YOUR VIEWS

Stitt’s strong suit

Oklahomans are about to make an important decision in hiring our next governor. Do you want to hire a proven, successful businessman or just another politician like those who have contributed to our past problems? Politicians generally brag about their job tenure as an indicator of their performance. Please don’t confuse tenure with success when it really is only endurance. Politicians generally don’t relate to their past accountability and performance, but easily take credit for others’ accomplishments and quickly pass on blame to others. Serving themselves is more important than serving those who hired them.

A successful business executive has learned the skills of serving those who hired them, sets bold goals, hires the right people and holds them accountable for their performance. It is deeds vs. words. They listen well, manage existing resources before asking for more and work to eliminate waste. Kevin Stitt will bring these proven, necessary skills to the statehouse as governor. I can speak firsthand of using these managerial skills as I brought 40 years of acquired CEO experience becoming the first chairman of the Workers’ Compensation Commission. In a very short period we were able to cut in half the workers’ comp insurance premiums, saving over $500 million annually. Stitt is a proven and successful executive who will successfully lead and bring needed innovation into our state.

Troy L. Wilson, Oklahoma City

Property taxes and the gov’s race

As a retired farmer and rancher with more than 30 years in the business, I have watched our race for governor with great concern. Kevin Stitt, while he may have good intentions, speaks of property tax to fund education and other needs of our state. I, like many owners of small operations, struggled for years to continue to make a living for my family and maintain ownership of my family’s land. Anyone who has tried to do this or has lived in a farming and ranching community knows this fight well. Thus, any discussion about increasing property taxes concerns me greatly. Our state was built by many small farmers and ranchers; it’s a great heritage we want to continue. If property taxes go too high, more corporate farming, not family farms and ranches, are the future of our state.

Drew Edmondson, while he has been painted as someone against agriculture, has the rights of small owners in mind. I would caution my fellow voters to think very hard about all issues including their ability to maintain their way of life, the land they love and the future of their family farms when they go to the polls Tuesday.

Gary Collar, Kingston

Experience needed

Drew Edmondson proposes no tax increases on families. He wants to end handouts to oil and gas companies. He will push for teacher salary increases and he will encourage alternative programs to be used as opposed to incarceration in the Oklahoma prison system. Edmondson has political experience and knowledge, realizing the importance of working with Democrats and Republicans to get Oklahoma on the right track as opposed to our present administration. He has prior public service to Oklahoma that will bring stability to the governor’s office for all Oklahomans.

I’m impressed with the qualities and experience Edmondson has and I think he can move Oklahoma in a positive, progressive direction. I encourage all Oklahomans to lay political party prejudices aside and vote for the individual who has the knowledge of state government, experience and service to Oklahoma to be elected governor.

Bill Starns, Ada

Ignoring real rights

In one of her television commercials, Democratic congressional candidate Kendra Horn states that every citizen has the right to affordable health care. One cannot but wonder where Horn finds this privilege. I have read the Word of God many times, and I find no basis for her claim there. Charity is the prerogative of the one providing it, not the right of the one in need. I also have read the Bill of Rights, and I don’t find this right there. I stand amazed at “regressive” Democrats and others who are always finding some fictitious right in our Constitution, but these same people have difficulty acknowledging the clearly spelled-out “inalienable” rights of freedom of speech in the First Amendment and bearing arms in the Second Amendment.

Samuel Smith, Choctaw

Fan of Russell

This is neither a campaign ad nor speech, just some observations about the 5th District congressional race. I have observed the Democratic candidate in several TV ads and she has not made any positive comments regarding what she will do to better our state or country. Perhaps I have missed some of her speeches, but I have no idea what she has done to qualify her for this office. She has made many negative comments about her opponent, Steve Russell.

I have not heard or seen any negative comments from Russell. He hasn’t retaliated in any way, but stated some of the good things he has done for our state and country. He is an honorable veteran of 20 years’ military service. Russell won an award as “The Taxpayers’ Friend.” He has served in Congress in an admirable way and I believe will continue to do so if re-elected. He has stated positive plans to make our state better. We need Steve Russell for our state and the USA.

Shirlene Braswell, Bethany

Horn has to be better

It’s election time for the 5th District congressional seat and voters should consider the record of Rep. Steve Russell. As a lackluster back bencher, the congressman has done little to genuinely help Oklahomans. On an issue touching everyone, health care, he voted repeatedly to let insurance companies discriminate against pre-existing conditions and a person’s age. He voted for tax cuts for the wealthy. Regarding gun violence, his solution (not surprising for a gun manufacturer) is more guns. He remains silent while the president engages in a series of destructive and divisive lies and character assassinations. The 5th District needs not the quiet resignation of yet another “conservative” conveniently leaving their morals at home. Kendra Horn has to be better.

Jon Womastek, Oklahoma City

SQ 793 nonsense

Much is being said to dissuade voters from rightly approving State Question 793. These attempts are nothing more than an effort to retain the protectionism that optometrists were successful in having codified into state law in 1971. In 47 of the 50 states, no such prohibition exists and places like Sam’s Clubs, Walmart and Costco provide these products and services with substantial savings for their customers.

In Oklahoma we can have prescriptions filled at Walmart, but those opposed to SQ 793 claim that having our eyes examined or buying glasses in those same stores somehow presents a risk to our health and should therefore be prohibited. This is nonsense. Whether the law was written with good intent or not, the effect has been to prevent competition and Oklahomans have been paying for it. Approving SQ 793 will remove the prohibition and allow Oklahomans to choose. If current providers truly have the better way for the reasons they claim, it will show in the competition.

Paul Thomson, Edmond