We get the government we deserve when we don't properly vet!

Weekly Opinion/Editorial

RECORD NUMBER OF CANDIDATES FILE!

by Steve Fair

     Last week 794 candidates filed for state and federal offices at the state Capitol.  That is the highest number since 2006, when 594 filed.  Of the 101 state House members, only 15 were unopposed.  One half of the state Senate is up for re-election(24 seats) and just four were re-elected without opposition.  Of the 19 legislative seats that were unopposed, 14 were Democrats.

   Many of the new candidates were from the education field.  Since teachers were at the Capitol during the filing period, some threw down their $750 or $500(depending on the office) without premeditation and cast their hat into the political arena.  The Oklahoma Democrat Party Chair was excited about all the candidates, both at the legislative and statewide level.  Four years ago, three statewide offices went uncontested by Democrats.  This year, Democrats didn’t file for the State Treasurer and State Auditor positions.

     Several legislative Republican incumbents drew primary opponents after an organization called Oklahoma Taxpayers Unite! recruited challengers to lawmakers who voted for the recent tax increases.  Expect some upsets in the GOP primaries.  Those incumbents face the challenge of convincing fiscal conservative Rs they haven’t abandoned GOP principles when they voted for the largest tax increase in Oklahoma history.

     Ten Republican candidates filed for Governor, six were expected.  They join two Democrats and three Libertarians for a total of fifteen seeking the state’s chief executive position.  All but one are male. former State Senator Connie Johnson is running as a Democrat.  In total, thirty two Republicans filed for statewide elective office and only thirteen Democrats. 

     First, expect a runoff in the Republican gubernatorial race.  With ten candidates, it is an almost a mathematical certainty no one candidate will get 50% plus one vote in the June 26^th primary.  If the four candidates who filed unexpectedly pull just 10% of the vote combined, they will have a major impact on the race. 

     Second, spontaneous candidates seldom win.  That doesn’t mean they never win, but success in politics requires planning and timely execution.  While the Ds may field candidates,  most of those who impulsively filed will not be elected.      

     Third, Republican voters need to start paying attention.  The primary is Tuesday June 26^th- just seventy days/10 weeks away.  With 32 statewide candidates, expect your mailbox to start filling up with campaign propaganda.  Every candidate will tell you what you want to hear, but it is the responsibility of the voter to vet candidates.  Most of the statewides will be at upcoming events sponsored by your local GOP.  Make an effort to meet those candidates, ask them hard questions and determine if they have the ability and the temperament to do the job.

   Modern politics has evolved into slick marketing and voter/consumer behavior science.  That has resulted in candidates elected who can’t or won’t do what they claim they will.  After they are elected, they ignore you because they are obligated to the special interests that financed their campaign.  The only way to stop that cycle is to show up and ask questions.  Until a groundswell of citizens start paying attention all the time and not just 90 days every two years, Oklahomans will get the government they deserve.