Meet the Official: Cantrell, for the love of serving

Josh Cantrell is an Oklahoma Representative for the 49th District. He grew up in Powell, Marshall County. After graduatingfromKingston High School in 1993, Cantrell attended Murray State College where he obtained his Associate’s Degree. After graduating from Murray, he earned his bachelor’s degree from East Central University. Cantrell and his wife, Tanya, have two teenage boys, Jarron and Marshall, whoattendKingstonISDjust like their parents. Tanya is a graphic designer who also grew up in Kingston and graduated in 1994.

Cantrell said that even though they knew each other in high school, it wasn’t until they reconnected later and began dating.

“We knew each other in high school,” Cantrell said. “My little brother was in her class, they had gone to school together their entire time in school.”

Cantrell said they went on one date in high school, but it didn’t go so well. However, their date after high school went way better.

“In 2006, we reconnected and started dating for a couple of years before getting married.” Cantrell said.

Hesaidheenjoysspending time with his family when he can. He and his two sons fish when they can.

“We went striper fishing last Saturday.”

Cantrell said his family is also active in 4-H and junior livestock and they do family outings whenever possible.

“We go to a lot of museums,” he said. “We go to the city several times.” Cantrell said about the types of things his family enjoys doing.

In 2000, Cantrell began working in the construction industry as a superintendent for multiple companies in the Dallas/ Ft. Worth area. Then in 2009, Cantrell and his wife moved back to Marshall County after the birth of their first son. Cantrell then began to split his time living in the DFW area after the move to Marshall County. This time was also spent traveling to different construction projects around the country.

In 2012, there was a local election for the county commissioners seat for district #2. After watching the election and the results, Cantrell decided that he could do the job and told his wife he was going to run when the seat came open again.

Sure enough, when the seat became available in 2016. Cantrell said he and his wife talked about what winning the position would mean for their family. Not only would this be a pay cut, itwouldbemoretimeathome with his family. Upon the advice from his wife, Cantrell decided to spend some time with a commissioner to see what the job was about.

“So I went to his office several times, leading up to everything, and decided I was going to do it,” Cantrell said. Cantrell also told his boss that he was going to run and received support and encouragement.

“My boss told me he knew I was going to win,” Cantrell said.

So, it was no surprise to his boss when he won and made the official switch to local government in 2017. His win was not only a big step for Cantrell it was also a historic one as he was the first Republican to hold the seat ofCcounty Commissioner for district #2.

Cantrell said he knew that his time in construction paired with his education as a finance major would aid him in his new role. He said he enjoyed his role as commissioner and was surprised when he ran unopposed for reelection in 2020.

“It was always a contested seatsincewayback,”Cantrell said about running unopposed, “I did not get an opponent.” Then after hearing a speakersaythatthebesttime to run for a new office is when it is an open seat. In 2022 whenhispredecessorTommy Hardinwasreachinghisterm limit in the Oklahoma House of Representatives, Cantrell decidedthatheshouldrunfor the open seat. After thinking about the possibility of running and talking to his wife, Cantrell made the decision to try and achieve a lifelong goal and to make a difference on a higher level of government.

Cantrell took advantage of the fact that the State Rep. seat would be up for election before the end of his term as commissioner was up, he knew he wouldn’t be risking losing his then current role if he did not win the state seat. Cantrell said had a goal that he had been thinking about in the back of his mind for some time. In 2017, when he won the County Commissioners seat it was the first step on the path to fulfill a lifelong goal of becoming a State Representative for the State of Oklahoma. Cantrell said that he had wanted to be a State Representative since he was a little kid.

“I always wanted to be a state representative ever since I was a little kid, oddly enough,” Cantrell said. “I just thought it would be a cool job when I was little.”

There was even an instance in college at Murray State when a government professor asked the class whatareyougoingtobewhen you grow up, and Cantrell replied, “One of these days I am going to be a state rep.” Cantrell said that when he started learning about how the government worked he knew that the state representative wasa“morepersonable” way to represent.

So in 2022, Cantrell knew that the time was right for him to make the next move and did so. After winning the republican nomination for the state representative, Cantrell ran unopposed in 2022 for Oklahoma State Representative fulfilling his goal.

Cantrell said he enjoys representing the community that he grew up in and the surrounding areas. He accredited his family's roots in MarshallCountyandhistime as a county commissioner as two key factors as to why he is able to connect and relate to those that he represents.

Cantrell said he is thankful for the opportunity to serve those in his district and is proud to know that someone from a small town can achieve just as much as a kid from anywhere else.

“It is kind of neat to think about a little kid from Kingston, who grew up in Powell,” Cantrell said. “I am honored that the people from House District 49, let me do this for another two years without an opponent, I am very honored for that and plan on keeping up the good work and keep that track record ready to go.”

Since being sworn in, in November of 2022 Cantrell hashelpedauthor14piecesof legislation during his fresh