Brenda Reneau

Brenda Reneau (January 4, 1954 – December 5, 2013) was an American Republican Party politician from the U.S. state of Oklahoma. Reneau served as the Oklahoma Commissioner of Labor for three consecutive terms. First elected in 1994, she is the only woman to serve as Labor Commissioner.^[2] Reelected in 1998 and 2002, she lost her bid for another term in 2006 and her term ended in January 2007.

Career

In Reneau's first campaign for office, she was endorsed by The Oklahoman against incumbent Dave Renfro.^[3] In the endorsement, it was noted that a third of the employees in Renfro's office were on the "verge of mutiny" due to "his favoritism, biased enforcement, and the sexual tensions in their daily working environment."^[3] In her first re-election campaign, she faced the father of J.C. Watts and was again endorsed by The Oklahoman.^[4]

In 2013, Tulsa businessman Larry Mocha credited Reneau with improving the relationship with the business community and said the relationship has continued with her predecessors, Lloyd Fields and Mark Costello.^[5]

Personal life

During her service as Oklahoma Commissioner of Labor, Reneau became estranged from her husband and moved out, living in her parent's home at the time.^[6]

Reneau died on December 5, 2013 of natural causes.^[2]

References

1. ↑ Labor Commissioner Brenda Reneau Profile on Newsok.com. (accessed October 24, 2013)
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 http://www.muskogeephoenix.com/local/x853087474/Brenda-Reneau-has-died-at-58
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "For Brenda Reneau," The Oklahoman, October 27, 1994.
4. ↑ "Brenda Reneau," The Oklahoman, October 25, 1998.
5. ↑ Krehbiel, Randy. "Proactive business cuts workers comp costs," Tulsa World, January 2013.
6. ↑ Monies, Paul. "Reneau plan re-election bid," The Oklahoman, May 6, 2005.