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This post is for those of you suffering from acute campaign season withdrawal syndrome. Good news, we received this email early this morning!
Here’s an excerpt:
EDMOND, OK — Citing the need for strong leadership and vision, Patrice Douglas announced Tuesday her candidacy for Edmond Mayor.
“I have a passion to serve Edmond and a desire to make a difference. This is my home and where we choose to raise our family, and I enjoy serving my friends and neighbors.”
“We face real challenges as a growing suburb that values its quality of life. We need to strengthen the building blocks of our great community; police and fire protection, safe streets, quality jobs, enhanced parks, exciting arts and entertainment. Our small businesses should be allowed to thrive amidst neighborhoods that are safe, beautiful and strong.”
Douglas started her career practicing law for 13 years, a decade of it at the Oklahoma Supreme Court. She left to join the family business, ACP Sheet Metal Company, where she learned her business skills from her father. She served as the company’s Vice President and General Counsel.
“Growing up as the daughter of a small businessman, I understand what it takes to make a payroll and to make ends meet. In these tough economic times, Edmond needs a reasonable leader who has common sense, and knows when government should step in and lend a hand and when it should back off.”
“Without question, we need a leader with the energy and desire to lead us into the future, and that’s why I am announcing today for Mayor.”
In 2004, Douglas joined SpiritBank to lead the bank’s efforts in Edmond and was promoted to President of the Greater OKC Market. She now has the honor of leading the commercial team in Edmond for First Fidelity Bank as Executive Vice President.
With Ms. Douglas being a bank executive, it’ll be interesting to see how this will play with the citizens of Edmond. Hope the bank is strong!
Hello again, everybody! One of my favorite quotes from President Kennedy perfectly sums up some of our challenges as we work to create a brighter future for Oklahoma.
“The great enemy of the truth is very often not the lie – deliberate, contrived and dishonest – but the myth, persistent, persuasive, and unrealistic,” he said. “Belief in myths allows the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought.”
One myth that has held back rural Oklahoma is the misguided belief by some that our area cannot compete in a global economy. Nothing could be farther from the truth. We see time and again that rural Oklahoma can compete in a global economy, bringing prosperity and opportunities to our communities.
It takes two things to dispel that myth: confidence and capital. Read more…
One of the issues about which I have felt the most strongly has been the inappropriate nature of special interest influence over policy makers. One of the foremost manifestations of the inappropriate influence has been the ability of these special interests to give personal gifts to legislators.
I do not believe it is any more appropriate for a lobbyist to give a gift to a legislator than it would be for an attorney to give a gift to a judge who was ruling on a case in which the attorney was a party. In both cases the gift giver receives a direct benefit from the decision of the recipient.
As such when I sought election to the legislature I did so on a platform of not taking personal gifts or contributions from lobbyists or the groups that hire lobbyists.
When I first entered the legislature just two years ago this inappropriate giving was nearing an all time high point. In 2007, over $150,000 of personal gift giving was reported by lobbyists. This number was probably just a percent of the total gift giving as a significant amount of gift giving probably did not meet reporting requirements.
OKPNSnet Forum Question: Should lobbyists be banned from giving legislators gifts? (click here to join the discussion!)
Since this post last week, we are still receiving emails from well meaning organizations pushing this non story. Here’s an excerpt from last week’s post:
“It’s sad to now see the OK alternative press pickup the alleged Barack Obama birth certificate controversy. First reported during the election on prominent, national right wing blogs, others soon followed suit promoting this bogus controversy.”
Former State Representative Thad Balkman sent this email out on Thanksgiving day:
Hat tip: That’s Just Bob
As for these calls for an investigation of Obama’s birth certificate. It AINT GONNA HAPPEN! Those Republicans who keep talking about his birth certificate are beginning to look as bad as the gays out in California who are trying to stop Proposition 8 AFTER the people decided in favor of it.
We lost the Presidential election. We have another chance in 4 years. In the meantime, get over it and criticize Obama when his policies fail.
Where was all of this passion during the campaign? Why didn’t these people help us nominate a better candidate?
I’m tired of hearing about this birth certificate nonsense. Can’t we talk about something more relevant?
Thad Balkman
Well said!
OKPNSnet Forum Question: Obama’s Birth Certificate? Who Cares?
(click here to join the discussion!)
“Thomas Kinkade is the artistic equivalent of simultaneously listening to Kenny G, eating at the Olive Garden, watching Oprah, and reading an inspirational book by Deepak Chopra.
All while having a giant crystal shoved up your ass for good measure.” Read more…
Although we rarely agree with Mr. Sinister, it was a pretty good line nonetheless. We can’t all like you, appreciate the homoerotic masterpiece of a few years ago of the upside down cross placed in a jar of urine.
One thing too Mr. Sinister, you forgot that the majority of people reading blogs are probably heterosexual, so the “crystal shoved up your ass” line may not be such a great example!
Sinister: “Here’s a picture of my partner and me on Halloween, dressed as “Son of Man.”
Side Note: It looks like Mr. Sinister and his partner are planning a move to the new Sodom and Gomorrah – the great American left coast.
OKPNSnet Forum Question: Liberal=Duplicity? (click here to join the discussion!)
In a serman titled “What Now,” Tulsa Unitarian Universalism Rev. Marlin Lavanhar describes his “tears of joy” after President-elect Obama’s victory on November 4th. Rev. Lavanhar also predicted a “new America.” We don’t fault the good reverend for his exuberant support (from behind the pulpint) for our new president, We just ask what ever happened to the sacred line of separation of church and state that the liberals worship so much?
Rev. Lavanhar is pastor of the All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa. If you’re unfamiliar with Unitarian Universalism, here’s a blurb from the Church’s website:
“Unitarian Universalism is a liberal religion with Jewish-Christian roots. It has no creed. It affirms the worth of human beings, advocates freedom of belief and the search for advancing truth, and tries to provide a warm, open, supportive community for people who believe that ethical living is the supreme witness of religion.”
hat tip: AllSoulsUnitarian
