Tim Van Zandt
Encyclopedia
Tim Van Zandt is a nurse, former accountant and former politician from the U.S. state of Missouri
. A Democrat
, he served eight years in the Missouri House of Representatives
representing Kansas City
and became the first openly gay member ever elected to the Missouri General Assembly
.
Born in Lexington, Missouri
, he graduated from the University of Central Missouri
with a B.S.E. in Accounting/Political Science and from the Bloch School at the University of Missouri–Kansas City
with an M.P.A. in Health Care Administration. He is now the Director of Public Affairs for Saint Luke's Health System
.
He was elected to the Missouri House of Representatives in 1994. In a reliably Democratic district, he won the primary election held on August 2, 1994 with over 80% of the vote. He then faced only a Libertarian
opponent in the general election, winning easily and taking office the following January. He was subsequently re-elected in 1996, 1998, and in 2000. Term limit
s prevented him from seeking re-election in 2002.
In the legislature, Van Zandt chaired the House Tobacco Settlement Committee and vice-chaired the House Committees on Urban Affairs, and Ways and Means.
Van Zandt served as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention
s in 1992, 1996 and 2000. He served on the Rules Committee in 1992 and 2000, and the Platform Committee in 1996.
An openly gay man, Van Zandt won the election with the support of the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund
, which channeled thousands of dollars into his campaign. In the 2009–10 biennium, there are three openly gay members of the Missouri General Assembly: Sen. Jolie Justus
(D–Kansas City), Rep. Jeanette Mott Oxford
(D–St. Louis
) and Rep. Mike Colona
(D–St. Louis).
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
. A Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
, he served eight years in the Missouri House of Representatives
Missouri House of Representatives
The Missouri House of Representatives is the lower chamber of the Missouri General Assembly. It has 163 members, representing districts with an average size of 31,000 residents. House members are elected for two-year terms during general elections held in even-numbered years.In 1992 Missouri...
representing Kansas City
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
and became the first openly gay member ever elected to the Missouri General Assembly
Missouri General Assembly
The Missouri General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Missouri. The bicameral General Assembly is composed of a 34-member Senate, and a 163-member House of Representatives. Members of both houses of the General Assembly are subject to term limits...
.
Born in Lexington, Missouri
Lexington, Missouri
Lexington is a city in Lafayette County, Missouri, United States. The population was 4,453 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Lafayette County. Located in western Missouri, Lexington lies about 40 miles east of Kansas City and is part of the Greater Kansas City Metropolitan Area...
, he graduated from the University of Central Missouri
University of Central Missouri
The University of Central Missouri is a four-year public institution in Warrensburg, Missouri.- History :...
with a B.S.E. in Accounting/Political Science and from the Bloch School at the University of Missouri–Kansas City
University of Missouri–Kansas City
The University of Missouri–Kansas City is a public university located in Kansas City, Missouri, USA. It is a branch of the University of Missouri System. Its main campus is in Kansas City's Rockhill neighborhood east of the Country Club Plaza...
with an M.P.A. in Health Care Administration. He is now the Director of Public Affairs for Saint Luke's Health System
Saint Luke's Health System
St. Luke's Health System in non-profit hospital network in northeast Kansas and northwest Missouri. It traces its history to its home hospital Saint Luke's Hospital which was established in 1882.It's hospital include:...
.
He was elected to the Missouri House of Representatives in 1994. In a reliably Democratic district, he won the primary election held on August 2, 1994 with over 80% of the vote. He then faced only a Libertarian
Libertarian Party (United States)
The Libertarian Party is the third largest and fastest growing political party in the United States. The political platform of the Libertarian Party reflects its brand of libertarianism, favoring minimally regulated, laissez-faire markets, strong civil liberties, minimally regulated migration...
opponent in the general election, winning easily and taking office the following January. He was subsequently re-elected in 1996, 1998, and in 2000. Term limit
Term limit
A term limit is a legal restriction that limits the number of terms a person may serve in a particular elected office. When term limits are found in presidential and semi-presidential systems they act as a method to curb the potential for monopoly, where a leader effectively becomes "president for...
s prevented him from seeking re-election in 2002.
In the legislature, Van Zandt chaired the House Tobacco Settlement Committee and vice-chaired the House Committees on Urban Affairs, and Ways and Means.
Van Zandt served as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention
Democratic National Convention
The Democratic National Convention is a series of presidential nominating conventions held every four years since 1832 by the United States Democratic Party. They have been administered by the Democratic National Committee since the 1852 national convention...
s in 1992, 1996 and 2000. He served on the Rules Committee in 1992 and 2000, and the Platform Committee in 1996.
An openly gay man, Van Zandt won the election with the support of the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund
Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund
The Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund is an American political action committee dedicated to increasing the number of openly LGBT public officials in US political life.The Victory Fund was founded in 1991...
, which channeled thousands of dollars into his campaign. In the 2009–10 biennium, there are three openly gay members of the Missouri General Assembly: Sen. Jolie Justus
Jolie Justus
Jolie L. Justus is an American lawyer and politician from Missouri. A Democrat, she is a member of the Missouri State Senate, representing the state's 10th District in Kansas City.-Early life and career:...
(D–Kansas City), Rep. Jeanette Mott Oxford
Jeanette Mott Oxford
Jeanette Mott Oxford is an American activist and politician from the state of Missouri. She is a currently a member of the Missouri House of Representatives, representing a portion of St. Louis...
(D–St. Louis
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
) and Rep. Mike Colona
Mike Colona
Mike Colona is a Democratic member of the Missouri House of Representatives. Colona represents the 67th district, which is centered on the Tower Grove South area within the city of St. Louis. Colona also serves as the House Minority Whip for the 96th General Assembly.-Personal history:Mike Colona...
(D–St. Louis).