It appears the political process is alive in Pottawatomie and Lincoln Counties following the filing period three weeks ago.
It was encouraging to see the number of people from the two counties who decided to become candidates for local, county and state offices.
With the times we are in, it’s healthy to see as many people who filed that are interested in serving the public. It appears the political process is alive in Pottawatomie and Lincoln Counties following the filing period three weeks ago.
With the times we are in, it’s healthy to see as many people who filed that are interested in serving the public.
It takes a great deal of intestinal fortitude to step up and become willing to be involved. That includes the incumbents who are holding those offices now. Many are incumbents, of course, but races
Many are incumbents, of course, but races have developed for many of the offices up for election this year.
In Lincoln County, only two of the four seats at the county level didn’t draw more than one candidate.
Sheriff Charlie Dougherty and County Court Clerk Cindy Kirby got by without an opponent. The County Clerk and District 2 commissioners have opponents.
Only one current seat holder in Pottawatomie County escaped without an opponent. That is County Clerk Raeshel Flewallen. The sheriff, County Court Clerk and District 2 commissioner all drew opponents. Only a couple of legislative seats in the two
Only a couple of legislative seats in the two counties are not contested. District 27 State Rep. Danny Sterling won another two-year term and so did District 32 State Rep. Kevin Wallace. But State Sen. Ron Sharp has several opponents in his for re-election.
The Senate District 28 seat that former State Sen. Jason Smalley resigned from has three candidates and House District 26 State Rep. Dell Kerbs has a couple of opponents.
The District 28 House seat has a three-person race.
Each of four Shawnee city commission seats up for election have races. It’s good to see more people becoming in
It’s good to see more people becoming interested in running for office.
Two years ago lots of people filed for legislative posts because of everything that had gone on at the Capitol that year.
At that time, Legislators’ inability to deal with the budget shortfalls over a period of time, the cuts in education funding, lack of a teacher pay raise for years until that session that prompted the teacher walkout drew the ire of many Oklahomans.
Slashing of other agency budgets, the behavior of some legislators from other areas across the state, and the continual squabbling that goes on across the aisle and within their parties just had Oklahomans thinking about involvement.
For whatever reason, a lot more interest has been shown on the part of people willing to try to hold office.
We’re proud of all those who filed, both incumbents and the challengers. The incumbents have shown their continued interest in serving, the others have indicated their willingness to meet the challenge.
Stepping up is what’s important. Involvement is what it’s all about. Especially with what so many people are facing and up against right now and probably will be for some time.