Campaign Phone
3162173060
Age
65
I began my railroad career in 1979 and became a locomotive engineer at 19. During 43 years in railroading, I served as a union representative, public safety manager, safety training manager, human resources manager, and operating practices leader. My work included safety training, certification, and investigations across five states, supporting safe operations across a workforce of thousands. My experience includes 46 years of union membership, 12 years representing workers, and 23 years in management. I earned bachelor's and master's degrees in Administrative Leadership from the University of Oklahoma. For 35 years, my judgment was tested in the crucible of leadership, where decisions affected workers' safety, livelihoods, and lives.
I am seeking this office because Oklahoma workers deserve a Labor Commissioner who understands the work, the risks, and the law. I have spent my career in safety-critical workplaces, where poor decisions can cost someone their livelihood or their life. No person should lose a drop of blood to earn a paycheck, and no person should lose a penny because an employer cuts corners. The Department of Labor has a responsibility to protect workers, enforce the laws assigned to it, and help honest employers succeed. I am running to bring experienced, accountable leadership to that mission, not to use the office as a political steppingstone.
Oklahoma law says the Labor Commissioner SHALL foster the welfare of wage earners, improve working conditions, and advance opportunities for profitable employment. I would prioritize workplace safety, wage protection, fair enforcement, and guidance for honest employers. With Oklahoma's $7.25 minimum wage, having a job does not always mean earning a living. In August, unemployment rates were higher than a year earlier in 72 of 77 counties. I would work with employers and workforce partners to expand access to safe, better-paying jobs and help workers navigate layoffs and career transitions. No worker should risk their life to earn a paycheck, and no honest business should have to compete against one that cheats.
Campaign Phone
4054213410
Age
59
As a Professional Engineer and project manager with over 36 years of experience in the construction materials industry, I have dedicated my career to problem-solving, operational oversight, and safety. My core responsibility is analyzing complex systems to eliminate waste, streamline operations, and ensure safety and compliance without unnecessary cost. Managing multi-million-dollar budgets and multidisciplinary teams has taught me how to maximize resources and deliver results efficiently. This extensive technical and leadership background directly prepares me to oversee the Department of Labor with a focus on fiscal accountability, transparent regulation, objective enforcement, and lean management that protects both workers & taxpayers.
The driving factor in my candidacy is the alarming growth of government overreach and excessive spending that burdens Oklahoma families and small businesses. Guided by libertarian principles, I believe government should exist to protect individual rights, not complicate daily life or inflate taxpayer costs. When state agencies become overly bureaucratic, they stifle economic growth, create costly inefficiencies, and slow down business without genuinely improving outcomes. I am running for Commissioner of Labor to apply decades of private-sector efficiency to government operations, ensure the department operates transparently and strictly within its proper authority, and protect the freedom and hard-earned income of Oklahomans.
Quality of life improves when workers retain more of their hard-earned income, enjoy career mobility, & work in safe environments. I will focus on reducing unnecessary occupational licensing burdens and state barriers that prevent individuals from freely entering trades or advancing in their careers. By streamlining Department of Labor services, ensuring clear and objective safety standards, & eliminating costly administrative delays, we can foster a dynamic job market where businesses grow & wages naturally rise. Protecting individual rights, encouraging free enterprise, and ensuring government operates as a lean, fair regulatory referee creates the strongest foundation for safe workplaces & long-term economic prosperity for all Oklahomans
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