Tim Van Zandt | |
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Member of the MissouriHouseofRepresentatives from the 38th district | |
In office January 1995 –January 2003 | |
Preceded by | Karen McCarthy |
Succeeded by | Dan Bishop |
Personal details | |
Born | Lexington,Missouri | September 17,1963
Political party | Democratic |
Residence | Kansas City,Missouri |
Alma mater | University of Central Missouri, University of Missouri–Kansas City, Montgomery College |
Profession | Accountant,nurse |
Tim Van Zandt (born September 17,1963) 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. [1]
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. [2] He is now the Vice President for Government and Community Relations 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. [3] Term limits 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. [4]
Van Zandt served as a delegate to the Democratic National Conventions in 1992,1996 and 2000. He served on the Rules Committee in 1992 and 2000,and the Platform Committee in 1996. [3]
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. [5] 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).