BERT GRITZ has been a trustee since 2003 and is currently mayor. He also served as trustee from 1979-83. Bert is a 1975 HHS graduate, earned a bachelor’s degree from UCO and a master’s in counseling from OCU. He is an EMT, serves as the fire chief and is the owner/operator of Cordry-Gritz Funeral Home since 1998. He is married to Kim (White), has two children, two stepsons and seven grandchildren. “Experience is important. Town government is complicated and with the recent resignation of our town administrator, it is vital that someone with governmental experience remain on the town board of trustees.”

RICHARD SIMUNEK has been a member of the board of trustees since 2019 when all three candidates ran unopposed. He graduated HHS in 1964, OSU in 1968 and earned a master’s in ag from Washington State in 1971. Now retired, he was a real estate agent in Washington, D.C., for 26 years, was with the USDA for nine years and also served in the U.S. Army Reserves from 1971-77. “I get results. In just one term, I pushed seeking grants and $687,500 was received. Hennessey’s decades-old flooding problems were fixed by the grants. Water lines were improved. I continue to oppose tearing down our historic buildings and will continue to fight to save our museum, library and heritage.”

CLIFFORD VOGT is currently the vice mayor. He was appointed to the town board in January 2018. He filed for the board in 2019, and all three who filed went unopposed. He is the former owner/operator (1981-2018) of the Hennessey Sonic Drive-in where he supported many school and community fundraisers. He has worked at Walmart in Kingfisher for the past six months. Vogt is an Enid HS grad, and is a member of the First United Methodist Church and the Methodist Men. He and his wife, Karen, have two sons, one daughter and three grandchildren. Mrs. Vogt is the administrative assistant at the Hennessey First United Methodist Church and is a former librarian at the Hennessey Public Library. (Editor’s Note: Mr. Vogt was apparently unable to answer our question this week due to a family death.)

RANDY BOHNSTEDT has been a member of the Hennessey Volunteer Fire Department for eight years and recently became a Basic EMT. He is a 2006 HHS and Autry Technology Center (auto collision) graduate. Bohnstedt has worked at Energy Transfer as a measurement technician for 12 years and previously at Energy Meter Systems. He and his wife, Mindy (Shoemaker), have a son, Caden, 3. “I am coming into this position with an open mind hoping to spark conversation and new ideas to solve problems for the Town of Hennessey. I want to make sure people’s concerns are heard and addressed. I will work to improve communication between citizens and the Town Trustees.”

FRANK PATTON JR. graduated from Healdton in 1977 and OU in 1981 with a degree in business administration/management. He is office manager/accounts payable/receivable supervisor for Momentum Transports, DBA Iron Eagle Resources and Shale Properties. Frank was previously owner of Silverado Land Service LLC (Ft. Smith) and has worked for other companies as a land man since 1981. He has five grandchildren. “We must watch spending and budget for future required expenses more than ever. Each of us have felt the pinch in our homes. I have daily work experience in allocating and prioritizing projects by cost and need. I am not a lifetime politician and bring new ideas to the table.”