David Holt is an Alternate Delegate to the 2008 Republican National Convention. David is a former White House aide to President George W. Bush and a former staffer to U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert. A native of Oklahoma City, he currently serves as Chief of Staff to Mayor Mick Cornett. David has been an eyewitness to American political history many times over, and will be your eyes and ears this week in St. Paul through this exclusive NewsOK blog.
David Holt’s career has been dedicated to public service. By the time he became Chief of Staff to the Mayor at age 26, David had already served a U.S. President, a U.S. Speaker, a Lt. Governor, a Senator and several Congressmen.
David was born and raised in northwest Oklahoma City, attending Putnam City Schools from kindergarten through his graduation from Putnam City North. A National Merit Scholar, he attended George Washington University, obtaining his B.A. in political science and serving as sports editor for the college paper. During college, he served Congressman J.C. Watts (R, OK), the fourth-ranking Member of the House Republican Leaders
hip at the time, and Congressman Ernest Istook (R, OK).
In 2001, David went to work for U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert in the U.S. Capitol, serving there during 9/11 and its aftermath.
He then served two years (May, 2002 – May, 2004) as a Special Assistant in President Bush’s White House Office of Legislative Affairs, advocating to the U.S. House of Representatives on behalf of the President. During David’s time in the East Wing of the White House, President Bush successfully worked with Congress to fight the war on terror, lower taxes, and create the Department of Homeland Security, among other accomplishments.
David returned home in 2004 to serve as coordinator of Oklahoma’s extremely successful efforts to re-elect President George W. Bush. During that period, Holt also served as an aide to Senator Jim Inhofe (R, OK), responsible for special projects. Previous to joining the City of Oklahoma City in February of 2006, David served as Special Assistant to Lt. Governor Mary Fallin.
David was a member of the Oklahoma Delegation to the 2004 Republican National Convention, and attended the 2000 RNC as a guest. He worked for the 2005 Presidential Inaugural Committee. He has aided filmmakers and authors documenting the Presidency of George W. Bush, appearing in an award-winning documentary and a New York Times-bestselling book. Holt has been an occasional contributor to The Oklahoman’s op-ed page, and was named “40 Under 40″ by OKC Business News in 2006.
David has served since 2005 as President of the Board of Directors of Oklahoma Shakespeare in the Park, and has guided that organization in its transition to downtown Oklahoma City.
David also serves on the Board of Directors of the Northwest Chamber, the Executive Committee of the Oklahoma County Republican Party, the Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum Foundation Board of Trustees, as an officer of the Downtown Club of Oklahoma City, and on the State Chamber’s Congressional Activities Committee, the Oklahoma Municipal League’s Legislative Committee, the Arts Commission of Oklahoma City, the UCO U.S. Olympic Committee Community Partner Council, the Oklahoma Olympic Engagement Committee, the Lake Atoka Reservation Association, and is a graduate of Leadership Oklahoma City Class XXVI. He also serves as Mayor Cornett’s surrogate trustee on the Zoo Trust, the Central Oklahoma Transportation and Parking Authority, and the McGee Creek Authority.
David is a member of the Osage Nation. He and his wife Rachel, an Oklahoma County prosecutor, have been married since 2003.