"Teacher Caucus" is Set for November.

Primaries and run-offs are over, and we know who our legislative candidates will be for November. There are still a considerable number of teacher-and-family candidates running for office, and now is the time to find a candidate in your districts you can support.

Remember, my list comes with no endorsements. That's why I include websites (when I can find them)...it's YOUR job as voter to vet your candidates, to meet them, ask your questions of them. Listen to them. And push on YOUR issues. Not my job...yours.

A close reading of a candiate's website can quickly give you information about issues and stances. That should be your first step in researching your candidates. Then, see if they have a social media presence...Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat. Follow or like their pages and watch what they say and how they say it. Engage them online and watch the results.

I'm hoping you'll find someone you can work for, volunteer for, donate to. And vote for.


In House run off races, HD saw two teachers vying for the vote. Rhonda Baker defeated Chad Slane.

In HD 67, Tom McCloud, husband of a teacher, was defeated in his race. I recently connected with Mr. McCloud, and have been impressed with his research on vouchers, and his calm, logical, spirited opposition. This is the magazine he publishes. Read his voucher article, starting on page 19. His conservative friends are not happy with his stance, but I actually learned a thing or two following a couple of conversations. He is not lured into emotional diatribe; he sticks to the research. He's someone I want to know better. We have an ally here.

The list of House candidates who are educators or family members are:

HD	Name	Website	Party	Educator
2	Tom Sites	http://www.tomstitesforok.com/	R	Adjunct
3	Troy Dyer		D	Yes
4	Matt Meredith	http://www.mattmeredithok.com/	D	SchBd
12	Darla Milligan	http://www.darlamilligan.com/	D	Yes
13	Wayne Herriman		D	Daughter
14	Lee Ann Langston	http://www.leeannlangston.com/	D	Yes
20	(Gregory) Matt Failing	http://mattfailing.com/	D	Former
25	David Weir	http://votedavidweir.com/	D	Yes
29	Macy Gleason	http://www.macygleason.com/	D	Parents
33	Caryl Talley	https://vote4talley.com/#/contribute/home	D	Yes
42	Liz George	http://lizforoklahoma.com/	D	Higher Ed
43	Mike Bounds	http://www.mikeboundsforoklahoma.com/	D	Spouse
46	Jacob Rosecrants	http://jacobrosecrants.com/	D	Yes
49	Michelle Bray	http://www.michellebraydistrict49.com/	D	Yes
50	Melissa Tilley	http://melissatilley.org/	D	Yes
60	Chad Slane	http://www.slanefor60.com/	R	Yes
60	Rhonda Baker	http://www.rhondabakerforok.com/	R	Yes
64	Jacobi Crowley	http://jacobicrowley.com/	D	Yes
65	Rick Gilleland	http://www.rickforrepok.com/about-rick.html	D	Spouse
67	Tom McCloud	http://www.mccloud4oklahoma.com/home	R	Spouse
72	Monroe Nichols	http://www.monroeforoklahoma.com/	D	Yes
75	Karen Gaddis	http://www.karengaddis.com/	D	Yes
76	Glenda Puett	http://www.glendapuett.com/	D	Yes
80	Tom Bates	http://bates4ok80.wix.com/2016	D	Yes
82	David Dickerson	http://www.dickersonforok.com/	I	Yes
83	Jason Stone	http://stonefor83.weebly.com/	D	Higher Ed
84	Tammy West	http://www.tammywesthouse84.com/#home	R	SchBd
93	Mickey Dollens	http://mickeydollens.com/	D	Yes
95	James Cook	http://www.jamescookforok.com/	D	Higher Ed
100	Jeremy Miller	http://www.jmillerhd100.com/	D	Yes
100	Donald Wentroth	http://www.donwentroth.com/	D	Yes
101	Cheryl M-Hessman	http://www.cherylmooneyhamhessman.com/	D	Yes

In Senate run offs, Chris Kidd, a former educator, defeated Toni Hasenbeck, a teacher. In a hard-fought race for SD 25, Lisa Kramer, school board member, and certified public acountant, lost with the help of dark money from a pro-voucher group that specifically targeted her for defeat. The Oklahoma Federation for Children PAC crowed in a news release about the victory of their candidate, who supports vouchers. Speaking for myself, this was a bitter defeat. Kramer would have brought such credibility, as a school board member, and as an accountant, to the Senate.  Rick Cobb wrote here about what was at stake in this race.

I will remind readers that Jennifer Carter, former Chief of Staff to Janet Barresi, former Superintendent of schools, is now running Oklahoma Federation for Children. I think we need to know who our public schools enemies are. OFC is our enemy.

The list of educators and family running for Senate seats in November are:

SD	Name	Website	Party	Educator
1	Michael Bergstrom		R	Yes
3	Rhonda Cox	http://www.rhondacox.net/home.html	D	Yes
5	Stacy Ebert		D	Yes
9	Jack Reavis	http://jackreavis.com/index.html	D	Yes
9	D. Pemberton	http://www.pembertonforsenate.com/	R	Yes
13	Eric Hall	http://erichallforsenate.com/	D	Yes
13	Greg McCortney	http://www.gregmccortney.com/home	R	Spouse
15	Shawn Sheehan	http://www.sheehanforok.com/	I	Yes
19	Rhonda Harlow	http://www.harlow4oksenate.com/	D	Yes
19	Roland Pederson	http://www.rolandforsenate.com/	R	Yes
23	Lonnie Paxton	http://lonniepaxton.com/	R	Spouse
29	Robert Jobe	http://jobeforstatesenate29.com/	D	Yes
31	Chris Kidd	http://www.chriskiddforsenate.com/about.php	R	Former
37	Lloyd Snow	http://snow4ok.com/	D	Yes
39	John Waldron	http://www.waldron4ok.com/	D	Yes
41	Kevin McDonald	http://www.mcdonaldforok.com/	D	Yes
43	Leah Pollan	http://www.leahpollan.com/	D	Parents
43	Paul Scott	http://www.scott4oksenate.com/	R	Spouse
47	Judy Hopper	http://www.judymullenhopper.com/	D	Yes