OKPOLICY.ORG
Steve Lewis served as Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives from 1989-1990. He currently practices law in Tulsa and represents clients at the Capitol. You can sign up on his website to receive the Capitol Updates newsletter by email.
It was a good move on the part of Governor Fallin to put her former opponent, former Democratic Lieutenant Governor Jari Askins, in charge of improving the Oklahoma child welfare system and implementing the Pinnacle Plan at the Department of Human Services. Askins was a supporter of children’s services when she was a member of the House of Representatives, and during her statewide races she proposed a “children’s cabinet” to focus the state’s resources on the needs of children.
Had the political winds not shifted bringing a Republican majority to the House in 2004, Askins would have been the state’s first female Speaker of the House. Instead she was Minority Leader and went on to be elected Lieutenant Governor in 2006. This is the second time the governor has tapped the skills of her former opponent to tackle a difficult problem, the first being as interim director of the Pardon and Parole Board. There she took over a troubled department and, by all accounts, turned it over to her successor in much better condition.
This reminds me of when, in 1982, Democratic Governor George Nigh called former Republican Governor and U.S. Senator Henry Bellmon out of retirement to become director of DHS at a time the Department was in turmoil. Ironically, part of the reason for the DHS turmoil then was a federal lawsuit, Terry D. v. Rader, complaining of Oklahoma’s treatment of children in its juvenile institutions that were then operated by DHS.
DHS Director Lloyd Rader retired and Bellmon was brought in to deal with the turmoil. The suit was eventually resolved through a consent decree that was in effect until 1998 when the case was finally dismissed, and it brought about many positive changes to our juvenile justice system. Bellmon went on to a “second act” as governor in 1986 and did more great things for the state.
Askins is taking on a heavy load, but therein is the possibility of making a difference. The Pinnacle Plan may be flawed, and the state may have difficulty making the effort necessary to see it to fruition, but someone of Askins’ stature and skill will give it a better chance. Also, her service will probably give Director Ed Lake a chance to turn to some of the other important functions of DHS that need more of his attention.
