Oklahoma State Senate to Convene on Tuesday

The Oklahoma State Senate will formally convene for its first meeting of the 2009 session at noon on Tuesday, January 6th. Members will formally elect Senator Glenn Coffee as Senate President Pro Tempore for the 2009-2010 legislative sessions.

This marks the first time in state history that Republicans have held the majority of seats in the upper chamber.

The Senate will also vote to install Paul Ziriax as Secretary of the Senate and the State Election Board, and will adopt rules for the 52nd Legislature.

After conducting its business, the Senate will adjourn until Monday, February 2nd.

State Senate Leader Finalizes GOP Majority Staff

Oklahoma State Senate President Pro Tempore Designate Glenn Coffee announced Tuesday that he has finalized his majority leadership staff for the 2009 legislative session.

Coffee’s staff includes:

Fred Morgan,
Senior Policy Advisor and Legal Counsel to the President Pro Tempore

Former State Rep. Morgan continues in his role as Coffee’s top aide.


Becky Woodie,
Personal Assistant to the President Pro Tempore

Ms. Woodie has served as Coffee’s personal assistant since he was first elected to the State Senate a decade ago.


Gwendolyn Caldwell,
Majority Leadership Legislative Director

Ms. Caldwell first joined Coffee’s leadership staff four years ago as deputy leadership assistant.


Randy Swanson,
Majority Leadership Communications Director

Mr. Swanson is the new communications director for Coffee and the Majority leadership team.


Ashley Kehl,
Majority Leadership Media Assistant

Ms. Kehl first joined Coffee’s leadership staff in 2007 as a receptionist and staff assistant, and was later promoted to media assistant.


Brittnee Preston,
Majority Leadership Legislative Assistant

Mrs. Preston interned for Coffee’s office during the 2007 session before joining Coffee’s staff as a full-time employee.


Rita Chapman,
Administrative Assistant / Constituent Relations and Appointments

Mrs. Chapman was an assistant to Coffee at his law firm prior to joining the Senate staff in 2007.


Sonja Wall,
Administrative Assistant / Receptionist

Ms. Wall worked for 8 years as an executive assistant at the State Senate before joining Coffee’s staff last week.

Last week, Coffee announced that another aide, Paul Ziriax, is leaving the leadership staff to accept Coffee’s appointment to the dual position of Secretary of the Senate and Secretary of the State Election Board.

Coffee’s staff includes a personal assistant plus seven leadership staff, for a total of eight employees. By comparison, when Democrats last held the Senate majority in 2006 the Pro Tem’s office employed 11 people (a personal assistant, 9 leadership staff, and a consultant).

Senate Republicans Designate Senator Coffee as Next President Pro Tem

Republican state senators unanimously voted to designate Sen. Glenn Coffee, R-Oklahoma City, to be the next President Pro Tempore of the Oklahoma State Senate. The President Pro Tem is the Senate’s top leader.

“I am honored and humbled by the confidence my colleagues have shown by entrusting me with the leadership of our caucus,” stated Coffee.

“Senate Republicans have the issues on our side, and we are confident that Oklahomans will make history in 2008 by electing the first-ever Republican majority to the Senate. As Republicans have already shown while sharing power in the Senate the past two years, we are ready and able to lead the Senate in bringing positive and innovative changes to Oklahoma,” Coffee said.

Under the rules of the Senate Republican Caucus the remainder of the Senate GOP’s leadership team will be chosen following the general election this November.

Coffee currently serves as Co-President Pro Tempore under the power sharing agreement that governs the evenly divided State Senate. As part of the Senate’s power sharing arrangement, Coffee became the first Republican in history to serve as the Senate’s President Pro Tempore in July 2007.

The Senate has 24 Republicans and 24 Democrats, but a net gain of a single seat in 2008 would make the GOP the Senate’s majority party for the first time in Oklahoma history.

Republicans have had a net gain of at least two State Senate seats every in election since 2000, netting three seats in 2000; two seats in 2002; two seats in 2004; one seat in a May 2006 special election; and two more seats in the 2006 general elections. Conversely, it has been 18 years since Democrats last had a net gain of seats in the State Senate.