Republican local businesswoman Jennifer Ellis said today that she is running to fill the Comanche County state Senate seat being vacated by current Senator John Michael Montgomery.
“I love Comanche County and the State of Oklahoma,” Ellis said. “I was raised here, and I chose to raise my own family here. I have a deep understanding of our past and have ambitious goals for our future. I believe in the power of service and the importance of fighting for the needs of our citizens. As Senator, no one will work harder for the people of our county than me.”
“Jennifer has experience money can’t buy,” says former Mayor of Lawton, Fred Fitch. “She’s a smart, passionate, caring leader who will make a difference for our community and the entire state.”
Ellis was born at Rhein-Main Air Base in Frankfurt, Germany. After her father’s service in Vietnam, her family settled back in Lawton, where she attended Lawton Public Schools, graduating from Eisenhower High School in 1986. After high school, she attended Cameron University and later completed her degree at the University of Oklahoma after her military service ended. She and her husband, Mark, have three children and five grandchildren.
Ellis takes great pride in her service as a Patriot Missile Operator and Mechanic in the U.S. Army, a MOS now located at Fort Sill. However, before the end of her enlistment, Jennifer became pregnant with her youngest son, and she chose to forgo her planned military career and return to civilian life. She came home to Comanche County.
For nearly 27 years, Ellis has worked at Cosmetic Specialty Labs Inc. in Lawton, where she’s now the President and CEO. The company manufactures pharmaceuticals and cosmetics for customers like ULTA Beauty, Wal-Mart, and Walgreens and exports products to over 50 countries.
Ellis said as Senator she would support the key tenets of the Republican Party platform, including that every human being has fundamental rights, including life, and our Second Amendment rights, holding the line against tax increases, and supporting local schools and public safety.