For Immediate Release:
December 15, 2003
Oklahoma
Supreme Court Justice Marian
Opala administers the oath of office to Sen. Debbe Leftwich
while her father, Dave McLain (center), holds the Bible.
Senator Leftwich Sworn In
State
Senator Debbe Leftwich is officially on the job. This afternoon,
Leftwich was sworn in as the newest member of the Oklahoma
State Senate.
The South Oklahoma City Democrat won the seat in a special
election last week, succeeding her husband Keith who lost
his battle to cancer in September.
Family members, friends and supporters looked on while State
Supreme Court Justice Marian Opala administered the oath
of office to Senator Leftwich during a ceremony in the senate
chamber.
“I want to thank my sons, Kevin and Kurt, our friends,
neighbors and so many others who helped ensure I would be
able to finish Keith’s work here in at the Capitol.
With the help of the people of District 44, I know we can
accomplish great things,” said Senator Leftwich, D-OKC.
Senator Cal Hobson has already tapped Leftwich to serve
on several key committees, including Business and Labor,
Transportation, General Government and Transportation Subcommittee
on Appropriations, Human Resources, Aerospace and Technology,
and Veterans, Military Affairs and Public Safety.
“Debbe Leftwich has years of public service in her
own right, chairing the Oklahoma Commission on the Status
of Women and serving in many other civic and political organizations.
We know she’s not afraid of hard work or tough issues.
I’m confident she’ll be an extremely effective
senator,” said Hobson.
Constituents who want to visit with Senator Leftwich will
not find it difficult to locate her. She’ll be moving
into her late husband’s office at the State Capitol,
in room 427A. Long-time executive assistant Jeri Holland
will remain to assist Senator Leftwich. The phone number,
405-521-5557, is also the same.
“I am honored that the people of District 44 have
entrusted me to carry on Keith’s work on their behalf.
He loved his community, his state and his country. Oklahoma
is a better place for Keith’s service, and it is a
privilege to continue on that path,” said Leftwich.
For more information, contact:
Senate
Communications Division
- (405) 521-5774
