Ervin Yen

Ervin Yen is a Republican politician from the U.S. state of Oklahoma. Yen was a state senator for district 40, comprising parts of Oklahoma City, Warr Acres, Nichols Hills, Belle Isle, Brookhaven, and The Village.

Ervin Yen
Member of the Oklahoma Senate
from the 40th district
In office
2014–2018
Preceded byCliff Branan
Succeeded byCarri Hicks
Personal details
Born1954
Taipei, Taiwan
NationalityAmerican
Political partyRepublican
Spouse(s)Pam
Alma materUniversity of Oklahoma
OccupationDoctor

Early life, education and career

Yen was born in Taipei, Taiwan in 1954. His parents moved to the United States soon afterward, due to fears of a Communist takeover of the island, settling in the Oklahoma City area in 1959.[1][2] Yen graduated from Putnam City High School in Warr Acres. Yen attended the University of Oklahoma and the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine, before working as an anesthesiologist.

Political career

Yen ran for the district 40 state senate seat against Brian Winslow, Joe Howell, Steve Kern, David B. Hooten, and Michael Taylor in a Republican primary in 2014. He defeated pastor Steve Kern in a runoff.[3] He defeated Democrat John Handy Edwards in the general election. Yen is the first Physician in the Oklahoma Senate in 40 years. He is also the first Asian American in the legislature in Oklahoma history.[4]

Yen supports only medical exemptions to school vaccinations and introduced bills to that effect in the 2016 and 2017 legislative sessions.[5]

Yen lost his 2018 primary election to veterinarian Mr. Joe Howell, an advocate for parental choice in health and education.[6]

In February 2019, Yen received the A.M.A. Dr. Nathan Davis Award for Outstanding Government Service as a State Legislator.[7]

Yen announced he will run for Oklahoma Governor in 2022. In his announcement he noted Governor Stitt’s failure to lead during the COVID-19 pandemic.[8]

Notes
  1. "About Ervin Yen". Archived from the original on 2018-04-12. Retrieved 2016-01-01.
  2. Official biography
  3. "Steve Kern Loses GOP Oklahoma Senate District 40 Runoff To Ervin Yen". KGOU. AP. August 26, 2014. Retrieved December 31, 2015.
  4. Greer, Kate (November 24, 2014). "First Asian American Legislator Elected in Oklahoma history: Historical Marker, But No Milestone". KGOU. Retrieved December 31, 2015.
  5. Hardzinski, Brian (October 17, 2016). "Oklahoma Lawmaker, Physician Ervin Yen Will Try Vaccine Mandate Again In 2017". KGOU. Retrieved February 15, 2017.
  6. Felder, Ben (June 26, 2018). "Incumbent District 40 senator falls in OKC primary". newsOK. Retrieved June 28, 2018.
  7. https://www.ama-assn.org/press-center/press-releases/ama-presents-government-service-award-former-state-senator
  8. "Former state Sen. Ervin Yen officially announces campaign for Oklahoma governor".


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