Runoff opponents differ on role of labor commissioner
The Republican candidates in the Aug. 28 runoff election for state labor commissioner agree the job has changed somewhat over the years, but have different ideas about what it should become.
State Rep. Leslie Osborn, R-Mustang, foregoing a sixth and final term in the House of Representatives to seek statewide office, sees the Department of Labor as an agency devoted to workplace safety, workforce development and public safety through the agency’s inspections and licensing divisions.
Cathy Costello, widow of former Labor Commissioner Mark Costello, wants to inject a mental health component into those activities. Costello is also interested in incorporating some education and workers compensation initiatives into state labor policy.
“My three basic goals are to promote job creation, improve workplace safety and address workplace mental health,” Costello said.
The mental health piece, though, has gotten the most attention, largely because Costello has been so outspoken on the subject.
It is very personal to her: Mark Costello was killed three years ago by the couple’s mentally ill son, Christian.
As labor commissioner, Cathy Costello says she’d push for a special panel on mental health. She said mental health is the leading cause of lost productivity in the workplace and is an escalating job safety issue.
Costello said she sees a link between work and mental health, and cites the state’s motto — Labor omnia vincit, or “labor conquers all things.”
“All you have to do is talk to (someone) who’s been out of work for six months,” she said. “My son was happiest when he was working. He was more apt to take his medication and go to the doctor.”
Costello, 58, says she is pro-worker but not necessarily pro-union. When the AFL-CIO endorsed Osborn, Costello issued a news release thanking them for not endorsing her.
Osborn thinks that was a mistake.
“If you ask the (Oklahoma) AFL-CIO, they’ll tell you over 50 percent of their members are Republicans,” Osborn said. “If you look at who just elected a Republican president, a lot of them were union members.”
Osborn, 54, said the Labor Department is not as directly involved in as many labor disputes as it once was, but still has a responsibility to protect workers and perform its other functions, including mechanical inspections and asbestos removal.
Osborn said the department should focus on those tasks and leave mental health issues to the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse.
Among the things she wants to work on is reform of professional licensure, so that access to skilled trades and professions are not unnecessarily restricted, and to better serve small businesses through existing safety programs.
Osborn said she has the support and/or endorsements of 19 organizations, including the Oklahoma Public Employees Association. She thinks her 10 years in the Legislature on several committees give her an understanding of state government that would prove useful at the Labor Department.
Costello received 43 percent of the primary vote to 36 percent for Osborn, a difference of about 31,000 votes.
Costello’s campaign is largely self-funded with $525,000 from her own pocket. Osborn carried almost $145,000 over from her House campaign fund and has raised more than $400,000 from a fairly broad range of sources, including several House colleagues.
The winner faces Democrat Fred Dorrell and independent Brandt Dismukes in the Nov. 6 general election.