James Allen Williamson

Last updated
Jim Williamson
Secretary of State of Oklahoma
In office
June 1, 2018 –January 14, 2019
Governor Mary Fallin
Preceded by Dave Lopez
Succeeded by Michael Rogers
Member of the Oklahoma Senate
from the 35th district
In office
1996–2008
Preceded by???
Succeeded byGary Stanislawski
Personal details
Born
James Williamson

(1951-05-27) May 27, 1951 (age 67)
Fort Riley, Kansas, U.S.
Political party Republican
Spouse(s)Sandra
Education University of Tulsa (BA, JD)

James Allen Williamson (born May 27, 1951) is an American attorney and Republican politician from the U.S. state of Oklahoma. Williamson served in the Oklahoma House of Representatives from 1980 to 1986 and in the Oklahoma Senate from 1996 to 2008. From 1998 to 2002 he served as Assistant Republican Floor Leader, and then as Floor Leader from 2003 to 2004.

Republican Party (United States) Major political party in the United States

The Republican Party, also referred to as the GOP, is one of the two major political parties in the United States; the other is its historic rival, the Democratic Party.

U.S. state constituent political entity of the United States

In the United States, a state is a constituent political entity, of which there are currently 50. Bound together in a political union, each state holds governmental jurisdiction over a separate and defined geographic territory and shares its sovereignty with the federal government. Due to this shared sovereignty, Americans are citizens both of the federal republic and of the state in which they reside. State citizenship and residency are flexible, and no government approval is required to move between states, except for persons restricted by certain types of court orders. Four states use the term commonwealth rather than state in their full official names.

Oklahoma State of the United States of America

Oklahoma is a state in the South Central region of the United States, bordered by Kansas on the north, Missouri on the northeast, Arkansas on the east, Texas on the south, New Mexico on the west, and Colorado on the northwest. It is the 20th-most extensive and the 28th-most populous of the fifty United States. The state's name is derived from the Choctaw words okla and humma, meaning "red people". It is also known informally by its nickname, "The Sooner State", in reference to the non-Native settlers who staked their claims on land before the official opening date of lands in the western Oklahoma Territory or before the Indian Appropriations Act of 1889, which dramatically increased European-American settlement in the eastern Indian Territory. Oklahoma Territory and Indian Territory were merged into the State of Oklahoma when it became the 46th state to enter the union on November 16, 1907. Its residents are known as Oklahomans, and its capital and largest city is Oklahoma City.

Contents

He is currently serving on President pro tempore of the Oklahoma Senate Brian Bingman's leadership staff as senior policy advisor and legal counsel. [1]

President pro tempore of the Oklahoma Senate

The President pro tempore of the Oklahoma Senate is the second-highest-ranking official of the Oklahoma Senate and the highest-ranking state senator. The Oklahoma Constitution designates the Lieutenant Governor of Oklahoma as the highest-ranking official, serving ex officio as President of the Senate, even though he or she only votes in the case of a tie. During the lieutenant governor's absence, the president pro tempore presides over sessions. The lieutenant governor presides over sessions devoted to ceremonial purposes, while the bulk of the management and political power is reserved for the president pro tempore.

Brian Bingman American politician

Brian Bingman is a Republican United States politician from the U.S. state of Oklahoma and was the President Pro Tempore of the Oklahoma Senate.

Early life and career

Williamson was born May 27, 1951, in Fort Riley, Kansas. [2] After earning a Bachelor of Science in Education and a Juris Doctor from the University of Tulsa, [2] Williamson taught social studies prior to embarking on a law career.

A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years, or a person holding such a degree.

Juris Doctor The Juris Doctor degree (J.D. or JD), also known as the Doctor of Jurisprudence degree (J.D., JD, D.Jur. or DJur), is a graduate-entry professional degree in law and one of several Doctor of Law degree

The Juris Doctor degree, also known as the Doctor of Jurisprudence degree, is a graduate-entry professional degree in law and one of several Doctor of Law degrees. The Juris Doctor is earned by completing law school in Australia, Canada, the United States, and some other common law countries. It has the academic standing of a professional doctorate in the United States, a master's degree in Australia, and a second-entry, baccalaureate degree in Canada.

University of Tulsa

The University of Tulsa (TU) is a private research university in Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States. TU has a historic affiliation with the Presbyterian Church and the campus architectural style is predominantly Collegiate Gothic.

Political career

During his political career, he served in various positions. From 1980 through 1986, he represented House District 76 (the southeast part of Tulsa and Broken Arrow).

From 1982 to 1986 he served as Assistant House Republican Floor Leader before being elected (in 1996) to the Senate, representing Senate District 35 (the south central part of Tulsa and Jenks).

From 1998 to 2002 he served as Assistant Senate Republican Leader, and then as Senate Republican Leader beginning in 2003 until 2004.

In 2006, Williamson ran for Governor of Oklahoma [3] but was defeated in the primary. During the 2007 session, Williamson was the lead sponsor of three major pieces of legislation: a bill banning state funds from being used at state facilities for the promotion or use in abortions, an immigration reform bill, and a lawsuit reform bill. All eventually became law except the lawsuit reform bill, which was vetoed.

Williamson authored Oklahoma's ban on gay marriage. [4]

Later life

Williamson was hired to serve on President pro tempore of the Oklahoma Senate Brian Bingman's leadership staff as senior policy advisor and legal counsel in 2010. [1]

Notable relatives

He is related to former State Representative Allen Williamson, who served in the House from 1966 to 1974 and was honored with the dedication of a bridge named after him in Payne County.

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References

  1. 1 2 Pro Tem Bingman names Williamson as policy advisor, legal counsel, Capitolbeatok.com, November 19, 2013. (accessed May 31, 2013)
  2. 1 2 James Williamson Biography, Project Vote Smart (accessed May 31, 2013)
  3. ↑ Six candidates compete for Oklahoma’s top political seat
  4. ↑ http://www.newson6.com/story/26058396/tulsa-same-sex-couples-celebrate-victory-know-fights-not-over
Political offices
Preceded by
Dave Lopez 		Secretary of State of Oklahoma
2018–2019		Succeeded by
Michael Rogers
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