Mary Fallin
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| Mary Fallin | |
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| Assumed office January 4, 2007 |
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| Preceded by | Ernest Istook |
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| Born | December 9, 1954 Warrensburg, Missouri |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Divorced |
| Religion | Church of God (Anderson) |
| Oklahoma |
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Mary Fallin (born December 9, 1954) is an American Republican politician from the U.S. state of Oklahoma.
She is currently the Congresswoman for Oklahoma's 5th congressional district, replacing former Congressman Ernest Istook. She is 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.
Fallin was the first Republican and first woman to serve as Lieutenant Governor of Oklahoma. She served in that post from 1995 to 2007. 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.
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[edit] Biography
Congresswoman Mary Fallin represents the Fifth District of Oklahoma, which includes most of Oklahoma County and all of Pottawatomie and Seminole Counties. Overwhelmingly elected in November 2006. Fallin is a staunch conservative, like her predecessor, Ernest Istook. She is a member of the conservative Republican Study Committee.
Fallin currently serves on the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the Committee on Small Business. She also serves on the Executive Committee of the National Republican Congressional Committee, Small Business Chair on the Republican Policy Committee and Vice Chairman of the Women’s Caucus.
Fallin first took office in 1990 as a state legislator. During her two terms as a State Representative she was recognized by the American Legislative Exchange Council as Legislator of the Year and named Guardian of Small Business by the National Federation of Independent Business.
Fallin became Oklahoma’s first woman and first Republican lieutenant governor in 1995. As lieutenant governor, Fallin served as president of the Senate and on 10 boards and commissions that impact the quality of life and business in Oklahoma, including the Tourism and Recreation Commission, State Board of Equalization, Oklahoma Land Commission and Film Advisory Commission. She pursued an aggressive agenda focusing on economic development, education, health care and government reform during her 12 years in office.
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 at the Capitol and Telecommunications Day at the Capitol. She also hosted the Lieutenant Governor’s Invitational Turkey Hunt.
In the wake of the tragic 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.
Fallin has been honored with numerous awards including Women in Communication’s 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.
Fallin's mother and father both served terms as mayor of Tecumseh where she was raised. A native of Tecumseh and a current resident of Oklahoma City, Fallin is a long-time resident of the Fifth District. She is a graduate of Tecumseh High School and attended Oklahoma Baptist University in Shawnee. Fallin also holds a degree from Oklahoma State University. She and her two children, Christina and Price, make their home in Oklahoma City, where they are active members of Crossings Community Church.
[edit] Congressional campaign
She did not seek re-election in 2006 as lieutenant governor, but ran for the 5th Congressional District seat being vacated by Ernest Istook. In the July 25 GOP primary, she was the top vote-getter, receiving 35% of the vote. On August 22, 2006, she faced the second place finisher of the July primary Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett [1] in the GOP candidate runoff election, and won with 63% of the vote [2].
Fallin was elected on November 7, defeating Democrat Paul David Hunter [3], 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.
[edit] Committee Membership
Fallin, as of the 110th Congress, is a member of the following committees:
- United States House Committee on Small Business
- United States House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
[edit] Election history
| Candidates | Party | Votes | % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laura Boyd | Democratic Party | 400,511 | 38.95% | ||
| Mary Fallin | Republican Party | 584,990 | 56.89% | ||
| E.Z. Million | Independent | 11,802 | 1.15% | ||
| Billy Maguire | Independent | 31,053 | 3.01% | ||
| Total | 1,028,356 | 100.0% | |||
| Source: 2002 Election Results | |||||
| Candidates | Party | Votes | % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mary Fallin | Republican Party | 16,691 | 34.57% | ||
| Mick Cornett | Republican Party | 11,718 | 24.27% | ||
| Denise Bode | Republican Party | 9,139 | 18.93% | ||
| Kevin Calvey | Republican Party | 4,870 | 10.09% | ||
| Fred Morgan | Republican Party | 4,493 | 9.3% | ||
| Johnny B. Roy | Republican Party | 1,376 | 2.85% | ||
| Total | 48,267 | 100.0% | |||
| Source: 2006 primary results | |||||
| Candidates | Party | Votes | % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mary Fallin | Republican Party | 26,748 | 63.06% | ||
| Mick Cornett | Republican Party | 15,669 | 36.94% | ||
| Total | 42,417 | 100.0% | |||
| Source: 2006 run-off results | |||||
Template:American politics/party colours/Democrat/row
| Candidates | Party | Votes | % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| David Hunter | Democratic Party | 67,293 | 37.30% | ||
| Mary Fallin | Republican Party | 108,936 | 60.38% | ||
| Matthew Woodson | Independent | 4,196 | 2.32% | ||
| Total | 180,425 | 100.0% | |||
| Source: 2006 Election Results | |||||
[edit] External links
- Oklahoma Lieutenant Governor website
- Mary Fallin Campaign for Congress
- Biography page on Oklahoma Lt. Governor website
- Congresswoman Mary Fallin official U.S. House site
- Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
- Voting record maintained by The Washington Post
- Campaign finance reports and data at the Federal Election Commission
- Campaign contributions at OpenSecrets.org
- Biography, voting record, and interest group ratings at Project Vote Smart
- Issue positions and quotes at On The Issues
- Profile at SourceWatch Congresspedia
| Preceded by Jack Mildren |
Lieutenant Governor of Oklahoma 1995–2007 |
Succeeded by Jari Askins |
| Preceded by Ernest Istook |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Oklahoma's 5th congressional district 2007 – present |
Incumbent |
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