By AP
Oklahoma City, OK – OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) Republican Mary Fallin is officially Oklahoma's first woman governor.
Fallin took the oath of office at noon Monday during a chilly ceremony on the south steps of the state Capitol. She became Oklahoma's 27th governor, replacing outgoing Democrat Brad Henry, who was term limited after eight years.
Fallin has been a longtime fixture of Oklahoma politics, serving previously in the Oklahoma House and as the state's first Republican, and first woman, lieutenant governor. She spent the last four years in Congress, representing Oklahoma's 5th Congressional District.
The Tecumseh native promised during her campaign to make Oklahoma more business friendly, improve public education and reduce the size of state government.
She takes office as Oklahoma faces a budget shortfall of several hundred million dollars.
Copyright 2011 The Associated Press.