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ABOUT JARI
Jari Askins’ roots run deep in Oklahoma. She was born
and raised in Duncan where the Oklahoma Values of
family, honesty, hard work, education and doing what’s
right are unquestioned just as they are throughout
Oklahoma.
Jari is just like us. She juggles responsibilities and
meets them all. She sings in her church choir. She has a
demanding job.
Jari’s job is public service. Her commitment to it is
without question. Jari’s experience is unmatched. That
makes Jari the best candidate for Lieutenant Governor.
She has served Oklahoma in all three branches of
government.
Jari is the first woman to become Democratic Leader of
the Oklahoma House of Representatives. She served for
eight years as a Judge of the District Court. She’s also
been Chairman of the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board
and a legal counsel in the governor’s office.
Most of all, Jari has been a leader Oklahomans can count
on. She often goes against the grain without regard to
political parties. Jari has been a determined advocate
for ending government waste and for helping education,
health care, law enforcement and business. Setting
partisan politics aside, she negotiated legislation that
made workers compensation more reasonable while
protecting the rights of injured workers.
Jari has earned the respect of leaders in both parties.
Not long ago, an editorial writer for a conservative
newspaper compared Jari to England’s Margaret Thatcher
while noting Jari was much more prepared to reach across
the aisle and work for the good of all.
Jari Askins is the kind of leader we deserve in
Oklahoma. She’ll be the last to pick a fight but the
last to run from one when it’s important for us.
Jari knows Oklahoma wins when both parties work
together. That philosophy has guided her as a leader in
the Oklahoma House of Representatives and will guide her
as Lt. Governor.
When Jari announced for Lt. Governor she said, “I think
Governor Henry has set an excellent example of what can
be accomplished when partisan interests are set aside.
I’m proud to have been part of that team effort and I
want to continue it.”
Jari’s community involvement includes serving on the
Board of Directors for Goodwill Industries of Southwest
Oklahoma and as a Director of Arvest Bank in Duncan.
Jari is a member of the Duncan Noon Lions Club, the
Duncan Chamber of Commerce, Leadership Oklahoma and the
Oklahoma Academy of State Goals.
Jari has been honored with “Outstanding Legislator”
awards from The State Chamber, Oklahoma Chapter of the
American Academy of Pediatrics, Oklahoma Chapter of the
American Academy of Family Physicians, the Oklahoma
Chapter of the American Heart Association, the Oklahoma
Association of County Commissioners, the Oklahoma County
Clerks Association, Oklahoma Public Employees
Association and the Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association.
She has been honored as Woman of the Year by the Duncan
Chamber of Commerce and with the Distinguished Service
Award from the Duncan Jaycees.
Jari was named a Henry Toll Fellow as one of 40
recipients nationwide recognized as emerging state
government leaders. She is a recipient of the Oklahoma
Wildlife Federation’s President’s Award and a Friend of
Medicine Award from the Oklahoma State Medical
Association. Jari has been inducted into the Oklahoma
Women’s Hall of Fame and the Duncan Public Schools
Foundation Hall of Fame.
Askins, 53, earned journalism and law degrees from the
University of Oklahoma. She’s an active member of The
First Christian Church of Duncan.
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