Lisa Johnson Billy Explained

Lisa Johnson Billy
Image Name:Lisa Johnson Billy.jpg
Party:Republican
Birth Date:21 February 1967
Birth Place:Purcell, Oklahoma
Alma Mater:Northeastern State University,
University of Oklahoma
Profession:Educator, small business owner
Office:Member of the Chickasaw Tribal Legislature from Pontotoc District, Seat 5
Term Start:2016
Term Start1:1996
Term End1:2002
Office4:Oklahoma Secretary of Native American Affairs
Term Start4:January 2019
Term End4:December 2019
Predecessor4:Position established
Successor4:Brian Bingman
Appointer2:Donald Trump
Office2:Member of the board of trustees of the Morris K. Udall and Stewart L. Udall Foundation
Term Start2:December 27, 2017
State House6:Oklahoma
District6:42nd
Predecessor6:Bill Joel Mitchell
Successor6:Timothy J. Downing
Term Start6:2004
Term End6:2016

Lisa Johnson Billy (born February 21, 1967) is a Chickasaw and American politician who has served in the legislatures of Oklahoma and the Chickasaw Nation. She has served as a tribal councillor for the Chickasaw Nation since 2016 and previously served on the council between 1996 and 2002. She represented Oklahoma House of Representatives district 42 from 2004 to 2016 and was appointed by President of the United States Donald Trump to the board of trustees of the Morris K. Udall and Stewart L. Udall Foundation in 2017.

She held the positions of Oklahoma Secretary of Native American Affairs and Oklahoma Native American Affairs Liaison in 2019 after her appointment by Governor Kevin Stitt.

Early life and education

Billy was born on February 21, 1967, in Purcell, Oklahoma. She is the daughter of Frank Johnson Sr. and the late Beverly (Jones) Johnson.[1] Her father Frank was a Chickasaw elder and former tribal legislator.

Billy earned a bachelor's degree from Northeastern State University and a Master's degree from the University of Oklahoma.

Career

Prior to serving in elected office, Billy worked as a teacher for the Department of Continuing Education at the University of Oklahoma and was a board member of Girl Scouts of the USA and cub scout leader for the Boy Scouts of America.[2] Billy served as a member of the Chickasaw Nation's tribal legislature between 1996 and 2002.

Oklahoma House of Representatives

In 2004, she was elected to represent house district 42 in the Oklahoma House of Representatives. She served as the deputy whip from 2004 to 2006, vice chair of the Republican caucus from 2006 to 2008, and majority floor leader from 2014 to 2016.[3] She was the first Native American, the first woman, and the first Chickasaw Nation citizen to represent her district. She formed the state's first Native American caucus. During her term, she supported legislation related to tribes in Oklahoma such as allowing Native American language classes to be taken for a foreign language credit in Oklahoma high schools.[4] She cites Helen Cole as her mentor.

Morris K. Udall and Stewart L. Udall Foundation

On November 21, 2017, President Donald Trump nominated Billy to be a member of the board of trustees of the Morris K. Udall and Stewart L. Udall Foundation for a term expiring August 25, 2024.[5] On December 21, 2017, the United States Senate confirmed her nomination by voice vote.[6] She officially took office on December 27, 2017.

Oklahoma Secretary of Native American Affairs

In January 2019, Governor Kevin Stitt appointed Billy to serve as the first Oklahoma Secretary of Native American Affairs. She resigned in December 2019 citing the Stitt administration's conflict with tribal governments over gaming compacts in the state.[7]

Return to Chickasaw Nation legislature

In 2016, Billy was elected to a three-year term in the Chickasaw Nation legislature.[8] She was sworn in October 3, 2016.[9] She was unopposed in her campaign for re-election in 2019 and 2022.[10] [11]

External links

Notes and References

  1. https://dc.library.okstate.edu/digital/collection/legislature/id/277/rec/4 Lisa Billy -- Women of the Oklahoma Legislature Oral History Project
  2. News: 50 Making a Difference profile: Lisa Johnson-Billy . 6 September 2023 . The Journal Record . October 6, 2011.
  3. News: Lisa Billy receives Leadership Legacy Award . 6 September 2023 . The Journal Record . February 12, 2020.
  4. News: Bolitho . Tom . GOP Floor Leader; Lisa Billy Completing Oklahoma House Term . 6 September 2023 . Chickasaw Times . . May 2016.
  5. News: President Donald J. Trump Announces Key Additions to his Administration. 2018-02-02. National Archives. whitehouse.gov. en-US.
  6. Web site: Congressional Record. www.congress.gov. en. 2018-02-02.
  7. News: Savage . Tres . Lisa Billy resigns as Gov. Stitt's secretary of Native American affairs . 6 September 2023 . NonDoc . December 23, 2019.
  8. News: 5 Chickasaw Nation leaders sworn into office . . October 3, 2016.
  9. News: Chickasaw Nation elected officials take oath of office . 6 September 2023 . The Ada News . October 6, 2016.
  10. News: Pontotoc District Seat 5 . 6 September 2023 . Chickasaw Times . June 2019 . . 5.
  11. News: Pontotoc District Seat 5 . 6 September 2023 . Chickasaw Times . . June 2022 . 3.