STATE CAPITOL
OKLAHOMA CITY – Three of Oklahoma’s “freshmen” Republican lawmakers, state Sen. Jessica Garvin and state Reps. Gerrid Kendrix and Dick Lowe, spent their first days reviewing legislative procedures and rules to prepare for their roles in state government.
Senator Garvin said she felt the gravitas of her role while pulling into the parking lot of the State Capitol.
“The pressure of not letting people down can be a little overwhelming,” she said. “But I was reminded of who put me here and why I am here.”
Garvin, a Stephens County native who was reared in Marlow and lives in Duncan, is a nursing home and assisted living center administrator. She is the executive vice president of Bison Health Care Management and is co-owner of Kindful Hospice.
“We started off with a caucus meeting and updating our Republican caucus as to what was going to happen on organizational day so that all us freshmen knew what to expect,” she said. “It was nice that we were prepared for that.”
Besides her appointment to the Senate’s Health and Human Services Committee, Senator Garvin also will serve on the Transportation Committee; the Business, Commerce and Tourism Committee; the Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human Services; and the Rules Committee.
Ms. Garvin represents Senate District 43, which currently encompasses most of Stephens County except for the far west side, portions of Grady and Garvin counties, and all of McClain County.
“I just want to be where I can make the biggest impact,” she said. “I’m going to do my best at whatever God puts in front of me.”
House District 52 Representative Kendrix, a Certified Public Accountant from Altus who brings more than 30 years’ experience in accounting, said reformation could help policymakers “deal with a stable budget, rather than dealing with mandates on crises every May.”
Kendrix said he looks forward to working with House leadership, particularly Speaker Charles McCall, R-Atoka, to improve the tax code.
“I think the second item on his to-do list was building a better tax code. I hope to get an opportunity to see what direction he wants to take, and be involved in that process.”
Kendrix was appointed to the House Redistricting Committee, which will draw legislative and congressional boundaries based on 2020 census data, and was assigned to the Subcommittee for Redistricting Southwest Oklahoma. He also will be vice chair of the Judiciary Subcommittee on Criminal Justice.
House District 52 currently encompasses all of Jackson and Harmon counties, and portions of southern Greer and southwestern Kiowa counties.
Kendrix has reached out to people in the district to address any issues or concerns. He also has had discussions with other legislators about authoring and co-authoring legislation and is “in the process of seeing specifically what those are and with which ones I’d be willing to assist,” he said.
House District 56 – which currently encompasses northeastern to central Grady County as well as large portions of central Caddo and Kiowa counties – is represented by former cattle rancher and ag ed instructor Dick Lowe, R-Amber.
“I really enjoy serving the people,” said Lowe. “We get them connected to whatever agencies they need to get things taken care of.”
Lowe stated that his office has received calls about unemployment and the COVID-19 vaccination scheduling.
With 20-plus years with Career Tech, Lowe believes his background in education is key to him being selected to serve as vice chair for the Appropriations and Budget Subcommittee on Education.
In addition, Lowe was named to the State and Federal Redistricting Committee and the Southwest Oklahoma Redistricting Subcommittee.
“We have a deficit and it’s looking better,” said Lowe. “But we’ve got to keep our economy open and our people at work, and that ties in with the budget.”
After successfully campaigning across the three counties that comprise District 56, Lowe’s first trip to the state Capitol as an elected official was daunting, he said.
“When I drove down Lincoln Boulevard for the first time, I thought, ‘Oh, my gosh! What have I gotten into?’” he laughed. “I thought I was busy during the campaign process, but it is nothing compared to how busy I am now. My door is always open, and my phone line is always there. I’ll get back to you and get back to you quickly.”