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Thursday, June 23, 2016

Why Do You Vote?

“Why do you vote?” Kara Jo Perry-McKee asked us that question on the TogetherOklahoma Facebook page. 

Why do you vote? For me, it's easy. And it's not so I can complain after the election.



I vote because my parents would know if I didn’t. They’d come down from Heaven and yell at me. They both loved to vote, to participate. Mom was a New-Deal Democrat and Dad was an Eisenhower Republican. They joked that their votes cast each other’s out, but it didn’t matter. The act of voting was a solemn obligation, a privilege. An act of citizenship. A responsibility. After Dad retired, they spent every Election Day volunteering as poll-watchers. Mom for the Dems, Dad for the Republicans. In the same room all day, but in different corners. Thoroughly enjoying themselves.

How could I not vote with that example? My first vote was in the Presidential primary of 1968. We lived in Bloomington, IN, and as IU students, our polling place was the county courthouse. We stood in line for at least an hour with other university students…and I proudly voted for Bobby Kennedy.

I’ve always voted. I took my kids with me when I voted. I’ve registered and followed the voting rules of three states. I’ve written about my frustration with my profession…educators historically have a very poor voting record…and that frustrates me. I’ve not been polite about my frustration, I fear.

I will vote in the June 28 primary with pride…nearly fifty years of exercising my responsibility.

Primary rules and regulations can be frustrating. Indiana has a strange primary system…open, but…you are only allowed to vote for candidates running in the party you cast most of your votes in the last election…so Indiana keeps track of your voting patterns and limits you to one party. Iowa has open primaries – you declare a party when you register, but on election day, you can change your party and vote in whichever primary you choose. Here in Oklahoma, we have a closed primary, with Independents being allowed to vote in the Democratic primary.

We can work within the rules set for us. I remember educators choosing to change their party affiliation two years ago so they could vote against the then Superintendent of Schools. As it turned out, the election wasn’t close, and the dentist’s own party rejected her overwhelmingly. Many of those educators changed their party affiliation after that primary.

This year, I’m frustrated that the Cleveland County races are between Republican candidates, and will be decided by Republican voters. I have strong opinions about the candidates for CC Sheriff, but I’m not allowed to participate…I will be represented by an official I was not allowed to vote for…or against.

As a Democrat (that doesn’t surprise anyone, does it??), I will only be allowed to vote in one race, for US Representative. Lucky for me a friend is running, and I will proudly vote for Christina Owen! It’s exciting to vote for a friend.

I can vote on Tuesday at my polling place, or I can vote early Friday or Saturday (I frittered today away, or I could have voted all day). I also could have voted by mail, but was initially intimidated by the requirement of getting my ballot notarized. I learned that any tag agency will notarize my mail-in ballot for free, so I may try that again.

But I will vote. Once, not ‘early and often’ like we joked in Chicago. One vote, proudly cast. For only one candidate.

There are many tools for us voters. The OK Election Board’s Online Tool allows you to type in your name and birthday (none of your business), and learn your precinct, polling place, and all elected officials. There is a link to see a sample ballot, so you can go to the polls prepared.


There are tools to help you learn more about candidates:


This is the year of the education coalition…educators and family who stepped up to run for the legislature, to risk everything to do the right thing for our students, and for #oklaed. This is the year that we all must vote for candidates who will work for our schools. We have heard that many incumbents feel no urgency from these challengers…some incumbents do not believe we will vote. We must.

Vote. If you’re my friend, vote.

Vote for candidates who are committed to our children and our schools and our communities.

Vote and confound the career politicians who do not believe we are ready for change.


Vote. 

Tuesday, June 7, 2016

Finalized List of Educators Running for Legislature

I've continued to work on my list of educators and family members running for the OK Legislature. I've updated my original posts several times as I've gotten more information, but here is the list of House candidates and Senate candidates in one place.

I am not endorsing any of these candidates solely on the fact they are educators or family members. Frankly, that's YOUR job as reader and voter. I'm trying to give you the tools to do just that for yourself.

I've included district, party affiliation, connection to education, and official websites for all candidates I've been able to identify.

I made the decision early on that I'd only include official websites, and not Facebook campaign pages. Some of us may not choose to play on Facebook, and an official website is more revealing about a candidate's stance on all the issues. On most websites, there are links to contact the candidates, and to donate or volunteer. A few candidates do not have websites, and you will see the blanks.

So. Now, do your work.

Oklahomas for Public Education and the Facebook group Oklahoma Parents and Educators for Public Education have compiled a list of candidates we (yes, I am on the board that made those selections) feel, based on their stances, professional recommendations, and past histories, will be positive legislators. This list endorses some educators and some non-educators. Its purpose is different from my list. Both together can help your personal research.

Look at the websites, check on Facebook and Twitter for candidates. Follow and like them. Watch. Ask questions. Decide on YOUR issues and quiz your candidates about those issues. Listen and decide.

Find candidates you can support and do so. Volunteer. Knock on doors, make phone calls. Give them some cash if you can.

Be present. Be informed. Be a citizen. Be a voter.

Primary races for both parties will be June 28. Voter registration for this race is now closed.

General election is November 8, and the deadline to register to vote is October 14. The Oklahoma Election Board website can be helpful for you.

I am asking each of you to inform yourself, and then vote. Vote in June and vote in November. I hope you will make education your top voting issue.




Educators and Family Running for Oklahoma Senate

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 Dewayne 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 Kevin Crow http://jwtopper.wix.com/crowfor23 R HigherEd
23 Lonnie Paxton http://lonniepaxton.com/ Spouse
25 Lisa Kramer http://www.votekramer.com/ R ScBd
29 Robert Jobe http://jobeforstatesenate29.com/ D Yes
29 Jean Oliver http://www.oliverforoklahoma.com/ R Yes
31 Chris Kidd http://www.chriskiddforsenate.com/about.php R Former
31 Toni Hasenbeck http://tonihasenbeck.com/ R Yes
37 Lloyd Snow http://snow4ok.com/ D Yes
37 Brian Jackson https://sites.google.com/site/ivotejackson/home R Spouse
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
45 Mike Mason http://www.votemikemason.com/ Yes
47 Judy Hopper http://www.judymullenhopper.com/ D Yes
47 Don Sherry http://www.sherryforstatesenate.com/ D Niece 

Educators and Family Running for Oklahoma House of Representatives

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
5 Joe Wilhelm III http://wilhelmforoklahoma.com/bio/ R Yes
8 Rick Kibbe http://www.kibbecares.com/ R Yes
9 Richelle Helbig http://helbigforhouse.org/ R Yes
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/ Former
25 David Weir http://votedavidweir.com/ D Yes
27 Trey Baker http://www.vote4treybaker.com/ R Spouse
28 Yasminda Choate http://www.yasmindachoate.com/ D Higher Ed
29 Macy Gleason http://www.macygleason.com/ D Parents
30 Mike Gambill http://john-m-gambill.ruck.us/ R Yes
33 Caryl Talley Yes
33 Connie Parker http://www.parkerforrepresentative.com/ R Yes
42 Liz George http://lizforoklahoma.com/ D Higher Ed
42 Jim Beckham http://jimforthehouse.com/ R Yes
43 Mike Bounds D Spouse
46 Jacob Rosecrants http://jacobrosecrants.com/ Yes
46 Marilyn Goll Yes
49 Michelle Bray http://www.michellebraydistrict49.com/ D Yes
50 Melissa Tilley http://melissatilley.org/ D Yes
52 John Thomas http://johnthomasforhouse52.weebly.com/ R SchBd
58 Rochelle Covington http://covingtonforhouse.com/ R Daughter
60 Chad Slane http://www.slanefor60.com/ R Yes
60 Patrick Case http://www.thecaseforeducation.org/ R Yes
60 Rhonda Baker http://www.rhondabakerforok.com/ R Yes
62 Ruby Peters http://www.rubypetersforhd62.com/ D Yes
63 Randy Batt http://randylbatt.com/ D Yes
64 Jacobi Crowley http://jacobicrowley.com/ D Yes
65 Rick Gilleland http://www.rickforrepok.com/about-rick.html D Spouse
66 Dianna Phillips http://www.phillipsfor66.com/ D Higher Ed
67 John Croisant http://www.johncroisant.com/home R Yes
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
81 Lyle Walters http://www.lylewalters.com/ Parents
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
84 Donnie Ryan http://www.ryanforrep2016.com/ R Spouse
87 Kelly Meredith http://www.kellymeredithforok.com/ D Higher Ed
93 Mickey Dollens http://mickeydollens.com/ D Yes
95 James Cook 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
101 Johnny Jump http://www.jumpforstatehouse.com/ R Yes