David Riggs (politician)

David M. Riggs was born and raised in Sand Springs, Oklahoma. He graduated from Phillips University, earned a master's degree in philosophy at the University of Oklahoma and a juris doctor from the University of Tulsa College of Law.^[1] In 1972 he founded the law firm Riggs Abney alongside three law school classmates.^[2]

Riggs represented the 66th district of the Oklahoma House of Representatives from 1971 to 1986. On March 23, 1987 he won a special election to represent the 37th district of the Oklahoma Senate. He was a member of the Democratic Party.^[3] In 1973, he headed a task force looking into the riot at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary.^[1] He also wrote the Oklahoma Dispute Resolution Act and Oklahoma Open Records Act and co-wrote the Oklahoma Open Meetings Act and Oklahoma Ethics Commission Act. He retired from the legislature in 1988.^[2]

Riggs was considered a liberal for supporting prison reform, opposing the death penalty, and supporting the Equal Rights Amendment, although he also opposed abortion, gambling, and alcohol and drug use.^[1]