Whatzup Politics (1507)
Written by Press Release
Josh Brecheen Wins Oklahoma CD 2 Race
Friend,
Without you, I wouldn’t have been able to win this election. The people of Oklahoma’s Congressional District 2 have spoken and voted to REFORM Congress.
I will continue to speak to the people of Oklahoma's Congressional District 2 to ensure that life is protected from the moment of conception, that I will honor my term limits pledge of serving only eight years in the U.S. HOuse, and I will be a ture Conservative voting against runaway federal spending and advocating original adherence to Article 1 Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution... in tandem with the Tenth Amendment.
I am truly blessed to be able to serve as your next Congressman. This journey to Election Day has been nothing short of an adventure.
I look forward to serving as your next Congressman.
Thank you for your support, and God Bless,
Josh Brecheen
Paid for by Josh Brecheen For Congress PO Box 368 Colgate, OK 74538
Written by Press Release
Burns recognizes Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month
OKLAHOMA CITY – Sen. George Burns is supporting efforts to recognize November as Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month and Family Caregivers Month. Oklahoma is home to 67,000 people 65 and older living with the disease. This number is expected to increase to around 76,000 by 2025.
Approximately 129,000 Oklahomans are caregivers to those with Alzheimer’s disease, with many suffering from their own chronic health conditions, including depression. Over 1,700 Oklahomans passed away from Alzheimer’s in 2019. Many organizations, including the Oklahoma Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association are working to find a cure.
“The statistics related to Alzheimer’s show just how serious of an issue this is,” said Burns. “I had the opportunity to hear the incredible story of District 5 residents, Brent and Stacey Franks, and discovered how this disease is affecting families in our communities.”
Stacey Franks was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s and has made it her goal to raise awareness. She knows that small communities do big things, which she has proven by speaking to groups across the area to share her experience.
Her husband, Brent, has had to take on many daily tasks along with responsibilities related to their family businesses. While their lives may have changed, they have also made change. Brent says they have received overwhelming support from their community, and even see people wearing purple in support of Alzheimer’s awareness.
Maggie Shaffer, Director of Public Policy for the Oklahoma Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association, says there are many ways to get involved. State and federal ambassadors work with their legislators and other leaders to advocate for a path to a cure, along with hosting various annual fundraisers and local support group meetings for families dealing with the effects of the disease.
Mrs. Franks spent nearly two decades as a mental health professional and would like to see a support group started in their area so they can have someone to talk to and share relatable experiences. She will have her next speaking engagement on Nov. 17 with the Antlers Rotary Club, and all interested can join.
Those interested in helping with awareness efforts can contact the Alzheimer's Association for more information at (405) 319-0780. For more information about available support and education programs, please visit alz.org/oklahoma or call the counselor-staffed 24/7 hotline at 1(800) 272-3900.
“I want everyone in our district and across the state to know that they are not alone, and they have support through their family’s journey. I encourage those in the area to collaborate on ways to help raise more awareness and provide support and a helping hand to our neighbors as they navigate this disease and what changes that will bring to their lives. I hope you’ll join me in wearing purple this November to raise awareness or even gift a white flower, which represents courage for those with the disease and the people who care for them.”
Written by Congressman Markwayne Mullin
We the People
The United States democracy is the greatest experiment of self-government the world has ever known. The United States of America is a government of the people, by the people, and for the people. We are blessed to live in the greatest country in the world where we choose our leaders and the direction we want our country to go with every election. Our vote is our voice, and it counts.
According to our Founding Fathers, the freedom for individuals to exercise their mind is our most fundamental right, one from which all other civil rights and liberties are derived. I hope you’ve taken the chance to exercise your right to vote and had a moment to reflect upon what that truly means.
It’s been the honor of a lifetime representing the Second District of Oklahoma in the U.S. House of Representatives for the past nine years. If you had told this kid from Westville what was in store for his future, and that it included Washington, D.C., I would never have believed you. With God as my witness and my family by my side, there is nothing more important to me than fighting for our state. As I like to say, if the rest of America looked like Oklahoma, we’d be in much better shape.
With Election Day now behind us, I’ll leave y’all with one thought. Every morning, I wake up and say, “love the people, love the call” and I mean it. I love our state, our country, and the people in it. As we continue forward, I am optimistic in what we can do together. This job is a service and a blessing. And it’s been the honor of my lifetime.
Written by Press Release
Brecheen gets District 2 approval
Josh Brecheen reacts upon hearing the preliminary vote totals after the Midterm Election Tuesday night as his campaign manager, Paige Scott, applauds in the background. Brecheen is the presumptive winner of the Congressional District 2 race and will succeed Markwayne Mullin who stepped down to run for the Senate.
DURANT – Josh Brecheen thanked more than 100 supporters for making him the presumptive winner in the race for Oklahoma’s Congressional District 2 race Tuesday night.
With all precincts reporting, Brecheen had garnered 72 percent of the total vote. This was well ahead of his Democratic opponent with 23 percent and an independent who took 4 percent.
During his campaign watch party Brecheen expressed gratitude to long list of volunteers, friends and family. He voiced special thanks to operatives who, like him, started their political careers working for the late Sen. Dr. Tom Coburn. Brecheen said Coburn set an example that has served them, and all Oklahomans, well.
“We all got to be part of (Coburn’s work),” Brecheen said. “We saw something modeled for us and we got to carry it forward.”
Brecheen ran a campaign focused on strong conservative values based on the U.S. Constitution and deep Biblical principles. While his message appeared to resonate with voters, Brecheen said such ideas don’t sit well with everyone. He vowed to hold regular town hall meetings and take other steps to inform constituents about his work in Washington.
He said it is incumbent on elected officials to serve with humility and love even when that love is not returned.
“You can love everyone but that doesn’t mean everyone will reciprocate,” he said.
Brecheen is a committed Christian, husband, father and fourth-generation rancher. Since 2018 he has owned and operated an excavation/trucking business, Rawhide Dirtworks L.L.C. Brecheen is a graduate of Oklahoma State University where he majored in Agriculture. He also served as state president of the Oklahoma FFA Association in 1998.
These results are unofficial. State and Federal election results are to be certified by the State Election Board by 5 p.m. Friday, Nov. 15
Written by Press Release
Burns releases statement following southeast Oklahoma tornado
OKLAHOMA CITY – Sen. George Burns, R-Pollard, released the following statement Monday regarding the tornado and severe weather that hit Idabel and other communities throughout southeastern Oklahoma on Friday evening:
“I am extremely grateful for all the selfless individuals and groups who have come to assist this community and surrounding areas. I want to thank the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management, county and local emergency management teams, search and rescue crews, fire and police departments, the McCurtain County Sheriff’s Department, our county commissioners, Governor Stitt and his team, the Choctaw Nation, Senator Lankford, state Representative Eddy Dempsey, former state Senator Josh Brecheen, the Red Cross, and the many other nonprofit organizations and private citizens who have stepped up to help during this difficult time. I know our community is resilient and will come back even stronger following this disaster.”
“I'll continue coordinating at the state level and providing updates in the coming weeks as the community recovers from this violent storm. I also want to commend our state and local election board officials who are working to ensure the voices of our citizens will still be heard on election day. Although the Trinity Baptist Church was destroyed, citizens will be able to vote at the Calvary Missionary Baptist Church. We are grateful to them for opening their doors so voters can still cast their ballots in Tuesday's election.”
Trinity Baptist Church served as the polling place for precinct 8 in McCurtain County, but the building was destroyed by the tornado. For the Nov. 8 election, the precinct will hold voting at Calvary Missionary Baptist Church located at 200 Calvary Ln. in Idabel, just half a mile from the original location.
Written by Press Release
Sen. Kay Floyd takes oath of office, begins final term
OKLAHOMA CITY – Senate Democratic Leader Kay Floyd took the oath of office on Monday, beginning her final term in the Oklahoma Legislature. Floyd was unopposed for the Senate District 46 seat. Floyd, D-Oklahoma City, was joined by fellow members, friends, and family for the Senate Chamber ceremony.
The OKC metro seat was redrawn after the 2020 U.S. Census, and will, for the first time, include Del City. Floyd said she looked forward to serving all constituents within Senate District 46.
“I am humbled and honored to be returning to the Senate for a final term, and look forward to working with the citizens I represent to find positive resolutions to the challenges we face within our communities and state,” Floyd said.
Due to a scheduling conflict, Floyd was unable to participate in the swearing in ceremony to be held later this month for new and returning members of the Senate. During Monday’s ceremony, the oath of office was administered by Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals Presiding Judge Scott Rowland.
Floyd was first elected to the Oklahoma House of Representatives in 2012, and was elected to her first term in the Oklahoma Senate in 2014. Before serving in the Legislature, Floyd, an attorney, served as an assistant attorney general, was deputy executive director for the Horse Racing Commission, and served 22 years as an administrative law judge for the state. Floyd was one of the youngest women in Oklahoma history to receive a judicial appointment.
Throughout her tenure in the Senate, Floyd has worked to promote the rights of sexual assault victims and worked to reduce suicide rates among Oklahoma youths.
“These and many other issues impact Oklahomans in every part of our state, in every socio-economic class, and people of all political views,” Floyd said. “I will continue to focus on these important, universal public policy concerns, and to be a strong voice at the Capitol for the citizens of Senate District 46.”
Written by Rep. Jim Grego
Capitol Greetings: Nov 1, 2022
It’s hard to believe it's November already. There's an election on the horizon, and early voting will have started by the time this column is printed. For members of the House of Representatives – both state and congressional – this happens every two years, but this cycle really seems to be a storm of negativity. Thankfully, it will be over soon, and we can move forward. Our House Republican Caucus will meet next week as we look forward to the next legislative cycle.
Another political issue that seems to surface twice a year is daylight saving time. In Oklahoma, there has been a push in the past couple of years to stay in daylight saving time year-round. Other groups would like to stay on Central Standard Time year -round. One thing both sides agree on, they don’t like the change twice a year. Right now, federal law specifies that daylight time applies from 2 a.m. on the second Sunday of March until 2 a.m. on the first Sunday of November in areas that do not specifically exempt themselves. This means that in March, those that observe daylight saving time spring forward by setting clocks ahead by an hour, and in November, we fall back by setting clocks back an hour. I understand Congress is trying to adjust this.
At the Capitol, we are wrapping up our interim studies. This week we've held studies on community sentencing and qualified immunity for police officers as well as one on the teachers' retirement system. We gain some valuable information through these studies. They help lawmakers determine whether new legislation is needed or if changes to existing statutes need to be made.
Once the election is over, we'll be swearing in new members of the Legislature and filing our bills for the next legislative session.
As I close out this week, I ask that everyone exercise your right and “Go Vote” for the candidate of your choosing.
As always, thank You for allowing me to serve you. I can be reached at (405) 557-7381 or by email at jim.grego@okhouse.gov.
- Jim Grego serves District 17 in the Oklahoma House of Representatives. His district includes Latimer County and parts of LeFlore and Pittsburg counties.
Written by News release
Voters Encouraged to Mail Absentee Ballots as Soon as Possible
(Oklahoma City) – The Secretary of the State Election Board is encouraging voters who have requested absentee ballots to mail those ballots back as soon as possible to ensure they are received by their County Election Board before the deadline. “While our county election boards work closely with local post offices to ensure that every mail ballot makes it into the hands of election officials by 7 p.m. on Election Day, we encourage voters to follow United States postal guidelines and mail ballots at least seven days prior to the election.” said Secretary Paul Ziriax. “Voters should consider the amount of time needed to vote their ballot, as well as the distance the ballot has to travel,” he added.
Absentee ballots that are returned by mail must be received by the voter’s County Election Board no later than 7 p.m. on Election Day.
The United States Postal Service recommends that voters mail their absentee ballots no later than Tuesday, November 1.
Meanwhile, voters who requested a “standard” absentee ballot (yellow affidavit) have the option to hand deliver their voted ballot to their County Election Board during regular business hours. Ballots must be returned no later than the Monday prior to the election. A valid proof of identity is required when dropping off your absentee ballot and your affidavit must be notarized. Voters are reminded that it is against the law to submit an absentee ballot on behalf of another person.
Voter with questions or concerns regarding their absentee ballot should contact their County Election Board as soon as possible. Voters can track their absentee ballot using the OK Voter Portal. Voters should note that the portal will indicate whether or not an absentee ballot has been counted after the election, once all data has been entered by the County Election Board.
Written by Rep. Randy Randleman
General Election Approaching
The general election is in less than two weeks, and I want to share important information for the upcoming election.
You can vote early Wed., Nov. 2 through Fri., Nov. 4 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sat., Nov. 5 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Early voting takes place at your county election board office.
On Election Day, which is Tues., Nov. 8, polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Your polling place may have changed after our redistricting process, so be sure to check where to vote at okvoterportal.okelections.us ahead of Election Day. You can also view your sample ballot there so you know what you can vote on. It's a good idea to check this ahead of time so you can research various races before voting.
I encourage you to research the candidates for every office, including the judges on the ballot. Voters will decide whether to retain four Oklahoma Supreme Court justices and five Court of Civil Appeals judges.
Unlike other state races, appellate judges do not have opponents, and their party affiliations aren’t listed on the ballot. Instead, voters cast a simple yes-or-no vote on whether the judge should be retained in office. Judges need a simple majority to be retained.
The Oklahoma Bar Association maintains a website where voters can learn about the justices and judges who will be on the ballot this year, read their biographies, and browse decisions they’ve authored. You can browse that information at courtfacts.org/retentionballot/.
Additionally, voters in some counties will vote to elect district and associate district court judges. These are competitive races, so I encourage you to research those candidates, as well as the other candidates for local and statewide offices.
You've no doubt seen negative campaign ads in some of these races. It's important not to take negative ads at their word and not be deceived by commercials and mailers. Instead, research the candidate's actions for yourself and talk to people who know the candidate or have worked with them.
If you're not planning to vote because you think it won't make a difference, I strongly urge you to reconsider. Oklahoma has seen many races in recent years decided by very few votes. For example, the Republican runoff for House District 34 in August was decided by only 11 votes. On a statewide scale, the 2018 Republican primary for State Attorney General was decided by only 271 votes.
This election is extremely important as we will select our next governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, state treasurer, superintendent of public instruction, labor commissioner and corporation commissioner. Both U.S. Senate seats and the seat for Congressional District 2 are also on the ballot.
All of these races are important, but it's especially critical for people who care about our rural schools to elect a good state superintendent.
As always, please don't hesitate to reach out to me with any concerns at 405-557-7375 or randy.randleman@okhouse.gov. Thank you for the honor of representing House District 15!
Rep. Randy Randleman, a Republican, serves District 15 in the Oklahoma House of Representatives, which covers Haskell County and portions of Muskogee, Sequoyah, LeFlore, Pittsburg and McIntosh counties.
Written by Press Release
EARLY VOTING BEGINS WEDNESDAY NOV 2
Early voting begins Wednesday, November 2 for voters in Leflore County. Voters who will not be able to make it to the polls on Election Day, have the option of voting early at their County Election Board.
Leflore County Election Board Secretary, Sharon Steele, said early voting is open to all voters. "You do not need to provide an excuse to vote early. Oklahoma allows early voting for all elections
conducted through the State Election Board-from school board and municipal elections to state and federal elections. This is a great option for those who will be out of town on Election Day or who want to avoid long lines," Steele said.
Early voting is available Wednesday November 2, Thursday November 3 and Friday November 4 from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and Saturday, November 5 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the County Election Board located at 103 N. Church St., Poteau. Steele reminds voters that early voting is not available at polling locations.
The LeFlore County Election Board is located at 103 N. Church St., Poteau and is open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
For questions, please contact the Election Board at 918-647-3701 or leflorecounty@elections.ok.gov