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.