Brad Henry's election makes Fallin state's top Republican

Sunday, November 24th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ Lt. Gov. Mary Fallin has stood in Gov. Frank Keating's shadow for eight years, dutifully fulfilling her role as a loyal No. 2 to Oklahoma's outspoken Republican governor.

With Keating preparing to leave office and the election of Democrat Brad Henry to replace him, Fallin will become the state's top Republican and take on the duty of advancing her party's conservative agenda, a role that could place the state's top two executives at odds.

``I think Brad is a committed public servant. But there will be differences in opinion on issues,'' Fallin said. ``I'm sure we will have differences of opinion on where to lead the state.''

Fallin, 47, made history in 1994 when she became the first woman and the first Republican elected lieutenant governor in Oklahoma.

She has made waves in state government as a proponent of workers compensation reform, which trial lawyers opposed, and for advancing right to work, an issue for which she asserted her constitutional role as president of the Senate in 2000 to force a vote.

Right-to-work, which forbids labor contracts that require all employees to pay union dues, was approved in a statewide referendum in 2001.

Fallin's efforts have earned Keating's respect. He described her as an ``independent, strong-willed advocate of what she believes is right for Oklahoma.''

``Mary is very hard working and she is very focused,'' said Keating, who is leaving office after two terms due to term limits. ``She clearly will be an extraordinarily strong political figure.''

Clashes between governor and lieutenant governor are not uncommon. Before he served two terms as governor, Democrat George Nigh served four terms as lieutenant governor including a term under former Republican Gov. Dewey Bartlett.

``We got off on a bad foot,'' Nigh said. During the 1966 elections, Bartlett campaigned to make the lieutenant governor head of economic development for the state.

But after Bartlett and Nigh were sworn in, Bartlett gave the job to Republican Bob Wooten, the man Nigh defeated in the lieutenant governor's race.

``I said governor, you're making a mistake. He did it,'' Nigh said. ``That obviously put us at odds. It wasn't a lot of fun for a year or so.''

Nigh said mischief can also create problems.

While governor, Nigh traveled to Asia on an economic development trip. While away, his Democratic lieutenant governor, Spencer Bernard, hurriedly reactivated a long-dormant trust and scheduled an emergency meeting to sell millions of dollars worth of bonds.

One of the lieutenant governor's duties is to act as governor when the chief executive is out of state.

Nigh learned of the development and cut short a planned stopover in Hawaii.

``Just before they held the meeting, I walked into the room,'' he said. He questioned the need for an emergency meeting and asked trust members to take no action.

``And they voted not to,'' he said.

Keating said Fallin is unlikely to engage in such backdoor maneuvering. She has acted as governor in Keating's absence between 70 and 80 days a year during Keating's two terms.

``I've never had to look over my shoulder and worry about mischief-making at the Capitol,'' Keating said. ``She will not be a wrecking crew. She will be loyal to the state.''

Fallin and Henry have much in common. Each is from rural Pottawatomie County and share hometown friends. And they are familiar with the legislative process through their work in the Senate, where Henry served for 10 years.

``I hope that we will have open communication,'' Fallin said. ``It's imperative that we do work together.''

But clashes are likely, especially involving state tax and workers compensation reform.

Fallin said she supports Henry's campaign proposal to give retirees income tax relief, a plan Henry has already shelved because of the state's deepening budget shortfall.

Fallin said she will support GOP efforts to enact the plan in the 2003 Legislature. She said tax relief could be implemented over time and kick in only when the state can afford it.

``Before we throw the plan out the door, we need to look at the possibilities,'' Fallin said.

Fallin assembled a statewide coalition in 1997 to tackle Oklahoma's skyrocketing workers' compensation costs. She said further efforts to reform the system could create conflict with Henry and his political supporters.

``Governor-elect Henry is a trial lawyer,'' Fallin said, adding that he received more than 70 percent of his financial support in the governor's race from trial lawyers.

``There may be disagreements on how we reform the system,'' Fallin said.