Legislature Preview: State Leadership
BY Staff Reports
Sunday, February 03, 2013
2/03/13 at 7:35 AM
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Original Print Headline: State Leadership
GOVERNOR
Mary Fallin
Republican
Age: 58
Tenure: Fallin was sworn in for her first, four-year term on Jan. 10, 2011. She is the state's first female governor.
Term limited: Fallin can seek another term in 2014. Governors are limited to two terms.
Salary: $147,000
About Fallin: She was elected to the Oklahoma House in 1990 and as lieutenant governor in 1994, an office she held for 12 years. She was elected to Congress in 2006, representing the 5th District.
Fast fact: Fallin is the incoming chairwoman of the National Governors Association.
SENATE PRO TEM
Brian Bingman
R-Sapulpa
Age: 59
Tenure: He served in the Oklahoma House from 2004-2006. He was elected to the Senate in 2006.
Term limited: 2016
Salary: $56,332
About Bingman: He is vice president of land and operations for Uplands Resources in Tulsa. He served as Sapulpa mayor from 1992-2004. Bingman is leader of the 48-member Senate and also leads the 36-member Senate Republican Caucus.
SPEAKER OF HOUSE
T.W. Shannon
R-Lawton
Age: 34
Tenure: elected in 2006
Term limited: 2018
Salary: $56,332
About Shannon: He holds a law degree, worked for two Republican congressmen and was chief administrative officer for the Chickasaw Nation before being elected to the Oklahoma House. He is the youngest and first black Speaker of the Oklahoma House. He leads the 101-member House and also is leader of the 72-member House Republican Caucus.
Quote: "Don't let anybody fool you. I got my real training politically from tribal politics. If you can do tribal politics, you can do any politics. Ever since I can remember, I had an interest in government."
SENATE MINORITY LEADER
Sean Burrage
D-Claremore
Age: 44
Tenure: He has served in the Senate since 2006 and has been Democratic leader since 2012.
Term limited: 2018
Salary: $50,764
About Burrage: He is a lawyer by trade. He served as legislative director to former U.S. Sen. David Boren, D-Okla., and was his special assistant and director of state and federal relations after Boren became president of the University of Oklahoma. Burrage leads the 12-member Democratic Caucus.
Quote: "Our caucus, as you know, is down to 12 members. Some people call us the dirty dozen. Other people have other names for us."
HOUSE MINORITY LEADER
Scott Inman
D-Del City
Age: 34
Tenure: He was elected to the House in 2006.
Term limited: 2018
Salary: $50,764
About Inman: He is an attorney by trade. He became Democratic House leader in 2009. He leads the 29-member Democratic Caucus.
Quote: "Oklahoma has gotten more conservative in terms of its legislative representation, at the federal level as well as state level. It is only going to increase the likelihood we are going to see more fringe legislation coming from far-right groups that don't really have the state's best interest in mind. They have a particular hard-core political ideology they want everyone to adhere to that we think isn't good for the state."
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