| Walter Blackman | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| |||
| Member of the Arizona House of Representatives
|
Incumbent | ||
| Assumed office January 14, 2019 Serving with Bob Thorpe | |||
| Preceded by | Brenda Barton | ||
| Personal details | |||
| Born | Portugal | ||
| Political party | Republican | ||
| Spouse(s) | Kristi Blackman | ||
| Children | 2 | ||
| Residence | Snowflake, Arizona, U.S. | ||
| Alma mater | Almeda University (BS) Georgetown University (GrDip) | ||
| Military service | |||
| Allegiance | United States | ||
| Service/branch |  United States Army
| ||
| Years of service | 21 | ||
Walter "Walt" Blackman is an American politician serving as a member of the Arizona House of Representatives for District 6 since January 14, 2019.[1][2] He is the first black Republican elected to the Arizona Legislature. Blackman served 21 years in the United States Army, earning a Bronze Star for combat action as a tank commander in Iraq.
Early life and education
Blackman was born on an Army base in Portugal; his father was a United States Air Force pilot.[3] He was raised in Wiesbaden, Germany.[4][5]
He has a Bachelor's degree in Educational Leadership and Administration from Almeda University, which he attended from 2009 to 2012. Blackman also has an advanced certification in Program Management from Georgetown University.[5][6]
Career
Blackman served in the United States Army for 21 years as a front line tank commander, and a sexual harassment and assault prevention Senior Program Manager specialist.[4][7] He earned a Bronze Star for combat action in Iraq, and a Meritorious Service Medal.[6] From 2016 to 2018, he was the founder, President, and Chief Executive Officer of WB Inclusion and Diversity Consulting Firm, LLC in Snowflake.[5][6][8]
Political career
Blackman was elected in 2018 to succeed term-limited Arizona State Representative Brenda Barton as a Republican member of the Arizona House of Representatives representing District 6.[1][2] He is the first black Republican elected to the Arizona Legislature.[4][6][9] He supports criminal justice reform.[10] He is Chair of the Ad Hoc Committee on Earned Release Credits for Prisoners, Vice Chair of the Judiciary Committee, Vice Chair of the State and International Affairs Committee, and a Member of the Education Commission of the States, Government Committee, and Regulatory Affairs Committee.[5][6] He is a constitutional conservative.[6] In February 2020, the Arizona House unanimously approved a bill he proposed that will give all non-violent offense state prisoners time off their sentences if they work in prison, or take drug treatment or major self-improvement courses in prison.[11]
Commenting on the George Floyd killing and also highlighting Floyd's criminal record, Blackman said on Facebook: "I DO NOT support George Floyd and I refuse to see him as a martyr. But I hope his family receives justice.”[9][10][12][13] In reaction, the American Friends Services Committee-Arizona and the American Civil Liberties Union of Arizona said they would not work with him.[14]<[15]
Personal life
He and his wife have two children.[8] His wife works at the Northern Arizona Council of Government.[8]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Johnson, Michael (December 22, 2017). "Snowflake vet enters race for LD6 seat". White Mountain Independent. https://www.wmicentral.com/news/heber_overgaard/snowflake-vet-enters-race-for-ld-seat/article_11bf8b4c-c28f-56b7-b9f9-f4997cff31a3.html.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Zorn, Dave (August 28, 2018). "Thorpe, Blackman Move on in State Legislative District 6 Race". KAFF News. https://gcmaz.com/thorpe-blackman-move-on-in-state-legislative-district-6-race/.
- ↑ Jon Hecht (2018-11-20). "Representative-elect Blackman seeks accountability at legislature". JournalAZ.com. http://www.journalaz.com/news/yavapai-county/37629-representative-elect-blackman-seeks-accountability-at-legislature.html.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Campbell, Katie (December 24, 2018). "Walt Blackman: A graduate of ‘Real World U’". Arizona Capitol Times. https://azcapitoltimes.com/news/2018/12/24/walt-blackman-a-graduate-of-real-world-u/.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 "Walt Blackman's Biography". Justfacts.votesmart.org. https://justfacts.votesmart.org/candidate/biography/184551/walt-blackman.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 "House Member Walter Blackman". Azleg.gov. https://www.azleg.gov/house-member/?legislature=54&legislator=1895.
- ↑ "Who is Walt Blackman?". Walt Blackman – Candidate for Arizona. https://www.blackman4az.com/about-walt.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 "State Financial Disclosure Statement," March 16, 2020.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 "Black Arizona Legislator Calling Black Lives Matter 'Terrorist' Group". Arizona Daily Independent. June 5, 2020. https://arizonadailyindependent.com/2020/06/05/black-arizona-legislator-draws-criticism-after-calling-black-lives-matter-terrorist-group/.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Rosenblatt, Dillon (June 4, 2020). "Black lawmaker calls BLM a terrorist organization". Arizona Capitol Times. https://azcapitoltimes.com/news/2020/06/04/black-lawmaker-calls-blm-a-terrorist-organization/.
- ↑ Bob Christie (February 27, 2020). "House OKs Bill Letting Non-Violent Inmates Earn Time Off," US News & World Report.
- ↑ Maria Polletta and Yvonne Wingett Sanchez (June 5, 2020). "Black GOP legislator Walter Blackman draws criticism after calling Black Lives Matter 'terrorist' group". Arizona Republic. https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/politics/arizona/2020/06/05/black-gop-legislator-criticism-blm-terrorist/3149272001/.
- ↑ Stern, Ray (June 4, 2020). "Arizona Rep. Walt Blackman: George Floyd Is 'Not a Hero,' BLM Is a 'Terrorist Organization'". https://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/arizona-republican-lawmaker-walt-blackman-says-george-floyd-is-not-a-hero-11473777.
- ↑ Polletta, Maria. "African American GOP legislator draws sharp criticism after calling Black Lives Matter 'terrorist' group". https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/politics/arizona/2020/06/05/black-gop-legislator-criticism-blm-terrorist/3149272001/.
- ↑ "Criminal Justice Reform Group Cuts Ties With GOP Lawmaker Over George Floyd Comments". June 6, 2020. https://patch.com/arizona/across-az/criminal-justice-reform-group-cuts-ties-gop-lawmaker-over-george-floyd-comments.
External links
- Walt Blackman Twitter page
- "Rep. Walt Blackman Legislative Preview," The Jeff Orivits Show, January 12, 2020
- "Update from Rep. Blackman: Corona, Evans leadership," The Jeff Orivits Show, March 13, 2020
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