Doak to Replace Holland as Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner

Oklahoma will have a new insurance commissioner next year, as insurance agent John Doak joined the Republican sweep in the Nov. 2 midterm elections to defeat current Commissioner Kim Holland. Unofficial results on Nov. 3 from the Oklahoma State Election Board showed Doak winning 54.5 percent of the vote to Holland’s 45.5 percent.

Doak emphasized his 20 years as an insurance agent and executive during the campaign. Early in his career, he owned a Farmer’s Insurance Agency branch in Tulsa. A graduate of the University of Oklahoma, he also has served in executive level positions at Marsh, Aon Risk Services, HNI Risk Services, and Ascension Insurance, where he was senior vice president of acquisitions.

Holland, a Democrat, was appointed to the post by Gov. Brad Henry in 2005 and won a full term in 2006. She also was an insurance agent before taking over as commissioner.

Oklahoma will also have a new governor next year. Republican Mary Fallin defeated Democrat Jari Askins in a race that was historic for that state; it’s the first time Oklahoma has elected a woman to serve in the governor’s office. Fallin succeeds Democrat Brad Henry, who is term limited.

Fallin is a former Oklahoma lieutenant governor and currently is a U.S. Representative from Edmond. Askins currently serves as the state’s lieutenant governor.

Topics Oklahoma