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Jari Askins

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Jari Askins
President of Cameron University
Incumbent
Assumed office
July 22, 2024
Preceded byJohn M. McArthur
Director of the Oklahoma Administrative Office of the Courts
In office
September 2015 – June 30, 2024
Preceded byMichael Evans
Succeeded byDiana O'Neal
15th Lieutenant Governor of Oklahoma
In office
January 2, 2007 – January 10, 2011
GovernorBrad Henry
Preceded byMary Fallin
Succeeded byTodd Lamb
Minority Leader of the Oklahoma House of Representatives
In office
January 2005 – January 2, 2007
Preceded byTodd Hiett
Succeeded byDanny Morgan
Member of the Oklahoma House of Representatives
from the 50th district
In office
January 9, 1995 – January 2, 2007
Preceded byEd Apple
Succeeded byDennis Johnson
Personal details
Born (1953-04-27) April 27, 1953 (age 71)
Duncan, Oklahoma, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
EducationUniversity of Oklahoma (BA, JD)

Jari Askins (born April 27, 1953) is an American judge, lawyer, and Democratic politician from the state of Oklahoma. She was the 15th lieutenant governor of Oklahoma, being the second woman and the first female Democrat to hold that position.

Askins won the Oklahoma Democratic Party's 2010 gubernatorial nomination by defeating Attorney General Drew Edmondson. She was defeated in the general election by Republican Congresswoman Mary Fallin.

Early life, education and career

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Jari Askins was born on April 27, 1953, in Duncan, Oklahoma.[1] She was raised there and graduated from Duncan High School in 1971.[2] She went on to attend the University of Oklahoma and earned a Bachelor of Arts in journalism in 1975.[1] While at OU, she was a member of the Alpha Chi Omega sorority.[2] Askins earned a Juris Doctor from the University of Oklahoma College of Law in 1980.[1] After graduating from OU, she entered into private practice.[3]

In 1982, Askins was appointed Special District Judge of Stephens County, Oklahoma. She served from 1982 to 1990,[1] winning reelection in 1986.[2] Under the administration of Governor of Oklahoma David Walters, Askins entered the executive branch of government. She was the Chair of the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board from 1991 to 1992, serving as the Board's first female chair. Askins served as Deputy General Counsel to Governor Walters from 1992 to 1994.[1] Her last assignment under Governor Walters was as the executive director of the Pardon and Parole Board from February to November 1994.[3]

Oklahoma House of Representatives (1995-2007)

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Askins during her time in the House

Before Governor Walters was succeeded by Republican Frank Keating, Askins ran, and was elected to, the Oklahoma House of Representatives, beginning her term in 1995. She served six terms in office (12 years), the maximum combined service allowed in the Oklahoma Legislature as the Representative of the 50th House District, which includes her home town, Duncan.

During her final term (2005–2006), she was elected and served as Democratic House Minority Leader, the first woman to lead a caucus in the state's legislature.[4]

2006 lieutenant governor campaign

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After reaching the mandatory legislative term limit of 12 years, Askins filed in the Democratic primary election to replace outgoing Republican Mary Fallin as Lieutenant Governor of Oklahoma. In the primaries, Askins faced former State Senate President Pro Tempore Cal Hobson, lobbyist Pete Regan, and Jim Rogers.[5] Askins received the highest share of votes of the four candidates (40.2%), and advanced to the Democratic primary runoff, competing against Pete Regan.[6]

In the run-off election on August 22, 2006, Askins defeated Regan, thus gaining the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor. Her general election opponents included Republican Speaker of the House Todd Hiett, and E.Z. Million, an independent candidate from Norman.[7] Hiett sought to maintain Republican control of the office, which had been held by then-incumbent Mary Fallin, since 1995. Askins campaigned in part on her experience in state government, with roles in all three branches of Oklahoma government: legislative (state representative), executive (Chair of the Pardon and Parole Board), and judicial (Special District Judge).

Askins eventually defeated Hiett and Million in the general election on November 7, 2006, becoming the first Democratic female (and second overall) to be formally elected lieutenant governor in Oklahoma.[8]

Lieutenant Governor (2007-2011)

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Askins' predecessor in the lieutenant governorship, Mary Fallin resigned from her office on December 28, 2006, to be sworn in specifically to her term in the U.S. House of Representatives.[9] Effective January 2, 2007, Fallin's resignation allowed then incumbent Governor Brad Henry to appoint Askins (who was at that point the lieutenant governor-elect) to serve the final week of Fallin's term.[10] At the conclusion of that term, on January 8, 2007, Askins then formally started her own full term of office.

As lieutenant governor, Askins served on various boards and commissions, including chairing the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Commission and the Oklahoma Film and Music Advisory Commission. Governor Brad Henry also named her as "Oklahoma's Small Business Advocate".[11][12] Oklahoma's 100th anniversary as a U.S. state coincided with Lt. Gov Askins' and Governor Henry's terms, with both participating in Statehood Week commemorations. Askins, in her role as President of the Oklahoma State Senate presided over a legislative session held in Guthrie, Oklahoma's capitol at the time of statehood.[13]

2010 gubernatorial campaign

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Main article: 2010 Oklahoma gubernatorial election

Askins announced on January 4, 2009, that she would run for governor in 2010 to succeed term-limited Brad Henry.[14] She was the first candidate to declare an intention to run.

As announced on July 27, 2010, Jari Askins won the Democratic primary against then-Oklahoma Attorney General Drew Edmondson and was on the November ballot for governor, facing Republican candidate Mary Fallin. The Askins vs. Fallin race and the simultaneous Diane Denish vs. Susana Martinez race in New Mexico were the third and fourth cases of woman vs. woman gubernatorial races in U.S. history. The two Oklahoma candidates participated in a single lieutenant governor's debate on October 19, 2010.[15] Fallin won the election, becoming Oklahoma's first female governor. Askins only carried four counties, including her home county of Stephens County.

Post-electoral career

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In April 2015, Governor Mary Fallin, named Askins as a special advisor on child welfare and implementation of Oklahoma's Pinnacle Plan.[16] In the role, Askins was responsible for reforms to Oklahoma's Department of Human Services ordered by courts, following a class action lawsuit related to deficiencies found in Oklahoma's foster care system.[17]

Shortly after her appointment as a special advisor, Askins was next appointed to government service tied to the judicial branch. Askins was selected in September 2015 by the Oklahoma Supreme Court to lead the Oklahoma Administrative Office of the Courts, succeeding retiring director Michael Evans.[18] Askins performed the role under the supervision of the Chief Justice of the Oklahoma Supreme Court, to oversee Oklahoma's judicial system. Included in the responsibilities of the Director are operations, budget and personnel matters in all 77 district courts and Oklahoma's courts of special jurisdiction.[19][20] She announced her retirement set for June 30, 2024.[21] On July 22, 2024, she started as the president of Cameron University, succeeding John M. McArthur.

Personal life

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Askins has been inducted into the Oklahoma Women's Hall of Fame in 2001. She is an active member of the First Christian Church of Duncan, a Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) congregation.[3]

Electoral history

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July 25, 2006 Democratic Lieutenant Governor - Primary election[22]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Jari Askins 103,515 40.22
Democratic Pete Regan 74,784 29.05
Democratic Cal Hobson 46,768 18.17
Democratic Jim Rogers 32,336 12.56
Total votes 257,403 100.0
August 22, 2006 Democratic Lieutenant Governor - Primary runoff election[23]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Jari Askins 95,096 53.81
Democratic Pete Regan 81,626 46.19
Total votes 176,722 100.0
2010 Oklahoma gubernatorial election[24]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Mary Fallin 625,506 60.45
Democratic Jari Askins 409,261 39.55
Total votes 1,034,767 100.0%
Republican gain from Democratic Swing 6.05

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e "Jari Askins". Archives of Women's Political Communication. Iowa State University. Retrieved May 5, 2024.
  2. ^ a b c "Oklahoma Women's History Heroes: Jari Askins". okdemocrats.org. Oklahoma Democratic Party. March 18, 2013. Retrieved May 5, 2024.
  3. ^ a b c "Meet Jari Askins". The Lawton Constitution. February 11, 2007. Retrieved May 5, 2024.
  4. ^ "House Historic Members - Oklahoma House of Representatives". Oklahoma House of Representatives. January 9, 2022. Retrieved January 9, 2022.[permanent dead link‍]
  5. ^ McNutt, Michael (July 16, 2006). "Eight campaign for lieutenant governor". The Oklahoman. p. P08. Retrieved January 9, 2022 – via NewsBank.
  6. ^ "2006 Primary Election". Oklahoma State Election Board (0270). Retrieved January 10, 2022.
  7. ^ McNutt, Michael (August 24, 2006). "Political battle parallels past - Lieutenant governor race starts hours after runoff". The Oklahoman. p. 4A. Retrieved January 9, 2022 – via NewsBank.
  8. ^ "2006 Primary Election". Oklahoma State Election Board (0270). Retrieved January 10, 2022.
  9. ^ Greiner, John (December 29, 2006). "Capitol: Lieutenant governor issues resignation letter - Fallin's exit gives Askins a head start". The Oklahoman. p. 18A. Retrieved January 9, 2022 – via NewsBank.
  10. ^ McNutt, Michael (January 3, 2007). "Jari Askins becomes lieutenant governor". The Oklahoman. p. 10A.
  11. ^ "Oklahoma Lieutenant Governor Jari Askins – About Jari Askins". Ok.gov. Retrieved September 4, 2010.
  12. ^ "Oklahoma Lieutenant Governor Jari Askins – Boards and Commissions". Ok.gov. Retrieved September 4, 2010.
  13. ^ "Statehood week schedule". The Oklahoman. November 14, 2007. p. 6A. Retrieved January 9, 2022 – via NewsBank.
  14. ^ McNutt, Michael. "Oklahoma Lt. Gov. Jari Askins said she will run for governor in 2010." NewsOk.com, January 4, 2009
  15. ^ Hudson, Sid (October 21, 2010). "Jari Askins for Governor » Blog Archive » Debate Info". Archived from the original on October 21, 2010. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
  16. ^ Green, Rick (April 3, 2015). "Governor names Jari Askins special adviser on child welfare and Pinnacle Plan". The Oklahoman. p. 6.
  17. ^ Graham, Ginnie (April 10, 2015). "Transforming Oklahoma's child welfare system won't be an easy fix". Tulsa World.
  18. ^ Green, Rick (September 18, 2015). "Oklahoma Supreme Court names Askins administrative director". The Oklahoman.
  19. ^ Stecklein, Janelle (September 8, 2021). "Advocate, lawmakers want to review court fee structure in Oklahoma". McAlester News-Capital & Democrat. Retrieved January 3, 2022 – via NewsBank.
  20. ^ "ANNUAL REPORT FISCAL YEAR 2020" (PDF). Supreme Court of Oklahoma. July 7, 2021. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
  21. ^ Hoberock, Barbara (May 1, 2024). "Oklahoma 'legend' Askins to retire from courts job". Oklahoma Voice. Retrieved May 5, 2024.
  22. ^ "UNOFFICIAL RESULTS". Oklahoma State Election Board. Archived from the original on October 9, 2021. Retrieved January 9, 2022.
  23. ^ "UNOFFICIAL RESULTS". Oklahoma State Election Board. Archived from the original on October 9, 2021. Retrieved January 9, 2022.
  24. ^ "2010 Election Results". ok.gov. State of Oklahoma. Archived from the original on March 13, 2015. Retrieved March 23, 2015.
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Party political offices
Preceded by Democratic nominee for Lieutenant Governor of Oklahoma
2006 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Democratic nominee for Governor of Oklahoma
2010 		Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by Lieutenant Governor of Oklahoma
2007–2011 		Succeeded by
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