Stitt casts fewer votes than most candidates

Republican Kevin Stitt is asking voters to hire him for the top elective job in the state, but he did not vote in at least the last four elections for governor, according to an analysis by the Tulsa World.

Stitt, a Tulsa businessman who is among the Republican front-runners, failed to cast ballots for governor at least since he registered to vote in Tulsa County in 1999. He did not cast ballots in seven of 10 state primaries or general elections since 2008 and ranked near the bottom in voting among all candidates seeking the state’s highest office.

Stitt did not respond to requests for an interview but issued a statement that was not responsive to questions about his voting record.

“I’m a lifelong Republican and voted for President Trump,” Stitt said in the statement. “For the past 20 years, I have had my head down, raising my six kids and building Gateway from scratch into a company that employs hundreds of Oklahomans across 9 cities. I’m running for governor because our state is in crisis and I don’t believe the career politicians who got us into this mess can get us out. Oklahomans are ready for change, and our campaign is seeing a surge in support because they know we need a conservative outsider (to) clean up the mess.”

State Auditor and Inspector Gary Jones, a former chair of the state Republican Party, was among the candidates who didn’t miss a vote in state primary or general elections since 2008.

Jones said in that capacity he worked hard to get people registered and to the polls. He said many elections have been determined because of lazy voters who did not cast ballots.

“The world is run by those who show up,” Jones said. “If you don’t show up to vote, you don’t have an impact on what happened if you leave it to others to make those decisions.”

Republicans Mick Cornett, Dan Fisher, Lt. Gov. Todd Lamb and Gary Richardson had the same record as Jones.

“He is asking the voters to do something that he has never done, and that is vote in a primary race for governor in Oklahoma,” Richardson said. “I believe leadership is not asking others to do something that you wouldn’t do yourself.”

Cornett said he has traveled to places where people were not allowed to vote.

“To me, that was kind of mindful what a privilege it is that we get to vote in the United States,” Cornett said.

Said Lamb in a statement: “Men and women serving in the military today continue to lead by example as they serve in harm’s way while also exercising their voting privilege. Because of the sacrifices made, it is important to vote. I have done that across a broad spectrum of elections for nearly three decades as a voter for conservative candidates and causes.”

On the Democratic ballot for governor, candidates Drew Edmondson and Connie Johnson had perfect voting records in state primary and general elections since 2008. Edmondson said it is important not just to vote but to study the issues and to vote intelligently.

“If it is worth putting it on the ballot, it is worth looking at and casting an informed decision,” Edmondson said.

Johnson said the goal should be to have all citizens vote to hold elected officials accountable.

Primary elections are Tuesday.