Jari Askins Begins Run For Oklahoma Governor

Associated Press

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- Democratic Lt. Gov. Jari Askins has become the first candidate to officially announce for the governor's race in 2010, pledging to put the state's interests above partisanship.

Related story: 1/4/2009  Askins To Seek Governor's Post In 2010

In remarks launching her gubernatorial bid Thursday in her hometown of Duncan, Askins said she would follow the examples set by the current Democratic governor, Brad Henry, and former Govs. George Nigh, David Boren and Henry Bellmon.

Among her goals is passing a constitutional amendment to set aside one year of each two-year legislative session to focus exclusively on the state budget.

She said the idea was proposed by Nigh's reform commission in 1984, but had been ignored because too many legislators and lobbyists resist change.