Kevin Stitt facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kevin Stitt
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Stitt in 2022
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| 28th Governor of Oklahoma | |
| Assumed office January 14, 2019 |
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| Lieutenant | Matt Pinnell |
| Preceded by | Mary Fallin |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
John Kevin Stitt
December 28, 1972 Milton, Florida, U.S. |
| Nationality | American Cherokee Nation |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse |
Sarah Hazen
(m. 1998) |
| Children | 6 |
| Residence | Oklahoma Governor's Mansion |
| Education | Oklahoma State University–Stillwater (BS) |
John Kevin Stitt (born December 28, 1972) is an American businessman and politician. He has been the 28th governor of Oklahoma since 2019. He is a member of the Republican Party. He was first elected in 2018. He won against Democrat Drew Edmondson. Stitt was reelected for a second term in 2022. He won against Joy Hofmeister, who was a Republican but became a Democrat.
Stitt grew up in Norman, Oklahoma. He earned a degree in accounting from Oklahoma State University. Before becoming governor, he founded Gateway Mortgage Group. He was also its chairman and CEO.
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Early Life and Education
Kevin Stitt was born in Milton, Florida, on December 28, 1972. When he was five, his family moved to Skiatook, Oklahoma. Later, they moved to Norman, Oklahoma. His father was a pastor there.
Stitt graduated from Norman High School. He then went to Oklahoma State University. He earned a degree in accounting. To help pay for college, Stitt sold educational products door-to-door. He was very good at sales. He was the first person in his company's history to be the top salesperson in his first year. Stitt was also part of the Beta Theta Pi fraternity.
Business Career in Financial Services
Stitt began his career selling educational books. He later moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma. There, he met his wife, Sarah Hazen. In 2000, the couple started their own company, Gateway Mortgage. Stitt has said he started the company with just "$1,000 and a computer."
He was the president and CEO of Gateway Mortgage until 2014. After that, he became the chairman and CEO. In 2018, when he won the Republican nomination for governor, Stitt stepped down as CEO. The company announced it was merging with a bank. Gateway Mortgage is a medium-sized company. It is based in Jenks, Oklahoma.
Gateway Mortgage's Licenses
Gateway Mortgage grew quickly. In 2009, some employees were fired. They had made loans that did not follow rules. There were some reports about the company's past. One article mentioned that Gateway had more "bad mortgages" than some competitors. However, a newspaper article later clarified this. It said that in one case, Gateway fired an employee. The company then paid a fine. Its license was never taken away.
Another report mentioned a ban in Georgia. A company attorney said that some employees had made mistakes. Stitt was not involved. The employees were fired. Gateway paid a fine. The state later removed the ban on Gateway. Today, Gateway can do business in all 50 states. During Stitt's campaign, it was reported that Wisconsin regulators fined Gateway for a "clerical error." Gateway fixed the mistake and got its license. It is still in good standing there.
Governor of Oklahoma
Running for Governor in 2018
In July 2017, Kevin Stitt announced he wanted to be the Republican candidate for governor. He traveled all over Oklahoma, visiting many cities and towns. He was one of ten candidates in the primary election. He came in second place. In a special runoff election, Stitt won against Mick Cornett. Cornett was a former mayor of Oklahoma City.
In the general election in November, Stitt won. He defeated Drew Edmondson, the Democratic candidate. He also won against Chris Powell from the Libertarian Party. During his campaign, Stitt said he was "the only job creator with proven business experience." He promised to make Oklahoma a "top 10" state for job growth, education, and roads.
Winning Reelection in 2022
Stitt decided to run for governor again in January 2021. He won the Republican primary election in June 2022. He was then reelected as governor in November 2022.
Starting His Term as Governor
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Stitt officially became governor on January 14, 2019. The ceremony took place at the Oklahoma State Capitol. The Chief Justice of Oklahoma, Noma Gurich, swore him and Lieutenant Governor Matt Pinnell into office. Stitt gave a speech that lasted about 15 minutes.
How Governor Stitt Runs the State
As governor, Kevin Stitt appoints people to help him run different parts of the state government. These people form his cabinet. They manage important areas like education, health, and transportation.
In December 2019, Lisa Johnson Billy resigned from Stitt's cabinet. She was the Secretary of Native American Affairs. She disagreed with how Stitt was handling talks with Native American tribes about gambling. Stitt then combined her duties with the Secretary of State.
Changes to State Government
When he first became governor, Stitt asked for more power to appoint leaders for state agencies. The state legislature agreed. They passed new laws that gave him direct control over several major agencies. These included the Department of Corrections and the Department of Transportation. Before, these agencies were controlled by boards that acted more independently.
In return for this new power, Stitt signed a law to create a new office. This office helps the legislature check how the governor's budget is being spent. It makes sure everything is clear and open.
Laws About Firearms
One of the first laws Stitt signed allowed people aged 21 or older to carry a firearm without needing a special permit or training. This also applied to those 18 or older who were in the military. He also signed a law that allowed firearms in more public places, like zoos and parks, if they were hidden.
Working with Native American Tribes
Oklahoma has a long history with its Native American tribes. In 2004, voters approved a law about gambling. This law allowed tribes to run casinos. In return, the tribes paid a percentage of their earnings to the state. This agreement was set to renew automatically in 2020.
In 2019, Governor Stitt asked tribal leaders to change the agreement. He wanted the state to get a larger percentage of the gambling money. The tribes disagreed. They believed the agreement would automatically renew as it was. The tribes later filed a lawsuit to resolve the disagreement.
In July 2020, a judge ruled that the agreements automatically renewed for another 15 years. However, the Oklahoma Supreme Court also ruled that some new gambling agreements Stitt signed with two tribes were not valid. This was because they would have allowed types of gambling that are illegal in Oklahoma, like sports betting.
Also in July 2020, the United States Supreme Court made a big decision. It ruled that about half of Oklahoma's land is officially Native American tribal land. This means that for serious crimes on these lands, Native American tribes and the federal government have authority. Governor Stitt, who is a citizen of the Cherokee Nation, tried to reverse this decision. But in 2021, Oklahoma could not stop the federal action.
In May 2023, Stitt vetoed a bill that would have allowed students to wear tribal clothing at graduation. However, the state legislature voted to override his veto. This meant the bill became law anyway.
Judicial System Changes
Stitt signed laws that changed how the Oklahoma Supreme Court and other state courts are organized. These changes redrew the districts from which judges are chosen. The goal was to increase the number of people who could apply to be judges.
The governor of Oklahoma chooses judges for state courts when there is an opening. A special group reviews candidates and sends three names to the governor. The governor then picks one of these three people.
Personal Life and Family
Kevin Stitt is a citizen of the Cherokee Nation. His great-grandfather, Robert Benton Dawson, was a Cherokee citizen. He received land in the Skiatook area because of his tribal citizenship. This land is still owned by Stitt's family today.
Stitt married Sarah Hazen on June 1, 1998. They have six children together. The Stitt family is active in their church, Woodlake Church, in Tulsa. It is an Assemblies of God USA church.
Images for kids
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Stitt in 2022
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Stitt (left) attending a White House conference in December 2018, seated next to Governor-elect Brad Little of Idaho
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Stitt addresses his remarks during a roundtable discussion with Governors and small business owners on the reopening of America's small businesses.
See also
