David Parker (Mississippi politician)

David Parker
Member of the Mississippi State Senate from the 2nd district
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 5, 2016
Preceded byBill Stone
Member of the Mississippi State Senate from the 19th district
In office
December 11, 2012 – January 5, 2016
Preceded byMerle Flowers
Succeeded byKevin Blackwell
Personal details
Born
David Parker

(1969-09-11) September 11, 1969 (age 55)
Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
SpouseAshleigh Beckett
Children4
Alma materChristian Brothers University
Southern College of Optometry
OccupationOptometrist

David Parker (born 1969) is an American optometrist and politician. He serves as a Republican member of the Mississippi State Senate for District 2, which includes part of DeSoto county.

Early life

David Parker was born on September 9, 1969, in Memphis, Tennessee.[1] He was educated at Greenbrook Elementary and Southaven High School in Southaven, Mississippi. He graduated from Christian Brothers University on the pre-optometry track. He graduated from the Southern College of Optometry magna cum laude.[2]

Career

Parker works as an optometrist at his own business that he founded.[2] He is a member of the American Optometric Association and the Mississippi Optometric Association.[1]

A Republican, Parker won a special election in 2012 to replace retiring senator Merle Flowers in District 19 after defeating Rep. Pat Nelson.[2][3] The district included parts of DeSoto County and was the most populous district in the state.[3][4] Legislative redistricting created a new district in DeSoto county, resulting in Parker to run in District 2 for the Mississippi State Senate in 2015.[4] He won the election.[1] In 2019, his seat was considered "Safe Republican" by the Mississippi Center for Public Policy.[5]

He voted to defund Common Core in 2014 on an amendment, which ultimately failed.[6] In the aftermath of the Charleston church shooting in June 2015, Parker calledfor the Confederate battle flag to be removed from the flag of Mississippi, suggesting it was divisive.[7] He was part of the legislative redistricting committee in the senate in 2021.[8] He authored a proposal to reinstate the ballot initiative in the state.[9]

He declined to run for the 1st Congressional District upon Alan Nunnelee's death.[10]

Personal life

Parker is married to Ashleigh Beckett and has four children. They reside in Olive Branch, Mississippi. He is a member of the United Methodist Church.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d "David Parker". Mississippi State Senate. Retrieved January 30, 2016.
  2. ^ a b c Long, Robert Lee (August 24, 2012). "Parker running for State Senate". DeSoto Times-Tribune. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
  3. ^ a b Hall, Sam (November 29, 2012). "David Parker Defeats Rep. Pat Nelson To Replace Retired Sen. Merle Flowers". Magnolia Tribune. Clarion-Ledger. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
  4. ^ a b "State Senator David Parker qualifies for re-election". Magnolia Tribune. January 9, 2015. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
  5. ^ Ulmer, Sarah (2019-10-24). "MCPP: Republicans look to expand majority in the Senate". Magnolia Tribune. Retrieved 2024-03-31.
  6. ^ "Mississippi Tea Party urges its members to flood Supertalk with calls over Common Core funding vote". Magnolia Tribune. March 13, 2014. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
  7. ^ Long, Robert Lee (June 23, 2015). "Parker calls for change in state flag". DeSoto Times-Tribune. Retrieved January 30, 2016.
  8. ^ Ulmer, Sarah (2021-08-06). "First legislative redistricting hearing takes place in Meridian". Magnolia Tribune. Retrieved 2024-03-31.
  9. ^ Ulmer, Sarah (2024-03-04). "Senate Offers Its Proposed Legislation to Rectify State's Ballot Initiative Process". Magnolia Tribune. Retrieved 2024-03-31.
  10. ^ "State Sen. David Parker will not seek MS01 seat". Magnolia Tribune. February 21, 2015. Retrieved March 31, 2024.