen". YouTubbe.com. 2015-05-21. Retrieved 2019-05-19.
  6. "State Rep leaves voicemail containing threats for private citizen". OKC Fox 25. 2015-05-20. Retrieved 2019-05-19.
  7. "Oklahoma state reps caught on hot mic joking about sexual predation". ThinkProgress. 2019-05-14. Retrieved 2019-05-19.
  8. "State Breaks Commitment to Class of 2021 In Order To Save $1.9 Million". KFOR. 2020-09-17. Retrieved 2020-09-19.
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