After being elected to the Oklahoma House of Representatives in the fall, an OU College of Law student has put her studies on hold to take part in the state’s legislative process.
Emily Virgin, D-Norman, who defeated Ken Hunt in November’s House District 44 election, said she plans on devoting herself solely to her role as a freshman representative this spring.
The Legislature convenes Feb. 7 and Virgin said she’s excited to get to work on her campaign promise of improving Oklahoma’s educational system.
“Education is a foundational issue and affects all other things,” Virgin said.
Many in the education community are excited to interact with someone who has been involved in the state’s educational system so recently, Virgin said.
Virgin, who will serve on the Higher Education and Common Education committees, said she intends to offer her support to proposals that increase citizens’ access to educational resources.
Ann Coody, R-Lawton, serves as the Common Education Committee chair, which she said covers educational concerns from kindergarten to 12th grade.
The standing committee consists of 11 Republicans and five Democrats, and its goal is for Oklahoma to have the best education system in the country, Coody said.
“I am certainly looking forward to having [Virgin] on the committee, and I know she will have a lot to offer to ... the discussions,” Coody said.
Virgin said she plans on fighting further cuts to education, but she knows it will be a challenge in a tough budgetary year. Virgin said she will do everything she can in her first legislative session, but she is also looking to set long-term goals as well.
“I am looking at this as a 12-year process,” Virgin said, referencing Oklahoma’s term limit for state representatives.
In the lead-up to her first legislative session, her time will largely be spent learning how the state’s legislative processes work and in meetings with state agents, Virgin said. She said she has attended freshman orientation days where she learned how to file legislation and the flow of operations on the House floor. This year’s freshman class contains 16 republicans and four democrats.
Virgin is the youngest representative in the democratic caucus and said older representatives have been helpful and excited to have someone new in the caucus.
Thus far, Virgin said she has worked with her office mate Ed Cannaday, D-Porum, who also sits on the Common Education Committee.
“I am excited by the possibility of gaining a fresh perspective on these issues, since Emily brings a current experience perspective to this area and an awareness of the needs of students making a transition from secondary to post-secondary education,” Cannaday said. “After talking to those legislators who have spent time with Emily, I am convinced that she will use her strengths to represent her district in a manner that we all will appreciate and respect.”
Other than Cannaday, Virgin said she has not yet picked specific legislators she hopes to work with. However, she will work with whomever shares her concerns, whether Republican or Democrat.
“Party doesn’t matter when it comes to important issues,” Virgin said.
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Okie3L 1 year, 3 months ago
Emily, what real world experience do you have that qualifies you to make decisions that affect real people with real jobs? Simply being intelligent or from a wealthy family doesn't qualify someone to be a leader in the state. Our representatives should have some kind of experience doing something other than being a student, albeit a successful one.
ghorton 1 year, 3 months ago
THE ARTICLE ON E. VIRGIN WAS SO GOOD. IT IS GREAT TO READ WHAT THESE YOUNG JOURNALISTS ARE DOING. KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK!
cjellisor 1 year, 3 months ago
Really enjoyed the Emily piece. It's great reading about our young leaders. I look forward following her and seeing what creative ideas she has for addressing educational funding.
jblatz 1 year, 3 months ago
This well-written article on newly elected State Representative Emily Virgin is a window into what persons in Oklahoma interested in better education can expect from Ms. Virgin.