SIRLOIN STOCKADE MURDERER UP FOR PAROLE!

 Weekly Opinion Editorial

DENY PAROLE TO STAFFORD!

by Steve Fair

On July 16, 1978, three teenagers and two male adults were murdered at a Sirloin Stockade restaurant in south Oklahoma City.  The victims ranged in age from 15-56 years old.  Six days after the murders Harold Stafford died in a motorcycle wreck in Tulsa, Oklahoma.  Harold's sister-in-law, Verna Stafford went to view his body in Chicago and police arrested her as a suspect in the Sirloin Stockade killings.  She implicated her husband Roger Dale Stafford in those murders and a total of 29 other killings in seven different states.

On October 17, 1979, Roger Dale Stafford was convicted of nine murders, and sentenced to death.  His wife Verna was convicted of two counts of second-degree murder and given two life sentences.  Verna testified against her husband, and later divorced him while he was on death row. Roger Dale Stafford was executed by lethal injection July 1, 1995.  Stafford never acknowledged his guilt.

In an eerie twist, two weeks later, the AG's office received a $5 Sirloin Stockade gift certificate, purchased in El Reno, with the message "Hey, you got away with it. I am murdered and you helped do it! I am innocent and you know it" written on the back and signed "Roger Dale Stafford 103767". Investigators determined it had been mailed from McAlester, Oklahoma (where Stafford was imprisoned), on July 3, two days after Stafford's execution. 

This week, the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board said Verna Stafford, who is now 73, has passed stage one of the parole process in June, meaning she could be one step closer to getting out on parole.  Verna will go to a second round of parole hearings next week.

Oklahoma State Senate President pro tempore Lonnie Paxton, (R-Tuttle) opposes Verna receiving parole.  In a letter sent to the state Pardon and Parole Board Paxton wrote: "There are no conditions, circumstances or arguments that can justify recommending her release. The Pardon and Parole Board should remember the victims, remember their families and vote accordingly.”   Sen. Paxton is right- Verna Stafford should remain in jail and here is why:

First, the heinous nature of the crime.  Even 48 years after the murders were committed, Oklahomans remember the cruel, senseless nature of the crime.  Verna's participation- active or passive- is undisputed.  Justice is not served when criminals get released.  The victim's families have been deprived of their loved ones for almost half a century.  They deserve justice. 

Second, there is no guarantee Verna is not a danger to society.  Criminals can be rehabilitated, but success depends on dealing with the root cause of bad behavior.  The secular approach is to deal with their substance abuse, mental illness, lack of education, and job skills.  Ignoring the real root cause- man's inherit sin nature- results in secular solutions to spiritual problems.  Until God does a work of grace in a heart, rehabilitation is nothing more than behavior modification. 

Third, there are consequences for actions.  Verna was captured in January 1979 and has been continuously incarcerated since March 1980- 46 years.  She was sentenced to two life sentences.  Has Verna paid her debt to society?  The answer is NO!  She should complete her original sentence.  Every choice a person makes sets off a chain reaction, creating results that can be good or bad, fast or slow. What Verna did shaped her future.  It affected others and she should be held responsible for the outcome.

Contact the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board at (405) 521-6600 or email them at Boardmembers@ppb.ok.gov.  Urge them to deny parole for Verna Stafford.

"A low voter turnout is an indication of fewer people going to the polls." Al Gore

 Weekly Opinion Editorial 

by Steve Fair

 

On August 25th, Oklahoma Republican voters will choose the Party's nominee in four races: Governor, State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Labor Commissioner and Insurance Commissioner.  Last week, we looked at the races for Governor and State Superintendent of Public Instruction.  This week, we will look at the other two races- Labor Commissioner and Insurance Commissioner. 

Labor Commissioner.  Only four states elect a Labor Commissioner through a statewide vote.  Georgia, North Carolina, Oregon and Oklahoma.  In the other 46 states, it is a gubernatorial appointment.  There has been a movement for the Oklahoma governor to appoint, but that would require a vote of the people to amend the State Constitution.    

Oklahoma's Labor Commissioner is responsible for supervising the administration of all state laws relating to labor and workplace safety and gathers and publishes information about the workforce of Oklahoma.

Four candidates ran for the GOP nomination for Labor Commissioner.  No candidate received a majority of the vote in the June primary, so the top two advanced to the August runoff.  Rep. Kevin West has represented House District 54 (south OKC/Moore) since 2016.  West received 41.8% of the vote in the primary.  His opponent is Rep. John Pfeiffer who has represented House District 38 (Grant, Garfield, Kay, Logan and Noble counties) since 2014.  He received 35.3% of the vote.

The two candidates have similar backgrounds- both served in the State House (the legislature, not prison) at the same time.  This race has been mostly civil, but recent mailers have the candidates accusing the other of being a 'radical,' (whatever that means). 

In this race, voters have a unique opportunity:  They can simply compare how the two candidates voted on key legislation and then vote for the one who aligns with their views/values. 

Insurance Commissioner.  Eleven states elect an insurance commissioner.  In the other 39 states, the position is a gubernational appointment.  Like the Labor Commissioner, to make the Insurance Commissioner an appointed position would require a vote of the people. 

The Insurance Commissioner enforces state insurance laws, regulates thousands of insurance companies, licenses insurance professionals, and protects consumers by investigating complaints and ensuring market fairness.  The agency has an annual budget of $35 million and has 12 divisions, and about 120 employees.

Four candidates ran for the GOP nomination for Insurance Commissioner.  No candidate received a majority of the vote in the primary, so the top two advanced to the runoff. 

Bob Sullivan received 37.4% of the vote in the primary, with former State Senator Marty Quinn got 27.7%.  Sullivan, from Inola, has been an independent insurance agent for twenty years.  Quinn has spent 40 years in the insurance agency, in addition to serving in the state legislature for 16 years, representing Rogers County. 

The two candidates agree Oklahomans are paying too much for insurance, but disagree on how to handle it.  Sullivan agrees with AG Drummond's lawsuit against State Farm and Allstate.  At a candidate forum, Sullivan suggested jail time for insurance executives.  Quinn said that wasn't the answer and those who suggested it were sensationalizing the issue.  He pointed out insurance companies pass on lawsuit costs to their customers in the form of rate hikes. 

The incoming Insurance Commissioner will wield more power over rate hikes than their predecessor.  House Bill 3781 was passed by the legislature this year and takes effect July 1, 2027.  It will empower the next insurance commissioner to challenge excessive rates.

Quinn recognizes the balance needed for insurance providers to make a profit in the state and for Oklahomans to not get fleeced by the insurance companies.  Trying to force business to lose money by suing them will result in their abandoning the market, resulting in less options for Oklahoma consumers.  In this race, Marty Quinn is the clear choice.

Primary runoffs are notoriously famous for low voter turnout.  Former Vice President All Gore was right when he said: "A low voter turnout is an indication of fewer people going to the polls."  Don't be that guy!  Do your homework and vote in the primary runoff August 25th!

RUNNER-UPS OFTEN LEAPFROG OPPONENTS IN OKLAHOMA!

 Weekly Opinion Editorial 

LEAPFROG!

by Steve Fair

 

On August 25th, Oklahoma Republican voters will choose the Party's nominee in four races: Governor, State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Labor Commissioner and Insurance Commissioner.  If history is an indicator, the candidate that finished second in the primary has about a 35% chance to win in the primary runoff.  It happened in the 1990 gubernatorial race when Bill Price beat Vince Orza.  It happened again in 2006 Mary Fallin beat Terry Neese in the Lt. Governor primary runoff. 

2018 was the year for the GOP primary runner up.  Kevin Stitt (governor), Matt Pinnell (lt. governor), and Leslie Osborn (labor commissioner) all finished second, but subsequently beat their first-place opponent in the runoff.  Here is a quick look at two of the four GOP primary runoff races on the ballot in August:

Governor: The runoff election will between Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond and former state Senator Mike Mazzei.  The two emerged from a field of nine GOP candidates.  Drummond finished slightly ahead of Mazzei.  Neither got 50% of the vote to win the nomination outright.  The winner of the runoff will advance to the general election (November 3rd) to face the Democratic nominee, State Representative Cyndi Munson, and three independent challengers.

The Republican primary for Oklahoma governor saw $70 million spent on campaigns. Mazzei has reportedly loaned nearly $10.9 million dollars to his campaign.  Drummond has put $2.5 million of his own money into his gubernatorial bid.  Political action committees (PACs) and 501(c)(4) dark money groups spent $17 million to try and influence GOP voters. 

Campaign messaging in this race has turned nasty.  Increasingly, both candidates are 'defining' their opponent as liberal, tax loving, and out of touch with average Oklahomans.  One of the areas where the two candidates differ is the proposed smelter plant in Inola. Drummond remains opposed to the project, citing water and electric supply, and local opposition.  He has filed a legal challenge to halt the plant.  Mazzei supports the project, (as does President Trump) citing the economic impact, job creation and the plant's role in national security and munitions manufacturing. 

State Superintendent of Public Instruction:  The runoff election will be between Robert Franklin, a long-time public educator, and James Taylor, a pastor and a public-school history teacher.  They emerged from a field of seven GOP candidates in the June primary. 

Taylor benefited from a strong grassroots turnout in the primary to make the runoff.  He spent less than $10,000 for his statewide race.  He has been a perennial candidate for the 4th district congressional seat, having ran four times against Rep. Tom Cole.  Critics of Taylor claim he doesn't have the skills to do the job and would be Ryan Walters 2.0.

Taylor responds he is not Walters and wants to promote increased parental involvement and teacher mentoring to improve Oklahoma public schools.  Taylor has also been questioned about his stance on school district consolidation, which is unpopular in rural Oklahoma. 

Franklin is an Oklahoma Educators Hall of Fame inductee with a long career in public education.  He wants to reduce classroom size and expand teacher pipelines to address the teacher shortage in Oklahoma.  Franklin is the clear choice of public educators.  Franklin has been branded a RINO by critics because he is a recent convert to the GOP.  His recommendation of a book at a candidate forum June 2nd has raised eyebrows of conservative voters.   In the book, "Separation of Church & Hate," author, comedian, and broadcaster John Fugelsang supposedly advocates for the LGBTQ+ community. 

This race has each campaign caricaturing the position of the other candidate.    Determining what is true presents a challenge and voters should proceed with caution. 

NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt said, "Second place is just the first place-loser."  That may be true on the track, but in Oklahoma, the August 25th primary runoff offers a silver medalist the chance to leap frog the gold. 

VOTERS SHOULD NEVER MISS AN OPPORTUNITY TO CUT TAXES!

 Weekly Opinion Editorial

NO ON 845 & YES ON 847!

by Steve Fair

 

On November 3rd, Oklahoma voters will see two state questions on the ballot.  State questions 845 and 847 were both sent to voters through legislative referendums.  Below is the lowdown on the two:

State Question #845 would amend article 7-B, Section 3 of the state constitution.  It proposes to amend the Judicial Nominating Commission (JNC) structure.  The JNC was established in 1967 by a vote of the people.  When there is an opening in the judiciary, the JNC nominates three candidates for appointment by the governor.

The stated reason the JNC was established back in 1967 was to remove the partisan influence from the judiciary.  It followed a major scandal that occurred in 1964-65.  Three Oklahoma Supreme Court justices were convicted of accepting bribes in exchange for favorable rulings over a twenty-year period.  The fallout from the scandal was the JNC.

The JNC is made up of fifteen (15) members.  Nine of the fifteen have to be non-lawyers.  The governor appoints six of the non-attorneys by the congressional district’s boundaries from 1967 and they serve six-year terms.  The Oklahoma Bar Association (OBA) appoints six members.  The other three serve as 'members at large' for two years.  The Speaker of the House and the Senate President Pro Tempore each appoint one of the at large members and the JNC members appoint the last at large member.  Of the three Members at Large, no more than two can be from the same political party.

If approved, State Question#845 would change the district requirement to the current congressional boundaries, allow commissioners to serve two six-year terms, remove the 'non-lawyer' provisions and permit any number or all of the commissioners to be attorneys.  It would also remove political Party membership for the at-large members.  remove the requirement that no more than three commissioners appointed by the governor be from the same political party and that no more than two at-large commissioners be from the same political party. 

The JNC needs reformation- or elimination- in Oklahoma.  In the recent past, the Oklahoma Supreme Court has consistently issued liberal rulings and undermined conservative legislation.  But SQ#845 is not the answer.  The proposed changes to the JNC empowers the OBA more in the process than it is already.  Some of the changes in SQ#845 are fine, but the fishhooks in it make worse than the current system.  Until the legislature gets serious about truly reforming the JNC, voters should vote no on SQ#845.

State Question #847 proposes to reduce the annual growth limit of the calculated cash value of property assessed for taxation.  It would reduce the annual growth from 5% to 4%.  It would reduce the annual growth amount for homestead exemption from 3% to 1.75%.  SQ 847 would eliminate the hard income cap to qualify for the senior property valuation limit, and change the senior property tax freeze into a tiered cap. Instead of locking the assessed value at exactly zero percent growth, the value would be permitted to rise by an annual limit of 1.75% or higher, depending on income.

Supporters say SQ#847 would protect property owners from sharp increases. Critics note slower growth in property values would also slow the growth of funding for local schools and services.  They point out property tax monies stay in the community where it is collected and are one of the few ways local citizens directly control funding for local services. 

Voters should never miss a chance to reduce their tax burden and the size of government.  The critic's argument voters directly control local funding through property tax is valid and accurate and that is precisely why voters should vote yes on SQ#847.  

Like Gone with the Wind author Margaret Mitchell once said: “Death, taxes and childbirth! There's never any convenient time for any of them.”

On August 25th, YES 'EM BOTH!

 Weekly Opinion Editorial

YES ‘EM BOTH!

by Steve Fair

 

Oklahoma was the first state in the United States to include in its state constitution the right for citizens to circumvent the legislature and amend the state constitution.   Since Oklahoma became a state in 1907, 116 citizen-initiated ballot measures have appeared on the ballot.  The legislature regularly raises the number of signatures needed to get a state question on the ballot.  The number of signatures needed to get on the ballot is now 15% of the number of votes cast in the most recent gubernatorial election. 

The second way and the most common way state questions get on the ballot is a legislative joint resolution.  Joint resolutions bypass the need for an initiative petition and refers state questions directly to voters.  They do not require the signature of the governor.

Oklahomans will be voting on two state questions on August 25th- SQ#844 and SQ$846.  Here is the scoop on both:

Oklahoma State Question 844 is a legislatively referred constitutional amendment.  Authored by Oklahoma Speaker of the House Kyle Hilbert (R-Bristow) and Senate President Pro Tem Lonnie Paxton, (R-Tuttle), HJR 1987 passed the House 69-22 and the Senate 38-7.   If approved, SQ #844 would alter how Oklahoma state government reimburses local governments and school districts for revenues lost due to the statewide five-year property tax exemption for manufacturing plants.  It would amend article 10, section 6B of the Oklahoma Constitution. 

Currently, the State must reimburse common schools, county governments, cities and towns, emergency medical services districts, vocational technical schools, junior colleges, county health departments and libraries for revenues lost as a result of each exemption provided.  Those exemptions have become expensive according to Paxton.  In 2024, the state paid $93 million in reimbursement. 

Right now, there could be a manufacturing company about to move into Oklahoma and we know nothing about it. Then all of a sudden, we get hit with a very large property tax reimbursement that we have to absorb that takes away from other things,” Paxton says.

Critics of SQ#844 claim it would eliminate the guaranteed constitutional protection for schools and emergency service funding that has been around for 41 years.  They don't want the legislature to decide how much revenue- if any- local entities would receive.

Giving duly elected legislators power to control reimbursements will provide more transparency and accountability to the process.  Voters should approve SQ#844.

Oklahoma State Question#846 is a legislatively referred constitutional amendment.  Authored by Senate President Pro Tem Lonnie Paxton, (R-Tuttle) and eight House members, SJR 47 passed the House 78-15 and the Senate 39-8.  If approved, SQ846 would amend the state constitution to mirror current state law, which requires voters to show identification at their polling location before they vote.

Proponents argue placing the rule in the constitution "sets it in stone" so that a future Legislature cannot easily eliminate voter ID rules without a direct vote from citizens. Critics argue the amendment is redundant because a voter ID law is already active. 

Voters should approve SQ#846.  It's just common sense to verify who is voting is who they say they are.  Making it harder for cheaters is never a bad idea.

Because SQ#844 and SQ#846 are statewide ballot measures, all registered voters in Oklahoma are eligible to vote on them, regardless of political party affiliation.

On August 25th, voters should yes 'em both!

IGNORING AMERICA'S NATIONAL DEBT IS NON-PARTISIAN!

 Weekly Opinion Editorial

by Steve Fair

 

On July 4, 1776, the Second Continental Congress formally adopted the final wording of the Declaration of Independence. While the actual vote to separate from Great Britain took place two days prior on July 2, approving the text on July 4 established the official birthdate of America.  It wasn't until August 2, 1776 the Declaration was signed. On that day, 56 of the 65 delegates signed the handwritten parchment copy.  Seven outright refused to sign the Declaration.  Two were absent due to illness.

On Saturday July 4, 2026, America celebrated the 250th anniversary of declaring independence from Great Britain.  Parades, rallies, fireworks, and feasts marked the occasion.  Americans love a party, even when they don't know what they are celebrating.  According to a Cato Institute poll, 46% of Americans had no clue what the holiday actually commemorated.  A whopping 61% of Generation Z (ages 14-29) were clueless about Independence Day. 

Sadly, the youth in America know nothing about how and why the United States was founded.  The principle each individual possesses unalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, is foreign to them.  To them, one system of government is as good as the next.  That is why socialism/secularism is on the rise in the U.S.  As America celebrates the Semiquincentennial, here are three observations:

First, America has failed to educate the next generation.  As evidenced by the Cato poll, the youth of America have little knowledge of the United States system of government.  Relying on public education to instill the story of how America came to be hasn't worked well.  Parents haven't taken any equity in passing along why a representative democratic republic is a superior form of government.  The lack of participation by parents in America's self-government system has reaped extreme apathy in their offspring.

Second, America has failed to keep the dream alive.  Since the country's inception, those who came to America believed regardless of background, one could prosper, achieve happiness and financial success through hard work, determination, and initiative.  But that dream has been damaged by government mismanagement and irresponsibility.   

The U.S. national debt has grown from $75 million in 1776 to over $39 trillion in 2026. Deficit spending by government has put massive tax burdens on taxpayers, so consumers do the same and spend more than they make.  Individual credit card balances in the United States are over $1.25 trillion.  Until citizen and government discipline themselves to live within their means, the American dream will be a nightmare.

Third, America is ruled by a permanent political class.  Those 56 signers of the Declaration envisioned "citizen-statesmen" those who would serve for a limited time and then return to their private lives.  The founders were largely unpaid or offered minimal per-diem wages. They feared a permanent political class would lead to corruption and elitism, ie elected officials who listen only to special interests and ignore their constituents.  Sound familiar?  Increasingly in America, the only people who can afford to run for office are rich people.  The average person can't win because it takes big money to run a political race.  So long as the 'grassroots' operate like a circular firing squad and refuse to collaborate with anyone who doesn't 100% agree with their views, expect the wealthy to win and rule.

In 2012, Senator Tom Coburn wrote, "The Debt Bomb."  The book warned America's threat to survival wasn't from foreign governments, but from Washington politicians who were spending America into bankruptcy.  "Everyone from both the right and left must sacrifice to fix America's mounting debt problems," the late doctor said.  Coburn predicted America's debt problem will be its demise. 

Meanwhile, America has become Wayne's World; Party on America- Party on!

THREE THINGS THE NEXT GUV NEEDS TO COMMIT TO!

 Weekly Opinion Editorial

WATCHDOG OR LAPDOG?

by Steve Fair

 

Republicans gained a majority of Oklahoma state House seats in 2004, but with a Democrat governor (Brad Henry), and a Democrat controlled Senate, they were limited in what they could get done.   Republicans actually took control of the Oklahoma legislature in 2006 with the election of Sen. Anthony Sykes, (R-Moore).  Voters had sent 25 Rs and 23 Ds to serve in the Senate, but GOP Sen. Nancy "Cryly' Riley, (R/D, Ada) flipped from Republican to Democrat after she finished third in a three-person Lt. Governor 2006 primary.  Riley's childish selfish actions gave control of the Senate to the Democrats for an additional two years.  In 2008, voters sent 26 Rs and 22Ds to represent them and Republicans controlled both chambers of the legislature.  It would be another three years of a Democrat governor (Brad Henry), before the GOP would have total control of Oklahoma state government, but after 2011, Republicans have never looked back.  During their rise to supper majorities and total control of Oklahoma government, GOP candidates promised to (1) identify waste, fraud, and corruption in state government, (2) curb state spending, (3) reduce government's footprint. 

Every push card, TV commercial, and campaign speech by GOP candidates parroted the same theme.  Only the photo changed.  Fed up with being taxed too much and earning too little, Oklahomans gave Rs control of the legislature and elected two Republican governors who each served two terms (8 years).  It's a near certainty the next governor will be a Republican.  Two are in a primary runoff.  Three thoughts on what the next governor needs to do: 

First, the next governor must have the courage to order performance audits on every agency and entity that gets a dime of taxpayer money.  It's easy to promise to be a watchdog on the campaign trail, but the last two GOP governors have turned out to be lapdogs.  Using the constitutional office of State Auditor should be utilized more.  Limited scope and politically driven audits should cease.  Finding waste, fraud and corruption and exposing and then eliminating it should be priority one. 

Second, the next governor must require state agencies to justify every penny of taxpayer money they are allocated.  They should implement zero based budgeting (ZBB).  Unlike traditional "incremental" budgeting, which adjusts the previous year's funding, ZBB starts from a "zero base," meaning no program or expense is automatically continued.  Traditional "incremental" budgeting, which adjusts the previous year's funding, just lets state agencies grade their own tests. 

Third, the next governor must be committed to letting Oklahomans keep more of their income.  Every candidate has promised to cut taxes, but specifics on what services will be impacted is not discussed.  The current governor never fails to mention how much Oklahoma has socked away in rainy day funds, but those huge balances mean taxpayers overpaid their bill and didn't get a refund. 

Rainy-Day government accounts are created to insure government doesn't suffer financially when times get tough for taxpayers.  The next governor should be more concerned with helping taxpayers get through tough times than government.

Since Republicans took control of state government in 2011, the Oklahoma state budget has grown 45%.  That's not fiscal conservative.  Talking fiscal conservatism is easier than taking on the bloated state bureaucracy.  Choose wisely on August 25th.  Oklahoma needs a watchdog, not a lapdog.