Osborn eyes labor commissioner seat
State Rep. Leslie Osborn, R-Mustang, said Friday she is considering a run for labor commissioner.
Osborn drew support this week from across the political spectrum after Speaker Charles McCall replaced her as House Appropriations and Budget Committee chair. It was that support that helped solidify her decision to run for statewide office.
“The support has lifted my spirits and renewed my desire to fight the good fight for Oklahomans who want to see destructive partisan politics, bickering and pettiness replaced with constructive conversations, fresh ideas and bold initiatives,” Osborn said. “My hope is to set a new agenda for strengthening our economy and improving the quality of life for Oklahomans.”
She was ousted from the influential post after she and two other lawmak- ers publicly contradicted the speaker about program and service cuts at the Department of Human Services.
Osborn said she will form an advisory committee to assist her campaign.
“We have serious problems in Oklahoma, but with leaders who put people over politics, I am convinced we can solve them,” she said.
The Oklahoma Labor Department regulates some workplace safety policies and inspects elevators, amusement rides and high-pressure boilers. It also provides information to private employers about workplace safety.
Labor Commissioner Melissa McLawhorn Houston, who was appointed to the position after Commissioner Mark Costello was killed in 2015, has repeatedly said she will not campaign for the job in 2018.
Osborn has been in the House since 2009. She said several people approached her at the end of this year’s legislative session asking her to run for statewide office.
“In my view, it starts with a trained and educated workforce,” Osborn said of her desire to ensure safe workplaces and strong companies. “That said, I shall open a conversation with the citizens of Oklahoma to discuss their aspirations and ideas. I love this state, but I do not want to be part of a state government that fails its people. Instead, I want to be part of a responsive and responsible state government that serves its people by putting their interests above all else.”