VOTE411 Voter Guide

Representation. Far too often in Oklahoma we are presented with JUST two options and in most races this year, less than that. If we are to believe that the strength of our democracy lies in the plurality of voices and opinions of the people, then we are simply missing those perspectives and possible solutions. I'm seeking office as an Independent because obvious solutions are continuously being passed over to score political points for our two major parties. We must embrace compromise and find a way to actually solve many of the pressing issues that we currently face.

The future of Oklahoma must rely on a multi-faceted approach to address deep socio-economic disparities among current Oklahomans while creating a welcoming environment for future residents. We need to focus on the culture of arts and business in our State. Our reputation as a friendly and low cost place to live is undermined by the lived experiences of many Oklahomans. We need to stop throwing buzzwords around like competitive compensation, or work-life balance and actually embrace reforms that will benefit all Oklahomans. Once we move forward on that path, we can offer more as a community to help workers, young professionals and business succeed and thrive. I also propose increasing infrastructure connectivity between our biggest cities to foster travel, business and ideologic exchanges. We need to embrace the technologies and ideas of the future while remembering common sense values of tradition, family, community, preservation and innovation.

Literacy programs must be fully funded. We must guard against purely data-driven decision-making and private interest influence and assure real world outcomes. Each school must be fully staffed with Teachers, Counselors, Para-Professionals and support staff at competitive rates to surrounding states. Provide money directly to school districts for supplies. Teachers should not be paying out of pocket for any supplies. Establish a system for sharing technology and supplies in the state. Rural-to-Urban educational exchange to identify best practices for all Students. Professional development opportunities, mentorship programs and a focus on retention and improving support both inside and outside the classroom for teachers. Reform the OSDE with basic qualifications for Board Members. Make State Board members electable and term-limited. Expand the number of seats on the Board. Develop a transparent system for resource allocation with stringent oversight. No more misallocated funds!

We must shore up and diversify our State and our citizenry. Our economy and supply chains must include our communities and local areas in order to guard against global or national events. We need diversification in manufacturing and increased opportunities in both urban and rural settings. I will work with our congressional and state officials to capture any and all federal resources. This will include healthcare expansion and preventative care, weatherization programs, substance abuse programs, improved rail connections across the state, energy diversification, grid enhancement, and home ownership initiatives and assistance. Implementation of a comprehensive water management plan that supports efficient agricultural and municipal use and eliminates pollution and waste. Creation of a state-level Catastrophic Insurance Fund to provide a safety net for Oklahomans facing extreme financial hardships. We must end the days of GoFundMe accounts being used to cover what insurance won’t.

The opportunity to serve kids and families in my community. My entire adult life has been about serving kids and families in a variety or roles and with several organizations. The honor and responsibility to be able to that in this position is something I will not take lightly.

Young professionals need to see opportunity for professional growth and also need to see a state with a strong foundation and bright future where they can themselves putting down roots. Building and diversifying our economy is essential in offering the professional growth that is attractive to young professionals. We need to continue to improve and invest in infrastructure, education and public safety so that these young professionals see a state committed to those things as they look to their future in where they want to call home and where they want to raise a family.

We need to continue to support public education. We cannot quit on it. We can and need to support our other academic options in this state (private, charter, and home school) and work to improve academic outcomes across the board but our public schools are always going to educate the vast majority of the kids in the state of Oklahoma. Aggressively attacking the teacher shortage is something I want work on. We need to develop strategies and incentives to attract and retain quality and qualified teachers. Public Education isn't perfect and we need to bring accountability and changes where needed but it has to remain a priority in this state.

Diversification is key. We have seen great strides in this area over the past decade and we need to continue to build upon that. We will always be a proud oil and gas state but by attracting and building up more industries we can better protect the state from national economic downturns. Education improvement and workforce development are keys in this pursuit as well.