Walter Blackman

Walter Blackman (born 1965/1966)[1] is an American politician who served as a member of the Arizona House of Representatives from the 6th district.[2][3] He was the first black Republican elected to the Arizona State Legislature. Blackman served 21 years in the United States Army, earning a Bronze Star for combat action as a tank commander in Iraq.

Walt Blackman
Member of the Arizona House of Representatives
from the 6th district
In office
January 14, 2019 – January 9, 2023
Serving with Brenda Barton
Preceded byBrenda Barton
Succeeded byMyron Tsosie
Personal details
Born1965 or 1966 (age 57–58)
Portugal
Political partyRepublican
SpouseKristi Blackman
Children5
EducationGrand Canyon University
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/service United States Army
AwardsBronze Star
Meritorious Service Medal

Early life and education

Blackman was born on an Army base in Portugal, where his father served as an officer in the United States Air Force Security Forces.[4] He was raised in Wiesbaden, Germany.[5]

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.[5][6] He earned a Bronze Star for combat action in Iraq, and a Meritorious Service Medal.[7] From 2016 to 2018, he was the founder, President and Chief Executive Officer of WB Inclusion and Diversity Consulting Firm, LLC in Snowflake, Arizona.[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.[2][3] He was the first black Republican elected to the Arizona Legislature.[5][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, the Government Committee and the Regulatory Affairs Committee.[7] In February 2020, the Arizona House unanimously approved a bill that he had proposed that would 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 murder of George Floyd, 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][12][10][13] Blackman also called the Black Lives Matter movement a "terrorist organization", likened it to the Ku Klux Klan and questioned whether police brutality existed.[10][12][13] In reaction, the Arizona branches of the American Friends Service Committee and the American Civil Liberties Union of Arizona said that they no longer would work with him.[12]

Following the 2020 United States presidential election, Blackman supported the "Stop the Steal" movement which falsely claimed that Donald Trump won the election nationally and in Arizona.[14]

In 2022, Blackman said that he and his family were the victims of a racist smear campaign driven by the far-right website The Gateway Pundit over his refusal to support overturning the 2020 presidential election.[15] He said that, after he gave an interview in which he argued that it would be unconstitutional for state legislators to "decertify" the results of the 2020 presidential election, his daughter received a text message calling him a racial epithet and a "RINO" (Republican in Name Only).[16]

2022 U.S. House campaign
Main article: 2022 United States House of Representatives elections in Arizona § District 2

In March 2021, Blackman announced his candidacy for Arizona's 2nd congressional district in the 2022 elections.[17]

In a September 2021 speech, Blackman said, "The Proud Boys came to one of my events and that was one of the proudest moments of my life." When asked to comment on his remarks, Blackman condemned the Proud Boys, a far-right group that engages in political violence, saying, "At the time of the rally, [I] wasn't familiar with the totality and breadth of the Proud Boys conduct, which I unequivocally condemn."[18]

In a seven-way Republican primary race, Blackman finished second to winner Eli Crane.[19]

2024 State House campaign

In January 2023, Blackman announced his campaign for a third non-consecutive term in the State House.[20] After redistricting, his new district contains more of Pinal County.

Personal life

Blackman and his wife have five children.[8] His wife works at the Northern Arizona Council of Government.[8]

See also

References
  1. "Q&A: State House District 6 Candidate Walt Blackman". Verde Independent. October 19, 2020. Retrieved October 12, 2021.
  2. Johnson, Michael (December 22, 2017). "Snowflake vet enters race for LD6 seat". White Mountain Independent. Retrieved January 13, 2019.
  3. Zorn, Dave (August 28, 2018). "Thorpe, Blackman Move on in State Legislative District 6 Race". KAFF News. Retrieved January 13, 2019.
  4. Jon Hecht (November 20, 2018). "Representative-elect Blackman seeks accountability at legislature". JournalAZ.com. Retrieved June 8, 2020.
  5. Campbell, Katie (December 24, 2018). "Walt Blackman: A graduate of 'Real World U'". Arizona Capitol Times. Retrieved June 7, 2020.
  6. "Who is Walt Blackman?". Walt Blackman – Candidate for Arizona. Retrieved January 13, 2019.
  7. "House Member Walter Blackman". Azleg.gov. Retrieved June 7, 2020.
  8. "State Financial Disclosure Statement," March 16, 2020.
  9. "Black Arizona Legislator Calling Black Lives Matter 'Terrorist' Group". Arizona Daily Independent. June 5, 2020. Retrieved June 7, 2020.
  10. Rosenblatt, Dillon (June 4, 2020). "Black lawmaker calls BLM a terrorist organization". Arizona Capitol Times. Retrieved June 7, 2020.
  11. Christie, Bob (February 27, 2020). "House OKs Bill Letting Non-Violent Inmates Earn Time Off". U.S. News & World Report.
  12. Polletta, Maria; Sanchez, Yvonne Wingett (June 5, 2020). "Black GOP legislator Walter Blackman draws criticism after calling Black Lives Matter 'terrorist' group". Arizona Republic. Retrieved June 7, 2020.
  13. Stern, Ray (June 4, 2020). "Arizona Rep. Walt Blackman: George Floyd Is 'Not a Hero,' BLM Is a 'Terrorist Organization'". Phoenix New Times.
  14. Waltz, Adam (January 7, 2021). "Seven Arizonan Republican legislators face calls to ban them from the House and Senate". ABC 15 Arizona. Retrieved February 20, 2021.
  15. Johnson, Jeroslyn (February 9, 2022). "Black Republican in Arizona Says His Daughter is the Target of Racist Attacks". Black Enterprise. Retrieved February 21, 2022.
  16. Slalka, Liz (February 8, 2022). "Arizona Republican Says His Daughter Got Text Calling Him 'N-Word' RINO". Yahoo! News. Retrieved February 12, 2022.
  17. Skabelund, Adrian (March 24, 2021). "Rep. Walt Blackman announces he's seeking seat in House". Arizona Daily Sun. Retrieved May 21, 2021.
  18. Kaczynski, Andrew; Steck, Em (October 13, 2021). "NRCC-supported candidate praised Proud Boys at September rally for Capitol rioters". CNN.
  19. "Arizona Second Congressional District Primary Election Results". The New York Times. August 2, 2022. Retrieved October 26, 2022.
  20. Oravits, Jeff. "Joe Galli talking term limits + Walt Blackman announces LD7 run, talks state of politics in AZ". The Jeff Oravits Show. Retrieved April 27, 2023.
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