Who'd have thunk it?

Weekly Opinion Editorial

In the early days of radio and TV, Edgar Bergen (yes, Candace's dad) had a ventriloquist act which featured a dummy named Mortimer Snerd. Mortimer was pretty dumb, and most of the time when something was explained to him, he'd shake his head and say "Who'd have thunk it?"  You might also be familiar with another of Mortimer's inventions - the word "DUH!"

WHO'D HAVE THUNK IT?

by Steve Fair

    

     On Tuesday, voters across Oklahoma will go to the polls to vote in their respective Party primary elections.  The purpose of the primary is to select nominees for the general election in November.  Oklahoma has ‘closed’ primaries, which means a voter has to be registered in the Republican Party to vote in the Republican primary.  . 

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     Twenty one states have ‘open’ primaries, where a voter, no matter how they are registered, can vote in either Parties’ primary.  The supporters of the confusing system reason because Republicans don't just govern Republicans, Democrats don't just govern Democrats, that the individual voter should decide what Parties primary they wish to participate in.  I oppose open primaries for a couple of reasons:

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     First, I believe open primaries are unconstitutional.  Open primaries violate ‘freedom of association’ because it allows outsiders to select their candidates.  In Supreme Court case NAACP vs. Alabama, the court said, “It is beyond debate that freedom to engage in association for the advancement of beliefs and ideas is an inseparable aspect of the "liberty" assured by the due process clause of the first and fourteenth amendments, which embrace free of speech.”   In other words, the freedom of association is part of freedom of speech.
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     Second, beyond the constitutionality issue, OPEN primaries are illogical and can promote dishonesty.  Take for example what happened in Michigan, an open primary state, in the 2012 GOP presidential primary.  Rick Santorum campaigned to Democrats encouraging them to vote in the GOP primary instead of the Democrat primary.  You can’t blame Santorum because what he did was perfectly legal, but the open primary distorted the results by not reflecting the will of the Republicans in Michigan.  The Democrats voting for Santorum in the primary were not doing so because they liked him but because they thought the Senator would be the weaker candidate in the general against President Obama.  Voting is a sacred right and no voter should be playing games with their vote.

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     For decades, leaders in the Oklahoma Democrat Party used the ‘closed’ primary in our state as an effective tool to insure newly registered voters signed up Democrat.  “You will never be able to vote in the county elections because no Republicans run at the local level,” they would warn.   That was sometimes accurate, but most of the time, it was an exaggeration and a scare tactic used to steer citizens to the ‘D’ column.  

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     But times have changed.  In 2010, more Republicans were on the primary ballot across Oklahoma than Democrats.  In 2012, many county and legislative races will be decided in the Republican primary because no Democrat filed.  The only statewide race this year is for a six year term on the Oklahoma Corporation Commission.  In that race, incumbent Bob Anthony faces Brooks Mitchell.  They are both Republicans and the election will be decided in the primary because no Democrat filed.

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     In the latest voter registration by party statistics released by the Oklahoma state election board, over 11% (229K) of the voters in Oklahoma are registered Independent.  Why would you register Independent in a ‘closed’ primary state?  Independents can’t participate in any election except a general election.  Recently, a registered Independent, who used to be Republican, told me, “I changed because I wanted to send a message to both parties.”  He was upset because this change prevented him from participating in primaries and he was lobbying me to persuade the OKGOP leadership to allow Independents to participate in our primaries. The only message he sent was that he was clueless about the process.

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   He correctly pointed out that in November of each odd-numbered year, recognized political parties declare whether or not they will permit Independents to vote in their primary elections during the following two calendar years.  You cannot obtain permission on an individual basis.   Neither the Oklahoma Democrat or Republican Party has allowed Independents to ever vote in their primary.  Why should they?  Remember freedom of association. 

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   I get that no political Party has all the answers, but basically dropping out of the process by registering Independent is a cop out.  Voters registered Independents should research the platforms and then align with the Party that best represents your values.  A closing note about voters registered Independents- as a whole- vote less than half as much as registered Rs or Ds. 

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     Right or wrong, political parties are part of our system for electing government officials.  I realize George Washington hated them and said they would be the ruin of our system of government, but they are the mechanism candidates use to get elected.  The system is not perfect, but no system will be perfect.    

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     By the way, if you want to vote in the local and statewide races and participate in the process, you are going to have to be registered Republican. Who'd have thunk it? 

After all, it's YOUR Money!

Weekly Opinion Editorial

AFTER ALL, IT’S YOUR MONEY!

 by Steve Fair

     

     Oklahoma has twenty five taxpayer funded institutions of higher learning.  That seems like a lot of buildings, bricks and mortar, upkeep and utilities for taxpayers to fund, especially when you consider that less than half of college students in Oklahoma complete their degree within six years (45.4%).  According to Collegecompletion. com,  Oklahoma ranks a dismal #43 in the United States in graduation rates. 

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     Tracking college graduation rates started in the late 1980s when then U.S. Senator and former NBA star Bill Bradley sponsored a proposal to have the NCAA release graduation rates for college athletics.  That was expanded to all college students soon thereafter.  An institution’s graduation rate has become a standard measurement of the quality of education a student will receive at an institution of higher learning.

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     Colleges that continue to do poorly in graduation rates offer a variety of excuses. But the most plausible one is the rate depends on the types of students an institution admits.

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     While it is true that graduation rates alone don't determine the quality of a degree, often students who start college but don't finish are typically no better off than those who never even started.  In fact, they may be worse off, if they took on debt. Given the subsidies they give to colleges, federal and state governments have a stake in making sure that students finish what they started. And a college credential remains one of the only signals to the job market that a potential employee is ready.
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    "In a society that cares about the credential, finishing college matters," maintains Mark Schneider, a former U.S. commissioner for education statistics and now vice president at the American Institutes for Research. "Employers don't advertise they want six years of college. They want a degree."
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Four observations concerning Oklahoma’s higher education system:

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     First, why is it acceptable that less than half of the students who start college in Oklahoma complete a degree?  While it’s certain we don't want to end up with the higher-ed version of No Child Left Behind, where the jobs and salaries of individual faculty members are dependent on the academic success of their students, we do need to demand accountability from Oklahoma’s higher education system on the product they produce and the taxpayer money they receive. After all, it’s your money.

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     Second, do we need an institution of higher learning every thirty miles in Oklahoma?  It seems the twentieth century model of building physical satellite campuses is outdated, not to mention expensive.  With more and more college classes being offered on-line and virtual classrooms being heralded as the future of common and higher education, why are Oklahoma taxpayers paying for more brick and mortar buildings?  Shouldn’t the legislature force Oklahoma’s higher education institutions to begin the task of re-inventing themselves and moving to a ‘virtual classroom’ model to prepare for the future?  After all, it’s your money.

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     Third, why does every taxpayer funded college in Oklahoma have a separate President and other administrators that earn more money that most CEOs of private companies in Oklahoma?   Does every state college and university need an individual President?  Why can’t a President oversee more than one institution?  The private sector has been forced to do more with less and to become more efficient-why not Oklahoma colleges and universities?  If you want to find out how much any taxpayer funded state employee(including college Presidents) is paid in Oklahoma, go to, https://data.ok.gov/.  You’re not snooping- it’s a matter of public record.  After all, it’s your money.

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     Fourth, higher education receives a large percentage (14%)of the Oklahoma state budget, but is not subject to oversight and auditing by the Oklahoma State Auditor’s office.  That’s ridiculous.  Every agency, organization, college, school or entity that receives one penny of Oklahoma taxpayer money should be accountable to the people who gave them that money.  A through performance audit should be conducted annually on higher education to insure taxpayer dollars are being spent as intended.  This authorization would require legislative approval or a vote of the people, but it is long overdue.  The Presidents of the State Colleges should be request an audit be done to show Oklahoma taxpayers they are getting their moneys worth.  After all, it’s your money.

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     Oklahoma’s low college graduation rates are just a symptom of the real problem.  The  problem is that Oklahoma high school students are not prepared for college and Oklahoma colleges are admitting those ill prepared students simply to generate revenue.   Taxpayers and voters should force their legislators to ask higher education hard questions on why our graduation rates are so low.  After all, it’s your money. 

Weekly Opinion Editorial

Little is much when God is in it!

by Steve Fair

     The Association of Statisticians of American Religious Bodies (ASARB) publishes an analysis every ten years that ranks states on how religious they are. In the latest, study, Oklahoma ranks tenth out of the fifty states. Utah, a state where one in three Mormons in the country live, ranked number one in the study. The Pine Tree state- Maine- was considered the least religious. The study included data on congregations that meet together for worship and their average weekly attendance. This was the first time the survey has included Hindus and Buddhists and it included expanded coverage of African American churches, Judaism, and Muslims.
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     The survey had few surprises- Southern Baptist dominate Oklahoma with nearly two thousand SBC churches across the state. Methodist were also very strong in the Sooner state.
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     The ASARB study found that almost eighty percent of Americans consider themselves to be Christians and that nearly one in five are Roman Catholic. Southern Baptist makes up 6.5% of the nation’s population. You can access the complete study at http://rcms2010.org.
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     In a 2007 Pew Research did an in-depth study on Religion in America and found that more than one-quarter of American adults (28%) had left the faith in which they were raised in favor of another religion - or no religion at all. When change in affiliation from one type of Protestantism to another was included, 44% of adults had either switched religious affiliation, moved from being unaffiliated with any religion to being affiliated with a particular faith, or dropped any connection to a specific religious tradition altogether. That means that nearly one half of the U.S. population doesn’t follow the traditions of their parents in religious matters.
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     Contrast that with the other subject you don’t mention in polite company- politics. According to a study by Tuff’s University, only eleven (11) percent of children don’t align with their parent’s political party affiliation. It’s seems interesting that children are four times more likely to follow their parents in politics, but not in religion.
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     Pew also found that men are significantly more likely than women to claim no religious affiliation and that nearly twenty percent of men say they have no formal religious affiliation, compared with roughly just thirteen percent of women.
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     Among married people Pew found that nearly forty percent of those surveyed were married to a spouse with a different religious affiliation. (This figure includes Protestants who are married to another Protestant from a different denominational family, such as a Baptist who is married to a Methodist.) Hindus and Mormons are the most likely to be married (78% and 71%, respectively) to someone of the same religion. That complete survey can be seen at http://religions.pewforum.org/reports.
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     The irony of Oklahoma being named one of the top ten religious states in America seems paradoxical. Oklahoma has one of the highest divorce rates in America. Oklahoma has a high rate of child abuse, drug abuse, gambling, drinking- all activities that are for the most part are considered to be non-religious. How can that be? There is a church on every corner in the state, but we still have all these social issues. It happens because of those actions flow out of the natural heart of man and until God regenerates a dead heart, it’s just behavior modification.
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     What can state government do to help the social ill situation? They can foster an environment that allows Oklahomans to worship as they please according to the first amendment of the U.S. Constitution: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof. They should allow religion to function in the idea ‘marketplace.’
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     Pew found that constant movement characterizes the American religious marketplace, as every major religious group is simultaneously gaining and losing adherents. Those that are growing as a result of religious change are simply gaining new members at a faster rate than they are losing members. Conversely, those that are declining in number because of religious change simply are not attracting enough new members to offset the number of adherents who are leaving those particular faiths.
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     What both of these studies fail to understand is that it is not about ‘numbers.’ Just because a church has lots of people doesn’t mean it’s doing a great work and conversely a small congregation may actually be having a more lasting impact than a larger one. It’s very true that ‘little is much when God is in it.’

Sine Die

 

SINE DIE!

by Steve Fair

The 2012 Oklahoma legislative session is over.  By law, the state legislature must adjourn by 5pm on the last Friday in May.  Faced with a potential special session, lawmakers passed a $6.8 billion dollar state budget on Thursday by just one vote in the House.  The budget is $300 million more than the previous year’s budget.  Here are some of the highlights of the 2012 session:

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The Governor signed a bill that will add forty additional Oklahoma State Troopers across the state.  Lawmakers also passed a bill adding a trooper academy.  That is a plus. This is a core service that has been neglected for years.  

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The legislature passed and the Governor signed a bill that allows Oklahoma citizens to openly carry firearms effective November 1st.  The bill permits those who are licensed, or already have been licensed, to carry a firearm under the Oklahoma Self Defense Act to openly carry a weapon or conceal it.  It also allows property owners to openly carry a firearm on their property without a concealed carry permit for the purpose of self defense.  There were also other victories for 2^nd amendment advocates this session.

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The legislature passed a Joint Resolution that will send to a vote of the people a constitutional amendment change which would exempt intangible property from taxation.  Intangible property tax is also known as personal property tax.  Oklahoma is one of only ten states that still tax personal property. 

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Lawmakers also passed a bill that is supposed to save Oklahoma taxpayers about 30 million annually.  The program directs all state agencies and higher education institutions to achieve an energy efficiency and conservation improvement target of at least 20 percent by the year 2020. Improvement is based upon benchmark prior to implementation of program. Upon implementation, all agencies are required to input historical utility cost into approved software on a monthly basis.  In other words, taxpayer owned buildings will have to watch their utility bills just like taxpayers do at their homes and businesses. 

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Legislators passed a bill that will require those applying for welfare benefits to be subject to random drug testing.  They also passed bills that penalized those who get unemployment benefits through fraud. 

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The legislature continued their ten year funding plan to repair and build more roads and bridges after years of neglect. 

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Lawmakers set up a plan to sell excess state government buildings and use the proceeds to fix up the ones that are being used without going into debt.  That makes sense and will long term save taxpayers millions.

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Because the legislature passed HJR #1092, voters in November will get to decide if they want to eliminate the DHS Commission and allow the Governor to oversee the huge state agency.  With all the problems DHS has experienced in the recent past, this seems like a good idea.  The buck has to stop somewhere and having unelected people oversee the agency has certainly not worked well. 

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Some of the disappointments from this year’s session were:

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There will be no elimination or reduction of the state income tax.  After discussion of completely eliminating the state income tax, critics of the plan wanted specific cuts to state agencies to be identified at the same rate the revenue was going down.  When no agreement could be reached on that proposal, the legislature and the Governor attempted to agree on reducing the income tax rate.  Hopefully next session will produce a plan that will reduce the tax burden on Oklahomans and streamline state government at the same time.

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Proposals to eliminate tax credits were not reached.  Both chambers passed bills, but no agreement could be reached on which credits should be eliminated. 

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A proposal to give the State Auditor and Inspector the authority to perform performance audits on state agencies failed to come to a vote in either chamber.  This legislation is necessary and fundamental to Oklahoma’s ‘streamlining government’ initiative.  Until legislators recognize where waste exists, it will be next to impossible to intelligently eliminate it. 

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A bill to raise the age by just three months when a child starts kindergarten failed to get a hearing in either chamber, even though it was overwhelmingly supported by kindergarten teachers across the state. 

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There were other disappointments including no agreement to fund needed repairs to the State Capitol.  Those who have visited the Capitol know the facility needs work, but with a record amount of funds going into the rainy day fund, perhaps funds can be taken from it.

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Thankfully no ‘bond issues’ were passed- either for the Capitol, the Pops museum in Tulsa or the Indian Cultural Center in Oklahoma City.  Lawmakers rightly chose to not borrow money for those projects.

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Oklahoma’s Republican led ‘part time’ legislature deserves a great deal of credit this session for living within their means.  Their fiscal responsible actions send a message that Oklahoma is open for business.      

Weekly Opinion Editorial

DEFUND DRUG BUSINESS!

by Steve Fair     

     Effective November 1^st, the Oklahoma Department of Human Services will begin screening welfare recipients for drug use as a condition of eligibility.  House Bill #2338, authored by five Republican State Representatives- Liebmann, Bennett, Billy, Roberts and Vaughn and State Senator David Holt, (R-OKC), requires DHS to screen adults for drug use who apply for the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program.  The legislation allows DHS to request a drug test if there is reasonable cause to believe the applicant is illegally using a controlled substance. If the applicant refuses to participate or is determined to be using an illegal drug, they could not receive the assistance.  With the passage of HB #2338, Oklahoma became the fourth state to approve a drug-screening bill this year.
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     Applicants who undergo a substance abuse treatment program can reapply for benefits six months after the date of the denial. Child-only cases and underage parents are exempt from the drug screening under the legislation and an alternative payee can be named when a parent has been found ineligible for benefits.
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    “This legislation was carefully constructed with input from numerous lawmakers and was ultimately passed with wide bipartisan support,” said Liebmann, R-Oklahoma City. “Oklahomans don’t want to pay to support illegal substance abuse and this bill will encourage addicts to undergo substance abuse treatment and tax dollars to go to those who are truly needy.”

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     Governor Fallin signed the bill into law on Wednesday saying, "Drug addiction and illegal drug use contribute to child abuse and child neglect.  They also make it difficult to find and hold a job.  Additionally, HB 2388 helps to preserve the mission of state-funded welfare – to provide a social safety net helping the unemployed and needy get back on their feet, find work and support their families. Unfortunately, drug abuse prevents many recipients of welfare from achieving any of these goals. ...It is important for drug users and those with substance abuse problems to seek treatment rather than simply being handed a check from Oklahoma taxpayers."
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     Two other states- Michigan and Florida – passed similar laws, but their enforcement was struck down by the courts for being unconstitutional.  The fourth amendment protects citizens against unreasonable searches and seizures, but applicants for public assistance do it voluntarily.  They don’t have to seek taxpayer help to get over the rough spots.  They have a choice- apply and don’t use drugs or don’t apply and party on. 
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     This bill was not without its critics.  They claim drug testing for Oklahoma welfare recipients will hurt children and will not help an already desperate situation.  They point out that most drug addicts have to "hit bottom" before they reform and contend living on welfare is "hitting bottom."  They point out that space in cheap or free drug recovery programs is already full and this bill will ultimately hurt people who are already hurting.  Those are valid points and worthy of consideration, but  some folks getting a helping hand from Oklahoma taxpayers agree this bill is needed.  Rick Giacomo of McAlester who is a father of two receiving benefits from the state told OKC TV Channel Six that drug testing is a small price to pay for help.  "You're getting free help. I mean, why couldn't you be right and pass and drug test?"  Giacomo asked.  Markeon Harley also receives help from the state and said, "The government is here to help you, not help you get high,"  
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    Critics of the bill point to other addictions- drinking, gambling, smoking- and say many welfare recipients are using our tax dollars to fund those addictions.  That is certainly true, but it is not the taxpayer’s responsibility to fund any addiction.  I’m not convinced it’s the taxpayers ‘responsibility’ to lend a hand to those that need a hand up.   You certainly can’t find that in the US Constitution.  That said, most citizens would support a safety net program to help their fellow citizens who truly need help.  Americans are generous people, but none would support a program that allows drug addicts to use tax dollars to support their habit.    This law is needed, because it will help ‘defund’ the drug business in Oklahoma.  

Open Carry

Weekly Opinion Editorial

OPEN CARRY WILL REDUCE CRIME!

by Steve Fair

Last week, the Oklahoma State Senate passed Senate Bill #1733, authored by State Senator Anthony Sykes, (R-Moore) and State Representative Jeff Hickman, (R-Dacoma).  This bill will allow Oklahomans with a valid conceal and carry permit the option of carrying their weapon either concealed on open- holstered in public. 

On Saturday at the State GOP Convention in Norman, Governor Mary Fallin announced to the 1400 plus delegates she would be signing the bill.  “We believe it’s a responsible piece of legislation that allows licensed gun owners to be able to open carry if they choose. If they choose not to, they don’t have to. It also has sufficient protections in it that will allow businesses, certainly government institutions, and those who don’t want guns on their facilities to have those protections, too,” The new law will take effect on November 1^st.

“The Legislature has made it clear that Oklahomans will have the right to defend themselves,” said Sykes, R-Moore. “The right to self-defense is God given and inalienable, and we intend to do everything in our power to defend it. This legislation further guarantees this right will not be taken from Oklahomans who choose to protect themselves and their families.”

The bill had broad based support across Party lines in the legislature.  It passed the House 85-3 and the Senate 33-10.  All Republicans voted for the open carry bill.  A similar bill passed the legislature in 2010, but was vetoed y then Governor Brad Henry. 

Critics of Open Carry contend that it will hurt Oklahoma’s image and we will see gunfights in the street like in the old west.  The reality is Oklahoma is currently one of only seven states across the nation that forbids open carry. There are forty four states that permit some form of open carry, most without permits and eleven states that allow open carry with a permit. This is not a new concept and in fact most states have experienced lower crime rates after they have passed open carry.

Some of the critics are gun owners.  Martin Albright at the Truth about Guns website says, “Open Carry is an invitation to a PR disaster.  Let’s be honest: not all gun owners are rational people. There are crazies out there. With guns. Advocating Open Carry. If one or two of those people push the limits of civilized behavior all firearms owners will get tagged as “crazy gun owners.” That’s infuriating to those of us who consider ourselves to be mature and responsible citizens. But that’s the world we live in. Enough such incidents and the hammer will drop on some serious (read: Draconian) gun laws that will make the now-expired “assault weapons” ban look like a pleasant memory.” Despite what Albright and Motor City madman Ted Nugget say, open carry isn’t just ‘weird’ and it does reduce crime. 

According to a 1985 Department of Justice survey of incarcerated felons, fifty seven (57) percent of the felons polled agreed that "criminals are more worried about meeting an armed victim than they are about running into the police." That makes sense- the police seldom arrive during the commission of a crime. 

Research by the NRA has shown that ninety two (92) percent of criminal attacks are deterred when a gun is merely shown (or, rarely, a warning shot fired). By inference, this means that open carry would have the effect of deterring crime in the same way that a thief might choose another restaurant when he sees police eating donuts at his intended target.

Sykes has authored three pieces of second amendment legislation this session.  He is to be commended for his willingness to stand up for our constitutional rights.  

PRESS RELEASE- NATIONAL COMMITTEEMAN RACE

My opponent for Oklahoma Republican National Committeeman, Richard Engle,  is claiming some of my supporters are spreading false information and lies about him and has called on me to repudiate the information and condemn their actions.  I have not seen the information, so I can’t directly comment on it.  Any negative information about Mr. Engle has not been distributed by me.  I have campaigned on my record of service to the Oklahoma Republican Party and have not attacked Richard- nor will I.  If any of my supporters are distributing information about him, it is without my approval.  If they are knowingly spreading lies and rumors, I call on them to stop it. 

In his public comments, my opponent mentions that we met and ‘warmly’ agreed to not run negative campaigns against one another.  ‘Warmly’ is not an adjective I would have used- it was more like ‘civil.’  We did discuss the National Committeeman campaign in Chickasha prior to the 4^th district meeting.  He approached me and said, “I hope we can agree to not run a negative campaign.”  I responded, “I have no reason to run a negative campaign.”  The conversation ended there.  I did not compliment him on his activism and Party involvement as he states. 

During this campaign, I have listened as my opponent repeatedly describes himself as THE ONLY CANDIDATE….with experience, fundraising expertise, etc.  The fact is THERE ARE ONLY TWO CANDIDATES IN THE RACE.  His constant 'THE ONLY CANDIDATE' theme is a clever campaign tactic that allows him to draw a comparison to me without mentioning my name.  To continually refer to himself as THE ONLY CANDIDATE implies that I do not have those qualities he enumerates.  Instead of just stating his qualifications, he has prefaced every point with THE ONLY CANDIDATE IN THE RACE!

If we want to start declaring exclusivity, I can lay claim that I am THE ONLY CANDIDATE IN THE RACE

…to have served three terms as a GOP District Chair

…to have served multiple terms as a GOP County Chair

…to have served on the State GOP Budget Board

…to have served as State GOP Treasurer

…to have served on the Dewey F. Bartlett Foundation board

…to have ran for Oklahoma State Senate.

…to have organized a GOP fundraising event that is the single largest gathering of Republicans outside a state convention each year.

…to have all of my service through the Party and not through support organizations.

…to have hosted a 2 hour conservative political talk show in SW Oklahoma

…to write a weekly newspaper editorial

…to have sold cat liter and jelly (not at the same time)

You get the point.  THE ONLY CANDIDATE comments are meant to put down my accomplishments and draw a direct comparison between us.  I never mention Engle in my remarks-directly or indirectly.  I do encourage those who will vote on the race to do their due diligence and research the track records of both myself and my opponent. That is true in EVERY race and this one is no exception.

The real issue is what will Steve Fair do if elected?  First, I will be a conservative voice on the RNC.  Second, I will work to build our county GOP organizations.  Third, I will help educate the public on issues, and fourth, I will make building the foundation fun.   Those that know me know I don't take myself very seriously, but I take the cause very seriously.

I believe the job of National Committeeman fits me. Grassroots activists within our Party who have been involved for decades agree and overwhelmingly support me in this race.  They know I have been there for years and will be there for local and statewide candidates.   In addition, five people from Oklahoma who have held RNC positions believe this job fits me and have endorsed me. 

I have a proven track record of working and building the Republican Party from the bottom up. What we have accomplished in the Stephens County GOP and the Fourth District GOP- by the grace of God- is amazing.  I would appreciate your vote on Saturday.  You can call or email me if you have questions.

I appreciate your sacrifice for conservative causes and see you this weekend.

Sincerely

Steve Fair

Chairman

Stephens County GOP

4^th District of the Oklahoma GOP

405.990.7449- cell

okgop@aol.com

 BTW: The 8th annual Stephens County Fish Fry is Saturday May 19th in the Stephens County Rodeo Arena.  It starts at 6pm.  Tables of 10 are $250 and that includes 2 tickets to a private reception/photo op with Senator Anthony Sykes, our keynote speaker.  If you are a County GOP elected official and you want to see how a GRASSROOTS FUNDRAISER is executed, buy a table, get your core volunteers and travel to Duncan next weekend.  You'll see grassroots volunteers doing everything and in the process changing their government!  


Call or email me to make your reservations today.   Win or lose Saturday, I will be frying fish the following Saturday to raise money to get local, and statewide conservative Republicans elected.  Come join us- I can guarantee you a good time.