Mike Schulz Officially Elected as Pro Tempore of the Oklahoma Senate; members adopt rules, certify election results

The Oklahoma Senate on Tuesday convened for an organizational day and, on a unanimous vote officially, elected Sen. Mike Schulz of Altus as President Pro Tempore. Schulz is the first senator from western Oklahoma to lead the Senate in more than 50 years. Senate Majority Floor Leader Greg Treat, R-Oklahoma City, made the motion nominating Schulz as President Pro Tempore and, in a show of bipartisan support, the motion was seconded by Minority Leader John Sparks, D-Norman.

Im very humbled that my colleagues would place their confidence in me as leader of the Oklahoma Senate. The Senate has a group of very talented men and women from both sides of the aisle and from all parts of the state. Oklahoma is a great state, blessed with natural resources and hardworking, industrious people. Our job as senators is to make sure Oklahoma is a place where, with hard work and determination, anyone can achieve success. Were going to need the experience, insight and knowledge of all our members to pass laws that are helpful in the short-term, but also set us on a long-term path to economic growth and prosperity. Its time to get to work, and I look forward to leading the Senate and serving the great people of Oklahoma, Schulz said.

The organizational meeting is mandated under the State Constitution to be held in January following an election year. In addition to electing the President Pro Tempore of the Senate for the next two years, Senators on Tuesday also adopted the rules for conducting legislative business for 2017 and 2018 and certified the results of the 2016 senate races.

The 2017 legislative session will convene on February 6.