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Fallin named [[Devon Energy]] Chairman and CEO Larry Nichols as the Chairman of her Transition Team. She also named (then) outgoing [[President pro tempore of the Oklahoma Senate|Oklahoma Senate President pro tempore]] [[Glenn Coffee]] (R-Tulsa) as the Transition's Co-Chairman. Fallin named [[Lieutenant Governor of Oklahoma|Lieutenant Governor-elect]] [[Todd Lamb (politician)|Todd Lamb]] as her Administration's Small Business Advocate, a position Fallin herself once held under former Governor [[Frank Keating]]. She also established her Governor's Taskforce on Economic Development to advise her on matter related to the economy. Members of that task force include [[BancFirst]] CEO David Rainbolt and former [[David Walters|Walters Administration]] [[Oklahoma Secretary of Agriculture|Secretary of Agriculture]] [[Gary Sherrer]]. Former [[Frank Keating|Keating Administration]] [[Oklahoma Secretary of Energy|Secretary of Energy]] [[Robert J. Sullivan, Jr.]] serves as the director of the Taskforce as the Special Advisor to the Governor on Economic Development.<ref>[http://www.governorelectmaryfallin.org/the-transition-team/transition-team Fallin Transition Team], Office of Governor-elect Mary Fallin, 11-30-10</ref>
Fallin named [[Devon Energy]] Chairman and CEO Larry Nichols as the Chairman of her Transition Team. She also named (then) outgoing [[President pro tempore of the Oklahoma Senate|Oklahoma Senate President pro tempore]] [[Glenn Coffee]] (R-Tulsa) as the Transition's Co-Chairman. Fallin named [[Lieutenant Governor of Oklahoma|Lieutenant Governor-elect]] [[Todd Lamb (politician)|Todd Lamb]] as her Administration's Small Business Advocate, a position Fallin herself once held under former Governor [[Frank Keating]]. She also established her Governor's Taskforce on Economic Development to advise her on matter related to the economy. Members of that task force include [[BancFirst]] CEO David Rainbolt and former [[David Walters|Walters Administration]] [[Oklahoma Secretary of Agriculture|Secretary of Agriculture]] [[Gary Sherrer]]. Former [[Frank Keating|Keating Administration]] [[Oklahoma Secretary of Energy|Secretary of Energy]] [[Robert J. Sullivan, Jr.]] serves as the director of the Taskforce as the Special Advisor to the Governor on Economic Development.<ref>[http://www.governorelectmaryfallin.org/the-transition-team/transition-team Fallin Transition Team], Office of Governor-elect Mary Fallin, 11-30-10</ref>

On April 14,2014, Fallin signed a bill banning the raising of minimum wage. She explained: "This bill provides a level playing field for all municipalities in Oklahoma. An artificial raise in the minimum wage could derail local economies in a matter of months. This is a fair measure for consumers, workers and small business owners." .<refhttp://www.examiner.com/article/oklahoma-governor-signs-bill-banning-minimum-wage-hikes-by-cities?cid=sm-facebook-041714-11.00am-OKMinimumWageHikeBan</ref>



===First year===
===First year===

Revision as of 17:14, 17 April 2014

Mary Fallin
File:Mary Fallin.jpg
27th Governor of Oklahoma
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 10, 2011
LieutenantTodd Lamb
Preceded byBrad Henry
Chairsperson of the National Governors Association
Incumbent
Assumed office
2013
Preceded byJack Markell
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Oklahoma's 5th district
In office
January 3, 2007 – January 3, 2011
Preceded byErnest Istook
Succeeded byJames Lankford
14th Lieutenant Governor of Oklahoma
In office
January 9, 1995 – January 2, 2007
GovernorFrank Keating
Brad Henry
Preceded byJack Mildren
Succeeded byJari Askins
Member of the Oklahoma House of Representatives
from the 85th district
In office
1990–1995[1]
Preceded byMichael James Hunter
Succeeded byOdilia Dank
Personal details
Born
Mary Copeland

(1954-12-09) December 9, 1954 (age 69)
Warrensburg, Missouri, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
SpouseJoseph Fallin (1984-1998)[2] Wade Christensen[2]
ResidenceGovernor's Mansion
Alma materOklahoma Baptist University
University of Central Oklahoma
Oklahoma State University, Stillwater
Signature
WebsiteOfficial website
Campaign website

Mary Fallin (born December 9, 1954) is an American politician who is the 27th and current Governor of Oklahoma. A member of the Republican Party, Fallin was elected Governor in 2010 and is the current Chairsperson of the National Governors Association.

Born in Warrensburg, Missouri, Fallin is a graduate of Oklahoma State University. Beginning her career working for multiple Oklahoma State Government agencies after college, Fallin entered the private sector in 1983, becoming a regional hotel manager and a real estate broker. Entering a career in politics, Fallin was elected to the Oklahoma House of Representatives in 1990. She served two terms in the Oklahoma House, representing a district in Oklahoma City, from 1990 to 1995. In 1994, Fallin was elected to serve as the 14th Lieutenant Governor of Oklahoma; being elected to a total of three terms, she served under two different Governors from 1995 to 2007. After seven term Republican incumbent Ernest Istook announced that he would retire from his seat to run for Governor, Fallin declared her candidacy for Oklahoma's 5th congressional district, where she was elected to two terms in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2007 to 2011.

In September 2009, Fallin announced her intentions to run for the Republican nomination for Governor of Oklahoma. She defeated three other opponents with 54% of the vote in the Republican primary and went on to defeat Democratic nominee, Lieutenant Governor Jari Askins, with 60% of the vote in the general election. She was sworn into office of January 10, 2011.

Fallin was the second woman elected to the United States Congress from Oklahoma and the first since 1921 when Alice Mary Robertson was elected to Congress and served for one term from 1921 to 1923. She was also the first Republican and first woman to serve as Oklahoma's Lieutenant Governor, as well as the first woman to serve as Governor in Oklahoma's state history.

Early life, education, and early career

Fallin was born Mary Copeland in Warrensburg, Missouri, the daughter of Mary Jo (née Duggan) and Joseph Newton Copeland.[3] Her mother and father both served terms as mayor of Tecumseh, Oklahoma, where she was raised. They were both Democrats. She too was a Democrat until she was 21, when she switched to the Republican Party of Oklahoma and became active with the Young Republicans. She graduated from Tecumseh High School and went on to attend Oklahoma Baptist University in Shawnee as well as the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond. Fallin holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Human and Environmental Sciences as well as Family Relations and Child Development from Oklahoma State University (1977).

After college, she worked for the Oklahoma Department of Tourism/Recreation, Oklahoma Employment Security Commission, and Oklahoma Office of Personnel Management. In 1983, she went to the private sector as a hotel manager for Lexington Hotel and Suites. She was also a commercial real estate broker.[4]

Oklahoma House of Representatives

Elections

Fallin decided to run for the 85th district of the Oklahoma House of Representatives after incumbent Mike Hunter announced his retirement in December 1989. She won the Republican primary in August and the general election in November. In 1992, she won re-election to a second term unopposed.[5]

Tenure

She represented Oklahoma City in the House. She authored 16 bills that became law. One notable bill was the Stalker Law for Oklahoma. When it became law, Oklahoma was only the second state, after California, to pass such legislation. She was very active with the American Legislative Exchange Council

She was recognized by the American Legislative Exchange Council as Legislator of the Year in 1993 and was named Guardian of Small Business in 1993 by the National Federation of Independent Business. According to the Almanac of American Politics, she "championed victims’ rights and health care reform."[6]

Committee assignments

Lieutenant Governor (1995–2007)

Elections

After two terms in the House, she decided to run for Lieutenant Governor of Oklahoma. Ultimately she ran in three elections that year, all of which were against other women, and raised about $200,000. Two other candidates ran in the Republican primary. Terry Neese ranked first with 38% of the vote, but failed to reach the 50% threshold needed to win outright. Fallin ranked second with 36% of the vote, qualifying for the run-off election.[7] She defeated Neese in the run-off primary election 53%-47%.[8] She defeated Democrat Nance Diamond 50%-44%. She did well in the northwest region, the Oklahoma Pandhandle, and her home in Oklahoma County. [9]

She won re-election to a second term in 1998, defeating Jack Morgan 68%-32%. She won all but nine counties, all of which in the far eastern part of the state.[10] She won re-election to a third term in 2002, defeating Democrat State Representative Laura Boyd 57%-39%, dominating the eastern part of the state.[11]

Tenure

In 1995, Fallin became Oklahoma’s first woman and first Republican to be elected to the position. As lieutenant governor, Fallin served as president of the Oklahoma Senate and on ten boards and commissions. In the Cabinet-level position of small business advocate during the Keating administration, Fallin fought the rising cost of health insurance and excessive government regulation. Fallin was also instrumental in initiating several economic development events including the first-ever Oklahoma Aerospace Summit and Expo, Small Business Day, and Telecommunications Day. She also hosted the Lieutenant Governor’s Invitational Turkey Hunt.

In the wake of the Oklahoma City bombing, she formed a task force to rebuild the childcare center lost in the disaster. Fallin also initiated Project Homesafe, a gun safety program that has distributed more than 80,000 free cable gun locks to Oklahomans.

U.S. House of Representatives (2007–2011)

Elections

2006
See also: United States House of Representatives elections in Oklahoma, 2006 § District 5

Fallin decided not to seek re-election to a fourth term as lieutenant governor. Instead, she decided to run in Oklahoma's 5th congressional district, after incumbent Republican congressman Ernest Istook decided to run for Governor of Oklahoma. Fallin also considered running for governor and challenge incumbent Democrat Brad Henry. She said I was not going to run against an incumbent governor. Governor Henry had and was and is popular and I knew what the poll numbers were. I didn’t always agree with him on all the issues but that’s why we’re in different political parties. There were things that I would have done differently."[4] Istook went on to lose by a landslide of 33 percentage points.[12] The July 25 Republican primary for the 5th district featured six candidates. She was the top vote-getter, receiving 35% of the vote. Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett finished second with 24% of the vote.[13][14] The contest between her and Cornett was about fundraising. They had few differences on the issues, but Fallin had a big cash advantage. On August 22, 2006, she defeated Cornett in the run-off primary election, 63%-37%.[15]

Fallin won the general election on November 7, defeating Democrat Paul David Hunter 60%-40%.[16][17]

2008
See also: United States House of Representatives elections in Oklahoma, 2008 § District 5

Fallin easily won re-election in 2008, defeating Democrat Steve Perry 66%-34%.[18]

Tenure

She is the first woman elected to Congress from Oklahoma since 1921. Alice Mary Robertson was the first woman to be elected to U.S. Congress from Oklahoma. She resigned her office on January 2, 2007 in order to be sworn into Congress on January 4, 2007. Lieutenant Governor-elect Jari Askins was appointed by Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry to fill the remaining days of Fallin's term.

The 5th district included just three counties: Oklahoma, Pottawatomie, and Seminole. In addition to her committee assignments, she served on the Executive Committee of the National Republican Congressional Committee, Small Business Chair on the Republican Policy Committee, and Vice Chairman of the Congressional Women’s Caucus.

In June 2007, she passed her first bill: a revamping of federal grants for women’s business centers. She joined a group of 38 Republicans who opposed an expansion of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). In July 2008, she traveled to Alaska to help make the case for oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR).[6]

Committee assignments

Caucus memberships

  • Congressional Women’s Caucus (Vice Chair)

2010 gubernatorial election

Main article: Oklahoma gubernatorial election, 2010

Incumbent Governor of Oklahoma Brad Henry was easily re-elected in 2006. In 2008, Republicans made gains in the state legislature and took control of both the Oklahoma House of Representatives and the Oklahoma Senate for the first time in Oklahoma history. Governor Henry was unable to seek reelection to a third consecutive four-year term, because of term limits placed on him by the Oklahoma Constitution.

By September, 2009, Fallin along with four other candidates had announced their intention to run for Governor to succeed Henry. Other than Fallin they were:

Fallin won the Republican nomination with 136,460 votes and defeated her nearest challenger, State Senator Randy Brogdon, who won 98,159 votes. Former Alaska Governor and 2008 Vice-Presidential candidate Sarah Palin endorsed Fallin in the primary. On November 2, 2010, Fallin defeated Democratic nominee Jari Askins 60% to 39%. She is the first female governor of Oklahoma.

Governor of Oklahoma (2011–present)

Transition

On election night, after it became apparent that Fallin had won the election, Commissioner of the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety Kevin Ward dispatched Oklahoma Highway Patrol officers to begin providing security and protection to her. As the Governor-elect, the Oklahoma Office of State Finance made available to her transition funding and other government services. The Transition established GovernorelectMaryFallin.org as the official website of the Transition and established MaryFallinInuagural.org as the official website of Fallin's Inauguration.

Fallin began the transition on November 3 by holding a joint press conference with outgoing Governor Brad Henry.[19] In the press conference, Governor Henry announced that he would make available to Fallin office space in the Oklahoma State Capitol for her to use as the headquarters for her transition team.

Fallin named Devon Energy Chairman and CEO Larry Nichols as the Chairman of her Transition Team. She also named (then) outgoing Oklahoma Senate President pro tempore Glenn Coffee (R-Tulsa) as the Transition's Co-Chairman. Fallin named Lieutenant Governor-elect Todd Lamb as her Administration's Small Business Advocate, a position Fallin herself once held under former Governor Frank Keating. She also established her Governor's Taskforce on Economic Development to advise her on matter related to the economy. Members of that task force include BancFirst CEO David Rainbolt and former Walters Administration Secretary of Agriculture Gary Sherrer. Former Keating Administration Secretary of Energy Robert J. Sullivan, Jr. serves as the director of the Taskforce as the Special Advisor to the Governor on Economic Development.[20]

On April 14,2014, Fallin signed a bill banning the raising of minimum wage. She explained: "This bill provides a level playing field for all municipalities in Oklahoma. An artificial raise in the minimum wage could derail local economies in a matter of months. This is a fair measure for consumers, workers and small business owners." .<refhttp://www.examiner.com/article/oklahoma-governor-signs-bill-banning-minimum-wage-hikes-by-cities?cid=sm-facebook-041714-11.00am-OKMinimumWageHikeBan</ref>


First year

Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin at the ribbon cutting ceremony for the opening of the University Center in Ponca City, Oklahoma on July 12, 2011

Fallin assumed office as Governor on January 10, 2011. Before the end of January, Fallin had named the four remaining Cabinet Secretaries in her Administration. She named the following:

In late January, following a heated Oklahoma State Board of Education meeting, Governor Fallin proposed major changes to the Oklahoma State Department of Education's organization and structure. The controversy arose over the Board of Education rejecting three senior staff members of Oklahoma State Superintendent of Public Instruction Janet Barresi. Under Fallin's proposed changes, the Board would be stripped of its administrative powers and those powers would be transferred solely to the State Superintendent, thus reducing the Board to more of an advisory committee to the Superintendent as opposed to a government body of the Department.[21]

On February 7, Governor Fallin addressed the Oklahoma Legislature in her first State of the State Address. In her Address, Fallin called for streamlining and modernizing the State government, reforming education, and reducing health care costs in the State. She also presented her 2012 Oklahoma state budget spending request for considering by the Legislature. She proposed to make up the $400 million budget deficit through a combination of a 5% across-the-board agency budget cuts, increased tax enforcement, state agency consolidations, and government modernization to overcome the budget shortfall.

On July 14, 2011, Governor Fallin responded to a heat wave sweeping her state by asking citizens to seek divine intervention. "The power of prayer is a wonderful thing, and I would ask every Oklahoman to look to a greater power this weekend and ask for rain," Fallin said in a news release.[22][23] Two months after her request, 100% of Oklahoma was in "severe drought".[24]

Oklahoma National Guard benefits controversy

Governor Mary Fallin has been heavily criticized for bias against same sex couples. Fallin ordered state-owned National Guard facilities to deny spousal benefits to all couples with the stated intent of preventing same sex couples from receiving spousal benefits.[25]

FALLIN: Oklahoma law is clear. The state of Oklahoma does not recognize same-sex marriages, nor does it confer marriage benefits to same-sex couples. The decision reached today allows the National Guard to obey Oklahoma law without violating federal rules or policies. It protects the integrity of our state constitution and sends a message to the federal government that they cannot simply ignore our laws or the will of the people.[26]

In response, U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel has said he will fight the battle to provide equal access to all National Guard families, regardless of sexual orientation.

HAGEL: All spouses of service members are entitled to DoD ID cards, and the benefits that come with them. But several states today are refusing to issue these IDs to same-sex spouses at National Guard facilities. Not only does this violate the states’ obligations under federal law, but their actions have created hardship and inequality by forcing couples to travel long distances to federal military bases to obtain the ID cards they’re entitled to.[27]

Personal life

Divorce

In early December 1998, an Oklahoma Highway Patrol bodyguard for Lt. Gov. Fallin resigned after admitting to unprofessional conduct. The Fallins had filed for divorce the previous week, amid allegations by her estranged husband that she had an affair with a bodyguard.[28][29]

Public Safety Commissioner Bob Ricks issued a statement saying that rumors had surfaced in early September about alleged unprofessional conduct between a member of the executive security detail and the lieutenant governor. According to Ricks, the trooper first denied the allegations, but, when questioned again in October, admitted to the improprieties. He was allowed to resign, but his admission did not say if any sexual activity was involved.[30]

Family

She has two children from her first marriage, Christina Fallin and Price Fallin.

Honors

Fallin has been honored with numerous awards including Women in Communications' Woman in the News Award, induction into the Oklahoma Women's Hall of Fame, Clarence E. Page Award, induction into the Oklahoma Aviation Hall of Fame, 1998 Woman of the Year in Government and 1993 Legislator of the Year.

Media

In August 2013, Newsmax magazine named Fallin among the "25 most influential women in the GOP".[31]

Election history

See also

References

  1. ^ "Oklahoma State University - Women of the Oklahoma Legislature". Library.okstate.edu. October 7, 2008. Retrieved February 5, 2013.
  2. ^ a b "Sex scandal roils Oklahoma politics: Official accused of having affair with trooper", Kansas City Star, The Fallin affair, more details located here: Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallons extra marital affair! December 12, 1998. Cite error: The named reference "married" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  3. ^ "Mary Fallin ancestry". Freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com. Retrieved February 5, 2013.
  4. ^ a b http://dc.library.okstate.edu/cdm/ref/collection/legislature/id/335
  5. ^ http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=763761
  6. ^ a b http://www.nationaljournal.com/almanac/2010/person/mary-fallin-ok/
  7. ^ http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=681923
  8. ^ http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=681924
  9. ^ http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=376781
  10. ^ http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=1428
  11. ^ http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=1423
  12. ^ http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=114125
  13. ^ http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=211738
  14. ^ "Primary Election". ok.gov. Oklahoma State Election Board. July 26, 2006. Retrieved January 23, 2011.
  15. ^ "Runoff Primary Election". ok.gov. Oklahoma State Election Board. August 22, 2006. Retrieved January 23, 2011.
  16. ^ http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=207183
  17. ^ "General Election". ok.gob. Oklahoma State Election Board. November 7, 2006. Retrieved January 22, 2011.
  18. ^ http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=397770
  19. ^ Fallin prepares to Oklahoma's governor, The Oklahoman, Michael McNutt, 11-3-10
  20. ^ Fallin Transition Team, Office of Governor-elect Mary Fallin, 11-30-10
  21. ^ Governor Fallin Issues Statement on Obstructionist Tactics of State Board of Education, Office of Governor Fallin, January 27, 2011
  22. ^ Official News Release
  23. ^ 'Massive heat wave' on the way; Oklahomans urged to pray
  24. ^ [1]
  25. ^ "Oklahoma National Guard Acts on Same Sex Benefits: New Policy Protects Oklahoma Constitution and Oklahoma Laws". OK.gov. Retrieved November 6, 2013.
  26. ^ "Oklahoma Drops National Guard Benefits For All Couples To Avoid Serving Same-Sex Couples". ThinkProgress. Retrieved November 19, 2013.
  27. ^ NewsRadio KRMG, "Fallin: OK will no longer process benefits for National Guard couples", November 20, 2013, [2] Retrieved November 23, 2013
  28. ^ Wednesday, May 31, 2006 (May 31, 2006). "OK Political News Service Flashback! | Oklahoma Political News Service". Okpns.com. Retrieved February 5, 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  29. ^ Raymond, Ken. Mary Fallin campaigns on experience, issues and charm, The Oklahoman, September 26, 2010 (accessed May 16, 2013)
  30. ^ "Court brief alleges Fallin consulted psychic". Okvoter.com. Retrieved February 5, 2013.
  31. ^ Meyers, Jim. "Newsmax Exclusive: The 25 Influential Women of the GOP". Retrieved January 8, 2014.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mary Fallin.
U.S. Congress (2007-2011)
Party political offices
Preceded by Republican nominee for Lieutenant Governor of Oklahoma
1994, 1998, 2002 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Republican nominee for Governor of Oklahoma
2010 		Most recent
Political offices
Preceded by Lieutenant Governor of Oklahoma
1995–2007 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Governor of Oklahoma
2011–present 		Incumbent
Preceded by Chairperson of National Governors Association
2013–present
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the House of Representatives
from Oklahoma's 5th congressional district
2007–2011 		Succeeded by
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded byas Vice President Order of Precedence of the United States
Within Oklahoma 		Succeeded by
Mayor of city
in which event is held
Succeeded by
Preceded byas Governor of Utah Order of Precedence of the United States
Outside Oklahoma 		Succeeded byas Governor of New Mexico

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