Joe Dorman


Joseph E. Dorman is an American politician who served in the Oklahoma House of Representatives, representing the 65th electoral district.
An Oklahoma State University alumni, Dorman served in numerous roles in the Oklahoma Intercollegiate Legislature and worked in the Oklahoma House of Representatives, before being elected to represent the 65th electoral district in 2002. He is term limited out of office in 2014.
Dorman was the Democratic nominee for Governor of Oklahoma in the 2014 gubernatorial election, eventually losing to incumbent Mary Fallin. Major issues of his campaign include education and universal access to storm shelters in public schools.

Early life and career

Dorman was born on September 18, 1970, to Bill and Jan Dorman of Rush Springs, Oklahoma. He graduated from Rush Springs High School and Oklahoma State University.
During his time at Oklahoma State University, Dorman was a member of Pi Kappa Phi fraternity and a member and chairman of the Oklahoma State University Student Government Association Student Senate. He also served in other leadership roles, including in various roles in the Oklahoma Intercollegiate Legislature.
Dorman holds the distinction of being the only person in the history of the organization to be elected to every senior leadership position in the Oklahoma Intercollegiate Legislature, including governor, lieutenant governor, speaker, and speaker pro tempore.
Prior to serving in the Oklahoma House of Representatives, he worked as a mail clerk and runner in the chamber in 1994. After serving in other staff positions, he served as an assistant to the executive director of the House Stand and helped create an educational component for the high school pages that rotate each week through the Capitol. The Pageville program remains a popular aspect of the page program for Oklahoma high school students.
Dorman worked in Washington, D.C. as the research director for the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee for one campaign cycle, before returning to serve as Special Projects Coordinator for the Oklahoma House of Representatives. During that time, he served as the lead staff member for the Legislator Back to School Week Program, International Student Awareness Day, and the Pageville Mock Legislature. He also prepared a daily bill summary for House lawmakers.

Political career

Oklahoma House of Representatives

Dorman resigned as an employee of the Oklahoma House of Representatives in 2002 to seek a seat in the chamber, representing a western Oklahoma electoral district following the retirement of long-term member and Speaker Pro Tempore Emeritus Jim Glover.
He currently serves as the vice chair of the Democratic caucus in the Oklahoma House of Representatives and a member of the Sportsmen's Caucus.

Major legislation

Enacted

2003–2004
Dorman served as the Democratic nominee for Governor of Oklahoma in the 2014 election, losing to Republican incumbent Mary Fallin.

Community work

Dorman maintains an active role in the community. He is involved with the Lion's Club, Rotary International, Elks Club, the National Rifle Association, the OSU Alumni Association, the Oklahoma 4-H Board of Directors, O.I.L. Foundation Board, and Oklahoma YMCA Youth and Government Advisory Board.
He is the current chair of the Rush Springs Watermelon Festival, and a former director of alumni relations for the Oklahoma Intercollegiate Legislature.