I will vote for the following candidates in the Nov. 8 general election.

If you disagree, that’s fine. Kingfisher County residents are fully capable of making their own decision.

But I have been asked to do this, believe it or not, so here goes.

The state of governance in the United States is at a tipping point.

My personal hope is that it slides to the right – or “red” – in the interest of returning to a constitutional republic replete “with liberty and freedom for all.”

Governor – First of all I will vote to help re-elect Kevin Stitt, as governor.

Governor Stitt has made responsible decisions as governor, and thus, the state’s economy has improved, despite the COVID attacks and attacks by the national administration on oil, which is a vital part of our economy, locally and statewide.

His opponent, Joy Hofmeister, has been the state superintendent of schools.To be as nice as possible, she hasn’t been a resounding success in that job and she hasn’t been exactly open about her operation. (Check column at right.) Stitt is an easy choice in this race.

I don’t know much about the other two candidates in the race – Libertarian Natalie Bruno or Independent Kevin Stone Yen. You can look them up yourselves on Wikipedia. They’re probably very fine people, but they have no public recognition and have about as much chance winning as a snowball at a July 4th picnic.

Kevin Stitt is a proven administrator and deserves another term. That would be to the state’s benefit.

Lt. Governor – I’ll vote for incumbent Republican Matt Pinnell. He has been responsibly involved in state government since 2007. He and his wife and four children live in Tulsa and their kids attend Jenks schools.

Pinnell won election the first time in 2018 with 62% of the vote and won in all 77 counties.

Also the owner of a small business. Pinnell understands the importance of conservative values, including private enterprise, in making government work properly for citizens.

Attorney General – Candidates are Lynda Steele, Libertarian, and Gentner Drummond, Republican. I liked the initiatives and effort made by acting attorney general John O’Connor and voted for him in the primary election.

Drummond ran an aggressive campaign and won the nomination.

He’s from a rural county, Osage, so that should give him a good grasp of what the entire state needs. I’ll vote for Drummond.

State Treasurer – My vote will go to Todd Russ, a resident of Cordell and former member of the Oklahoma House of Representatives.

He has 30 years of banking experience. He term-limited out of his House seat and has been active as a bank consultant since 2008.

He is also chairman of the Oklahoma Bankers Association Small Bank Council.

His wife of 38 years, Khristy, has taught in public schools for 20 years. They have three grown children.

Superintendent of Public Instruction – Ryan Walters is an easy choice in this race. Walters a former teacher, was named as Secretary of Public Education by Governor Stitt in 2020 and has been at the forefront of efforts to give parents prime importance in their children’s education.

Walters also serves as Executive Director of Every Kid Counts Oklahoma (EKCO) and simultaneously teaches AP U.S. History at Millwood High School and McAlester High School. As executive director of EKCO, he is empowering teachers, parents and community leaders to improve Oklahoma’s education system for all students.

Labor Commissioner – I will vote for Libertarian Will Daugherty in this race and against Republican incumbent, Leslie Kathryn Osborn, who I consider a political climber looking for higher office. Daugherty says he wants to work with the legislature to see licensing fees eliminated for businesses until they begin earning a profit, calling the tax a barrier to starting a business.

He also wants to nullify federal identification for undocumented immigrants so that they can work.

Your guess is as good as mine in this race, maybe better. Corporation Commissioner – The candidates are Kim David of Porter, Republican, and term-limited state senator, serving portions of Cherokee, Mayes, Muskogee, Tulsa and Wagoner counties. She’s an Oklahoma State graduate and was the majority leader of the state senate from 2019 through 2022.

U.S. Senator – (six-year term) – I’ll vote for James Lankford, incumbent. He’s done a creditable job during a difficult time in the nation’s capitol.

U.S. Senator – (Jim Inhofe’s unexpired term) Former Congressman Markwayne Mullin is the Republican candidate. I didn’t vote for Mullin in the primary but figure he is the safest bet in the general election. He gave strong support to former President Trump during Trump’s tenure in the White House. He can be counted on to remain conservative.

U.S. Representative,

District 3 – Republican Frank Lucas deserves re-election. He is the only farmer in Congress, to my knowledge, and his experience is vital for a strong agricultural sector. His re-election also is necessary if there is to be a flip of the House from Red to Blue – a definite need if the U.S. is to survive as a functioning constitutional republic.

Judicial Retention

– I will vote “yes” on all the retention questions of the nine appeals court members on the ballot. Although I’m not a student of appeals court decisions, these jurists have seemed to follow the law and constitution in reaching their decisions.