Mary Fallin
Mary Fallin | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 27th Governor of Oklahoma | |
| In office January 10, 2011 – January 14, 2019 | |
| Lieutenant | Todd Lamb |
| Preceded by | Brad Henry |
| Succeeded by | Kevin Stitt |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Oklahoma's 5th district | |
| In office January 3, 2007 – January 3, 2011 | |
| Preceded by | Ernest Istook |
| Succeeded by | James Lankford |
| 14th Lieutenant Governor of Oklahoma | |
| In office January 9, 1995 – January 2, 2007 | |
| Governor | Frank Keating Brad Henry |
| Preceded by | Jack Mildren |
| Succeeded by | Jari Askins |
| Personal details | |
| Born | December 9, 1954 Warrensburg, Missouri, United States |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) | Wade Christensen[1] |
| Alma mater | Oklahoma Baptist University University of Central Oklahoma Oklahoma State University |
| Website | Campaign website |
Mary Fallin (born December 9, 1954) is an American politician. She was the 27th Governor of the U.S. state of Oklahoma from 2011 to 2019. Before becoming governor, she was a U.S. Representative, serving from 2007 until 2011.[2]
She is the second woman elected to the United States Congress from Oklahoma. The first was Alice Mary Robertson in 1921. She was the first Republican and first woman to serve as Lieutenant Governor of Oklahoma. She served in that post from 1995 to 2007. She is also the first woman to serve as Governor in the state of Oklahoma.
Early life and career
[change | change source]Fallin was raised in Tecumseh. Her mother and father both served terms as mayor of Tecumseh. She is a graduate of Tecumseh High School. She attended Oklahoma Baptist University in Shawnee and University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond. Fallin has a Bachelor of Science degree from Oklahoma State University.
Fallin has two children, Christina and Price. They live in Oklahoma City. Fallin was first elected to the Oklahoma House of Representatives in 1990. She served two terms.
Lieutenant Governor (1995–2007)
[change | change source]In 1995, Fallin became Oklahoma’s first woman and first Republican to be elected as the Lieutenant Governor of Oklahoma. She served as president of the Senate and on 10 boards and commissions. She followed an aggressive agenda focusing on economic development, education, health care and government reform during her 12 years in office.
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.
Congressional career (2007–2011)
[change | change source]Fallin did not seek re-election in 2006 as lieutenant governor. She ran for the 5th Congressional District seat being vacated by Ernest Istook. In the July 25 GOP primary, she received the most votes.[3] On August 22, she faced the second-place finisher, Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett in the GOP candidate runoff election. She won with 63% of the vote.[4]
Fallin was elected on November 7, defeating Democrat Paul David Hunter.[5] 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 in to 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.
Fallin easily won reelection in 2008.[6] During her last term in Congress, Fallin served on the House Committee on Armed Services, the House Committee on Small Business, and the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
Governorship (2011–2019)
[change | change source]On November 10, 2010, Fallin defeated Jari Askins with more than 60% of the vote.[7]
References
[change | change source]- ↑ "Mary Fallin, Wade Christensen wed in Oklahoma City", The Oklahoman, November 22, 2009.
- ↑ "Rep. Fallin elected Okla.'s first female governor". The Washington Post. Associated Press. November 2, 2010.
- ↑ "Primary Election". ok.gov. Oklahoma State Election Board. 2006-07-26. Archived from the original on 2012-02-25. Retrieved 2011-01-23.
- ↑ "Runoff Primary Election". ok.gov. Oklahoma State Election Board. 2006-08-22. Retrieved 2011-01-23.
- ↑ "General Election". ok.gob. Oklahoma State Election Board. 2006-11-07. Retrieved 2011-01-22.
- ↑ "General Election". ok.gob. Oklahoma State Election Board. 2008-11-04. Retrieved 2011-01-22.
- ↑ "GENERAL ELECTION". ok.gob. Oklahoma State Election Board. 2010-11-02. Archived from the original on 2012-07-15. Retrieved 2011-01-22.
Other websites
[change | change source]- Mary Fallin Governor official site
| Party political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Terry Neese |
Republican nominee for Lieutenant Governor of Oklahoma 1994, 1998, 2002 |
Succeeded by Todd Hiett |
| Preceded by Ernest Istook |
Republican nominee for Governor of Oklahoma 2010 |
Succeeded by Kevin Stitt |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by Jack Mildren |
Lieutenant Governor of Oklahoma 1995–2007 |
Succeeded by Jari Askins |
| Preceded by Brad Henry |
Governor of Oklahoma 2011–2019 |
Succeeded by Kevin Stitt |
| United States House of Representatives | ||
| Preceded by Ernest Istook |
Member of the House of Representatives from Oklahoma's 5th congressional district 2007–2011 |
Succeeded by James Lankford |