Republican candidates for governor oppose walkout but understand teacher frustration
GUTHRIE — Diane Cantu, a fifth-grade teacher in Edmond, came Saturday to hear what the Republican candidates for governor had to say about teacher pay raises.
“They all say they would like to give us a raise, but how they’re going to do it seems to be the big question,” she said.
Cantu neatly summed up the positions of most of the GOP gubernatorial candidates.
Only one, Gary Jones, the state auditor and inspector, has proposed specific tax hikes. Lt. Gov Todd Lamb says he would consider removing some sales tax exemptions. The others either don’t address funding sources or they claim that cleaning up waste and abuse will provide the necessary means.
At the Logan County Republican Party event Saturday, all six GOP candidates for governor appeared on a stage together for the first time. Dan Fisher, a Yukon pastor, has skipped forums and party events but attended this one in Guthrie.
In their remarks to the audience, none of the six mentioned the potential walkout, which has been set for April 2 if the Legislature does not raise teacher pay before then.
Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett said last week in Chickasha that a strike would not be in the best interest of students or the state.
In brief interviews Saturday, Fisher, Lamb and Tulsa businessman Kevin Stitt said they would not support a walkout, while Jones and Tulsa attorney Gary Richardson said they would understand teachers’ position.
Stitt, who has called for setting teacher salaries consistent with the “market” that includes surrounding states, said Saturday, “I cannot support a walkout during the school year because there’s a contract in place. I believe in contracts. They need to address this in a different type of an outcome than a walkout on their students.”
Jones said Saturday that legislators should do everything possible to avoid a walkout.
“I’ve offered a solution,” he said. “I think it’s time Republicans quit playing games and come to the table and sit down and do what’s best for Oklahoma.”
Jones teamed up with Democratic legislators last month to propose a package that would raise the gross production tax on oil and gas along with motor
fuels taxes and the cigarette tax.
In Oklahoma, taxes can be increased by a simple majority vote of the people, or a three-fourths vote in the Legislature.
In regard to a walkout, Jones said, “I think you’ve got to look at the circumstances. That would not be my choice but I would definitely understand if they did.”
Lamb, whose wife is a fifth-grade teacher in Cashion, said he talked to her and other teachers across the state.
“I understand the frustration our teachers have,” Lamb said. “That’s why I’m passionate ... about a
teacher pay raise. I don’t support a walkout. I talked to a lot of teachers who don’t support that walkout.”
Richardson said, “I can’t see a walkout as the answer. But if they do walk out, it would be hard to say they’re wrong because they’re upset. We’ve been talking about teacher pay raises for 20 years, but nothing’s being done.”
Said Fisher, “I know their frustrations, because I felt them when I was a schoolteacher. But I’ve got to tell you, when I was a teacher, I would not have done a walkout strike. And I just believe there’s a better way to do it.”