Brad Henry

Brad Henry
26th Governor of Oklahoma
In office January 13, 2003 – January 10, 2011
Lieutenant	Mary Fallin Jari Askins
Preceded by	Frank Keating
Succeeded by	Mary Fallin
Personal details
Born	June 10, 1963 (1963-06-10) (age 48) Shawnee, Oklahoma, United States
Political party	Democratic Party
Spouse(s)	Kimberly Henry
Children	3 daughters
Residence	Shawnee, Oklahoma
Alma mater	University of Oklahoma
Profession	Lawyer
Religion	Baptist

Charles Bradford "Brad" Henry (born June 10, 1963) was the 26th Governor of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. A member of the Democratic Party, he was elected governor in 2002. Henry faced Republican US Representative Ernest Istook for re-election on November 7, 2006, and won with 66% of the vote.^[1]

Henry was the third governor and second Democrat in Oklahoma history to hold two consecutive terms, along with Democrat George Nigh and Republican Frank Keating. In 2010, Henry was ineligible to run for re-election as the Oklahoma constitution only allows two terms. His second term ended on January 10, 2011 as Oklahoma governors and other statewide elected officeholders are sworn-in on the second Monday every four years.

Early life and education

Henry was born in Shawnee, Oklahoma, the son of Charles Henry, a prominent judge and former state representative.^[2] After graduating from Shawnee High School, Henry attended the University of Oklahoma as a President's Leadership Scholar and earned a bachelor's degree in economics in 1985.^[2] He was a member of Delta Tau Delta Fraternity. In 1988, he was awarded his law degree from the University of Oklahoma College of Law, where he served as managing editor of the Law Review.^[2]

Henry practiced law in Shawnee, Oklahoma before running for the Oklahoma State Senate.^[3] He served as a state senator from 1992 until he became governor.^[3]

2002 gubernatorial election

Main article: Oklahoma gubernatorial election, 2002

In the 2002 election for governor, Henry defeated former Republican Congressman Steve Largent, an NFL Hall of Famer, by just over one-half of one percent of the vote, in a race that also included Independent candidate Gary Richardson, a retired Federal Prosecutor. Henry received 448,143 votes (43.27%) to Largent's 441,277 votes (42.61%). Richardson, a former Republican candidate, received 146,200 votes (14%).^[4]

Henry ran a campaign of "barnstorming" rural areas, and stopping at Wal-Mart stores in an RV with supporters. Henry was endorsed by football Coach Barry Switzer, who has widespread popularity in the Sooner State and accompanied Henry to many campaign events.

On the policy side of the campaign, Henry ran on the platform of the "education governor." He argued for increasing teachers' salaries and funding for higher education in the state by approving a state lottery to raise money}.

Governor of Oklahoma

Henry was officially sworn in as Oklahoma's 26th Governor on January 13, 2003, with the oath of office being administered by his cousin, federal appeals court judge Robert Harlan Henry. As Governor, he was a member of the National Governors Association, the Southern Governors' Association, and the Democratic Governors Association. He is the current president of the Council of State Governments.

Henry made national headlines by giving sanctuary from the redistricting warrant to Texas Democrats in that state's legislature by allowing them to travel across state lines into Oklahoma en masse to deny a quorum for voting on a redistricting plan. "Our position is that, without a warrant signed by a judge, we have no authority. Even under those circumstances, we are hesitant to get pulled into a Texas political battle. If we're going to do battle with Texas, we prefer that it be on the football field," Henry said through his spokesman.

As a tax-cutting governor, Henry has sought a centrist stance of moderation on most political hot button issues and seemingly has appeal across party lines.^[5] Henry is pro-choice and has vetoed legislation to mandate ultrasound viewings prior to abortion procedures. He has a mixed view of racial affirmative action, supporting it in college and graduate schools, but not in hiring for the bureaucracy. Henry supports expanding public healthcare and holding HMOs accountable for poor care; however, he also is in favor of upholding the death penalty and is against gun control. The governor supports tax cuts for the lower and middle classes and believes in keeping the income tax; he also supports using the "War on Drugs" strategy to combat methamphetamine use within his state.^[5]

On May 27, 2004, Governor Brad Henry issued Executive Order 04-21, which created the Governor's Ethnic American Advisory Council.^[6] The Ethnic American Advisory Council then published an English translation of the Qur'an embossed with the Oklahoma State seal ^[7] which was then distributed to 149 Oklahoma state legislators. There were 35 lawmakers who declined to accept the copy of the Qur'an that they were offered. ^[8] After refusing the copy of the Qur'an, Republican State Representative Rex Duncan wrote a letter to his colleagues explaining, "Most Oklahomans do not endorse the idea of killing innocent women and children in the name of ideology." Further, Duncan said during a TV interview "I think it was inappropriate that they used a state centennial seal on a religious item." ^[9]

Administration and Cabinet

The Cabinet of Governor Brad Henry
Office	Name	Term
Governor	Brad Henry	2003 – 2011
Lieutenant Governor	Mary Fallin	2003–2007
	Jari Askins	2007 – 2011
Secretary of State	M. Susan Savage	2003 – 2011
Attorney General	Drew Edmondson	2003 – 2011
State Auditor and Inspector	Jeff McMahan	2003 – 2008
	Steve Burrage	2008 – 2011
State Treasurer	Robert Butkin	2003 – 2005
	Scott Meacham	2005 – 2011
Insurance Commissioner	Carroll Fisher	2003 – 2005
	Kim Holland	2005 – 2011
Labor Commissioner	Brenda Reneau	2003 – 2007
	Lloyd Fields	2007 – 2011
Superintendent of Public Instruction	Sandy Garrett	2003 – 2011
Secretary of Agriculture	Terry Peach	2003 – 2011
Secretary of Commerce and Tourism	Kathy Taylor	2003 – 2006
	Natalie Shirley	2006 – 2011
Secretary of Education	vacant	2003 - 2011
Secretary of Energy	David Fleischaker	2003 – 2008
	Bobby Wegener	2008 – 2011
Secretary of the Environment	Miles Tolbert	2003 – 2008
	J.D. Strong	2008 – 2011
Secretary of Finance and Revenue	Scott Meacham	2005 – 2011
Secretary of Health	Tom Adelson	2003 – 2004
	Terry Cline	2004 – 2007
	Mike Crutcher	2007 – 2009
	Terri White	2009 – 2011
Secretary of Human Resources	Oscar B. Jackson Jr.	2003 – 2011
Secretary of Human Services	Howard Hendrick	2003 – 2011
Secretary of the Military	Harry M. Wyatt III	2003 – 2009
	Myles Deering	2009 – 2011
Secretary of Safety and Security	Bob Ricks	2003
	Kevin L. Ward	2004 – 2011
Secretary of Science and Technology	Joseph W. Alexander	2004 – 2011
Secretary of Transportation	Phil Tomlinson	2003–2009
	Gary Ridley	2009 – 2011
Secretary of Veterans Affairs	Norman Lamb	2003 – 2011

Supreme Court appointments

Governor Henry appointed the following Justices to the Oklahoma Supreme Court:

• James E. Edmondson – 2003
• Steven W. Taylor – 2004
• Tom Colbert – 2004, making Henry the first governor to appoint an African American justice to the Court.
• John F. Reif – 2007
• Doug Comb – 2010

Budgets

Governor Henry submitted the following budgets to the Oklahoma Legislature:

• 2004 Oklahoma state budget
• 2005 Oklahoma state budget
• 2006 Oklahoma state budget
• 2007 Oklahoma state budget
• 2008 Oklahoma state budget
• 2009 Oklahoma state budget
• 2010 Oklahoma state budget
• 2011 Oklahoma state budget

Abortion Override

In 2008, Henry vetoed an anti-abortion measure which required, among other things, women to get an ultrasound before having an abortion. The veto was overridden and was the first override in Oklahoma since 1994, when Gov. David Walters was in office.^[10] That law was struck down by a state district court, but passed again in April 2010, whereupon Henry again vetoed it.^[11] His veto was again overridden.^[12]

2006 campaign

Main article: Oklahoma gubernatorial election, 2006

In the Democratic Party primary election on July 25, 2006, Henry received 218,712 votes, 86% of the vote. ^[13]

In the November 7 general election, Henry faced Fifth District U.S. Congressman Republican Ernest Istook and won with 66% of the vote.^[1] He won with a higher total than any gubernatorial candidate in almost fifty years.^[14]

2010 Term limit/8 year cap on Governor

Despite Henry's popular approval record and avoidance of controversy, in 2010 Oklahoma voters approved an additional term limit, in addition to the prior existing term limit of 2 consecutive terms. Now, the Governor can only serve a total of 8 years. This effectively prohibits the 47-year-old Henry from making a comeback attempt at a later date. source-Oklahoma State Election Board

2011 UCO Presidency/OCU Law Dean Applications

Henry was widely expected to be named President of The University of Central Oklahoma UCO, and had purchased a large home near the campus over a year prior to his term as Governor ending. However, the state's largest newspapers The Daily Oklahoman and The Tulsa World both editorialized against the appointment of Henry as UCO president by the UCO Board of Regents, which was appointed by Henry. Another candidate was named to the position and Henry is now considered the likely choice to be Dean of the Oklahoma City University School of Law. As Governor, Henry appointed 5 members of the Oklahoma Supreme Court and delivered the 2010 commencement address at the OCU School of Law. Experience as Oklahoma Senate Judiciary Chairman, OU Law Review Editor and considerable skills in fundraising are a few of Henry's talents that make him a frontrunner for the OCU Law Dean position. OCU is a private and Methodist affiliated school and so Henry has no conflict of interest being named to the post, if he choses to apply. Henry has close ties to OCU as his cousin Robert Henry, retired U.S. Federal Appeals Judge is President of OCU.

Election results

Oklahoma gubernatorial election 2002 results map. Red denotes counties won by Steve Largent, Blue denotes those won by Brad Henry.

Oklahoma gubernatorial election 2006 results map. Red denotes counties won by Ernest Istook, Blue denotes those won by Brad Henry.

Summary of the November 5, 2002 Oklahoma gubernatorial election results

Candidates		Party	Votes	%
	Brad Henry	Democratic Party	448,143	43.27%
	Steve Largent	Republican Party	441,277	42.61%
	Gary Richardson	Independent	146,200	14.12%
Total			1,035,620	100.0%
Source: 2002 Election Results

Summary of the November 7, 2006 Oklahoma gubernatorial election results

Candidates		Party	Votes	%
	Brad Henry (Incumbent)	Democratic Party	616,033	66.50%
	Ernest Istook	Republican Party	310,273	33.50%
Total			926,306	100.0%
Source: 2006 Election Results

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "Governor/Oklahoma." American Votes 2006. CNN.com. Retrieved 10–13–09.
2. ^ ^{a b c} Everett, Dianna. "Henry, Charles Bradford (1963– )" at Oklahoma Historical Society Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture . Retrieved February 19, 2010.
3. ^ ^{a b} "Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry" National Governor's Association . Retrieved February 19, 2010.
4. ^ "General Election November 5, 2002." State Election Board. Retrieved 10–13–09.
5. ^ ^{a b} "Brad Henry." OntheIssues.org. Retrieved 10–13–09.
6. ^ "Governor's Ethnic American Advisory Committee." Oklahoma Office of Personnel Management. Retrieved 10–13–09.
7. ^ Oklahoma legislator refuses free Qur'an! :: Faith Freedom International :: Only Truth can set us free!. News.faithfreedom.org. Retrieved on 2011-01-01.
8. ^ Hinton, Mick. "Worldwide notice of Quran flap surprises all involved." Tulsa World, November 4, 2007. Retrieved 10–13–09.
9. ^ Home. KFSM. Retrieved on 2011-01-01.
10. ^ Hoberock, Barbara. "Henry's veto is overthrown." Tulsa World, April 18, 2008. Retrieved 10–13–08.
11. ^ Hoberock, Barbara. "Henry vetoes 2 abortion bills." Tulsa World, April 24, 2010. Retrieved 04–24–10.
12. ^ Talley, Tim. "Okla. House overrides abortion restrictions vetoes." The Huffington Post, April 26, 2010. Retrieved 05-03-2010.
13. ^ http://www.kfor.com/Global/story.asp?S=5002149
14. ^ Jenkings, Ron."Henry Scores Historic Win Over Istook in Okla. Governor's Race." Associated Press, November 9, 2006. Retrieved 10–13–09.

External links

• Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry official state website
• Biography at the National Governors Association
• Biography, interest group ratings, public statements, vetoes and campaign finances at Project Vote Smart
• Issue positions and quotes at On the Issues
• Campaign contributions at FollowTheMoney.org
• Appearances on C-SPAN programs
• Everett, Dianna. "Henry, Charles Bradford (1963–)" Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History & Culture. Retrieved 10–13–09

Party political offices
Preceded by Laura Boyd	Democratic nominee for Governor of Oklahoma 2002, 2006	Succeeded by Jari Askins
Political offices
Preceded by Frank Keating	Governor of Oklahoma January 13, 2003–January 10, 2011	Succeeded by Mary Fallin

Persondata
Name	Henry, Brad
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	July 10, 1963
Place of birth	Shawnee, Oklahoma
Date of death
Place of death