Oklahomans bid farewell to Henry
Tulsa World
By World's Editorial Writers
Published: 1/3/20112:24 AM
Last Modified: 1/3/20114:33 AM
In just one short week, Oklahoma will have a new governor, and a new era of history will be in the making. For the first time in Oklahoma history, Republicans will control all major state offices.
It is fitting at this time to look back at the legacy of the outgoing governor, a two-term Democrat who was a long shot eight years ago to win the election and who in those eight years compiled a record that should be the envy of leaders across the nation.
Gov. Brad Henry of Shawnee, relatively unknown throughout the state when he sought the office, managed to defeat two other better-known candidates in 2002. Some say his win largely was due to the fact the vote was split three ways, and also because a hotly debated cockfighting ban appeared on the same ballot.
Whatever the reasons for his win, Henry proved to be one of the most popular and most effective governors of the modern era. He presided over the state during two of the worst budget crises in recent memory, yet was able to build bipartisan compromises again and again to keep the ship of state from running aground... FULL ARTICLE
Posted on
Mon, January 3, 2011
by John Cox