Rep. T.W. Shannon is elected speaker-designate. If he is elected speaker in 2013, he will be the first black House speaker in Oklahoma's history.
NewsOK
BY MICHAEL MCNUTT mmcnutt@opubco.com
Published: October 18, 2011
The first black person from southern Oklahoma elected to serve in the Legislature is on track to be the next speaker of the House of Representatives.
Republican House members Monday elected Rep. T.W. Shannon, of Lawton, as speaker-designate. He would be the first black House speaker if Republicans remain in power and the full House elects him to the powerful post in early 2013. Republicans have a 69-31 majority in the House.
“I'm overwhelmed and honored that they would entrust me with this tremendous responsibility,” said Shannon, who was elected to the House in 2006. “I'm looking forward that we're going to move forward united as one caucus to advance the conservative agenda in Oklahoma, to continue the momentum we started.”
He downplayed the historic significance of his becoming speaker... FULL ARTICLE
Posted on
Tue, October 18, 2011
by John Cox