Brad Henry

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Brad Henry
26th Governor of Oklahoma
Incumbent
Assumed office  January 13, 2003
Lieutenant	Mary Fallin (2003-2007) Jari Askins (2007-present)
Preceded by	Frank Keating
Born	July 10, 1963 (1963-07-10) (age 45) Shawnee, Oklahoma
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Kimberly Ann Henry
Residence	Shawnee, Oklahoma
Alma mater	University of Oklahoma
Profession	Lawyer
Religion	Baptist

Oklahoma

This article is part of the series: Politics and government of Oklahoma

Constitution United States Constitution Oklahoma Constitution Executive Government Governor: Brad Henry Lieutentant Governor: Jari Askins Secretary of State: M. Susan Savage State Auditor: Steve Burrage Attorney General: Drew Edmondson State Treasurer: Scott Meacham State School Superintendent: Sandy Garrett Labor Commissioner: Lloyd Fields Insurance Commissioner: Kim Holland Corporation Commission State Cabinet and State Agencies Legislature Legislature: 52nd Senate President of the Senate: Jari Askins President pro tempore: Glenn Coffee House of Representatives Speaker of the House: Chris Benge Judiciary Court System Supreme Court Court of Criminal Appeals Court of Civil Appeals Court on the Judiciary Court of Impeachment Nominating Commission Elections Elections State Election Board Last election Political parties Democratic Party Republican Party Political party strength Divisions Counties Cities and Towns Federal Relations Federal representation Senate Jim Inhofe (R) Tom Coburn (R) House of Representatives 1: John Sullivan (R) 2: Dan Boren (D) 3: Frank Lucas (R) 4: Tom Cole (R) 5: Mary Fallin (R) Politics of the United States

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Charles Bradford "Brad" Henry (born July 10, 1963) is the Governor of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. A member of the Democratic Party, he was elected governor in 2002. Henry faced Republican US Representative Ernest Istook for re-election on November 7, 2006, and won with 66% of the vote.^[1]

Henry is the third governor and second Democrat in Oklahoma history to hold two consecutive terms, after Democrat George Nigh and Republican Frank Keating. As a tax-cutting governor, who vetoed some laws limiting abortion while not opposing other abortion restrictions, Henry has sought a centrist stance of moderation on most political hot button issues and seemingly has appeal across party lines.^[2]

[edit] Early life and education

A third generation Oklahoman, Henry was born in Shawnee, Oklahoma, the son of prominent attorney, State Representative and Judge Charles Henry. He attended public schools and graduated from Shawnee High School. After graduating, Henry attended the University of Oklahoma as a President's Leadership Scholar and earned a bachelor's degree in economics in 1985. He was a member of Delta Tau Delta Fraternity. In 1988, he was awarded his law degree from the University of Oklahoma College of Law, where he served as managing editor of the Law Review. He served in the Oklahoma State Senate from 1992 until he became Governor.

[edit] Controversy

On May 27, 2004, Governor Brad Henry issued Executive Order 04-21, which created the Governor's Ethnic American Advisory Council. ^[3]The Ethnic American Advisory Council then published an English translation of the Qur'an embossed with the Oklahoma State seal ^[4] which was then distributed to 149 Oklahoma state legislators. There were 35 lawmakers who declined to accept the copy of the Qur'an that they were offered. ^[5] After refusing the copy of the Qur'an, Republican State Representative Rex Duncan wrote a letter to his colleagues explaining, "Most Oklahomans do not endorse the idea of killing innocent women and children in the name of ideology." Further, Duncan said on a TV interview "I think it was inappropriate that they used a state centennial seal on a religious item." ^[6]

[edit] 2002 gubernatorial election

In the 2002 election for governor, Henry defeated former Republican Congressman Steve Largent, an NFL Hall of Famer, by just over one-half of one percent in a race that also included Independent candidate Gary Richardson, a retired Federal Prosecutor. Henry received 448,143 votes (43.27%) to Largent's 441,277 votes (42.61%). Richardson, a former republican candidate, was the second most successful third-party gubernatorial candidate in the nation in that election, receiving 146,200 votes (14%). [1]

Henry ran an underdog campaign of "barnstorming" rural areas, and stopping at Wal-Mart stores in an RV with supporters. Henry was endorsed by legendary football Coach Barry Switzer, who has strong popularity in the Sooner State and accompanied Henry to many campaign events.

On the policy side of the campaign, Henry ran on the platform of the "education governor." He argued for increasing teachers' salaries and funding for higher education in the state by approving a state lottery to raise money.

[edit] Governorship

Henry was officially sworn in as Oklahoma's 26th Governor on January 13, 2003, with the oath of office being administered by his cousin, federal appeals court judge Robert Harlan Henry. As Governor, he is a member of the National Governors Association, the Southern Governors' Association, and the Democratic Governors Association. He is the current president of the Council of State Governments.

Henry made national headlines by giving sanctuary from the redistricting warrant to Texas Democrats in that state's legislature by allowing them to travel across state lines into Oklahoma en masse to deny a quorum for voting on a redistricting plan. "Our position is that, without a warrant signed by a judge, we have no authority. Even under those circumstances, we are hesitant to get pulled into a Texas political battle. If we're going to do battle with Texas, we prefer that it be on the football field," Henry said through his spokesman.

Governor Henry has taken a fairly moderate political stance as governor. He believes that abortion is not an issue that requires government interference and has a mixed view of affirmative action, supporting it in colleges but not in hiring for the bureaucracy. Henry supports expanding public healthcare and holding HMOs accountable for poor care; however, he also is in favor of upholding the death penalty and is against gun control. The governor supports tax cuts for the lower and middle classes and believes in keeping the income tax; he also supports using the "War on Drugs" strategy to combat methanphetamine use within his state[2].

[edit] Administration and Cabinet

[edit] Supreme Court appointments

Governor Henry appointed the following Justices to the Oklahoma Supreme Court:

• James E. Edmondson – 2003
• Steven W. Taylor – 2004
• Tom Colbert – 2004, making Henry the first governor to appoint an African American justice to the Oklahoma Supreme Court.
• John F. Reif – 2007

[edit] Abortion Override

In 2008, Henry vetoed a pro-life measure, which will require, among other things, women to get an ultrasound before having an abortion. The veto was overridden and was the first override in Oklahoma since 1994, when Gov. David Walters was in office.^[7]

[edit] 2006 campaign

In the Democratic Party primary election on July 25, 2006, Henry received 218,712 votes, 86% of the vote. [3]

In the November 7 general election, Henry faced Fifth District U.S. Congressman Republican Ernest Istook and won with 66% of the vote.^[8] He won with a higher total than any gubernatorial candidate in almost fifty years. [4]

[edit] Future campaigns

Governor Henry has stated that he does not plan to seek the U.S. Senate seat in 2010. There had previously been speculation that Henry would face incumbent Senators Jim Inhofe in 2008 or Tom Coburn in 2010. Brad Henry endorsed President of the United States Barack Obama for the 2008 Democratic Presidential Race.

[edit] Election Results

Oklahoma gubernatorial election 2002 results map. Red denotes counties won by Steve Largent, Blue denotes those won by Brad Henry.

Oklahoma gubernatorial election 2006 results map. Red denotes counties won by Ernest Istook, Blue denotes those won by Brad Henry.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry official state website

• Biography at the National Governors Association
• Biography, interest group ratings, public statements, vetoes and campaign finances at Project Vote Smart
• Issue positions and quotes at On The Issues
• Collected news and commentary at The Washington Post
• Follow the Money - Brad Henry
  • 2008 2006 2004 2002 Governor campaign contributions
  • 2000 State Senate campaign contributions

v • d • e Current members of the Cabinet of Governor Brad Henry Alexander • Crutcher • Fleischaker • Hendrick • Jackson • Lamb • Meacham • Peach • Savage • Tolbert • Tomlinson • Ward • Wyatt

v • d • e Governors of Oklahoma Territorial (1890–1907) Steele · Martin · Seay · Renfrow · Barnes · Jenkins · Grimes · Ferguson · Frantz State (since 1907) Haskell · Cruce · Williams · Robertson · Walton · Trapp · Johnston · Holloway · W. Murray · Marland · Phillips · Kerr · Turner · J. Murray · Gary · Edmondson · Nigh · Bellmon · Bartlett · Hall · Boren · Nigh · Bellmon · Walters · Keating · Henry Italics indicate acting governors