Jari Askins (born April 27, 1953) is an
American lawyer and
Democratic politician from the
US State of
Oklahoma. She was the
15th Lieutenant Governor of Oklahoma, being the second female and the first
Democratic female to hold that position.
Askins won the
Oklahoma Democratic Party's
2010 gubernatorial nomination by defeating Attorney General
Drew Edmondson but was defeated in the general election by
Republican Congresswoman
Mary Fallin.
Early life, education and career
Askins was born on April 27, 1953, in
Duncan, Oklahoma. She graduated from Duncan High School in 1971. She then attended the
University of Oklahoma to receive a
Bachelor of Arts in
Journalism in 1975. While at OU, she was a member of the
Alpha Chi Omega sorority. Askins received a
Juris Doctorate from the
University of Oklahoma College of Law in 1980. After graduating from OU, she entered into private practice.
In
1982 Askins was appointed Special District Judge of
Stephens County, Oklahoma. She served from 1982 to 1990, winning reelection in 1986. Under the administration of
Governor of Oklahoma David Walters, Askins entered the executive branch of government. She was the Chair of the
Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board from 1991 to 1992, serving as the Board's first female chair. Askins served as Deputy General Counsel to Governor Walters from 1992 to 1994. Her last assignment under Governor Walters was as the Executive Director of the Pardon and Parole Board from February to November...
Read More