David Ellis Cogdill Sr. (December 31, 1950 – July 23, 2017) was a Republican politician who was the California State Senate Republican Leader, a post he held for 10 months from 2008 until he was replaced by State Senator Dennis Hollingsworth early in the morning on February 18, 2009 amidst a contentious mid-year budget debate. He served as a State Senator from California's 14th State Senate district for one term from December 2006 to December 2010. Career Cogdill was first elected to public office in 1975 as a member of the Board of Directors of the Bridgeport Fire Protection District in Mono County. In 1979, he moved to Modesto, where he would build his real estate appraisal business. He would live there for the remaining 38 years of his life. He had served on various boards and commissions in both the public and private sectors, including two terms on the Modesto City Council. State Assembly Prior to being elected to the Senate, Cogdill represented the 25th District for six years in the California State Assembly. During that time, he served as Vice Chair of the Rules Committee. Cogdill also sat on the Budget, Agriculture, and the Joint Legislative Audit Committees. Additionally, Cogdill acted as the Assembly Minority Floor leader and was responsible for coordinating Republican efforts on the Assembly Floor. State Senate In 2006, Cogdill was elected to the State Senate to represent the 14th District, which comprised all or a portion of Fresno, Madera, Mariposa, San Joaquin, Stanislaus and Tuolumne Counties. Upon his election, Cogdill was named Vice Chair of the Public Safety Committee, the Revenue and Taxation Committee, and the Joint Legislative Audit Committee. He was also named a sitting member of the following committees: Budget and Fiscal Review; Budget Subcommittee on Health and Human Services; Elections, Reapportionment and Constitutional Amendments; Human Services; Natural Resources and Water; Select Committee on Air Quality; and Joint Legislative Budget. Additionally, he was named as the Senate Minority Caucus Whip, a Republican leadership position responsible for coordinating Republican activities on the Senate Floor. In the Senate, Cogdill focused his efforts on economic development, strengthening public safety, keeping taxes low, improving air quality, and expanding water supply and storage opportunities. He worked to prevent increased taxes and regulations on businesses and agriculture. During his time as Chair of the California State Legislature Rural Caucus, he worked on access to health care and quality