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VOTE411 Voter Guide

Oklahoma House District 75

Oklahoma's Legislature is composed of a Senate and a House of Representatives. There are 101 House districts and in 1991, terms of office were limited to 12 years.A member of the House of Representatives must be at least 21 years of age and must be a resident of the representative district. A candidate with a party affiliation must have been registered in that party in the district 6 months prior to the filing period. An Independent must have been a registered voter in the district for 6 months prior to the filing period. Representatives serve two-year terms.

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  • Candidate picture

    T. J. Marti
    (Rep)

  • Candidate picture

    Joe Watkins
    (Dem)

Biographical Information

What is the single most important factor that influenced your decision to seek public office? Explain why this factor is so influential in your decision.

What are your ideas on creating opportunities to keep and/or bring young professionals to the state?

What specific legislative proposals will you support to insure that the state carries out its constitutional requirement to provide public education for all Oklahoma children?

What could be done to help insulate Oklahoma's economy against national economic downturns?

Campaign Website http://tjforoklahoma.com
Campaign Email tj.carefirst@gmail.com
Campaign Phone 9185764224
Age 45
Education Doctorate
Professional Experience Business owner, Pharmacist, Insurance agent, Landlord
Volunteer Service NA
I have been in office 8 years. I ran to make Oklahoma a place my kids would want to live when they grow up.
This is part of making an Oklahoma my kids would want to live in when they grow up. I have supported numerous bills over the past 8 years to accomplish the goal of bring professionals to Oklahoma and more importantly retaining our home-grown professionals!
For 8 years I have supported every funding increase for public education and finally got a few reforms done last session. We increased the days kids actually go to school, funded new literacy and numeracy programs, and insured that young kids get the exercise necessary for better learning outcomes. I believe we need to get behavior under control in our classrooms, and support the needs of our teachers.
My original platform included increasing state savings for rainy days and the state currently has over $4B in emergency funds to make sure core services can always be provided. We have also worked hard on diversifying our economy with industries such as aerospace, which has become Oklahoma’s second largest industry.
Campaign Website http://joewatkinsforok.com
Campaign Phone 918-798-3263
Age 39
Professional Experience I got my first job at 14, and I've been working ever since. After high school, I joined QuikTrip and worked my way up from an entry-level position to store management and then to a corporate IT Specialist role. In 2021, I returned to my roots and revitalized Wood Dimensions Co., my father's former woodworking business, which I own and operate today. Outside of work, I co-founded From Heart to Hand Outreach, delivering essential supplies to Tulsans living on the streets. I also serve on the leadership team of the Forum for Real Economic Emancipation (F.R.E.E.), a nonprofit focused on economic opportunity and community development.
Volunteer Service Heart to Hand, FREE- Forum for Real Economic Emancipation
The families of District 75. I was born at Saint Francis, grew up in Midtown, and got my first job at 14. I know what it means to work hard. Right now, I see too many neighbors doing everything right and still falling behind. They're working full time, paying their bills, and raising kids, but rent, groceries, and medical bills keep climbing faster than paychecks. Many have insurance but still can't afford their deductibles or prescriptions. That matters so much to me because these aren't statistics. They're my friends, my customers, and the people I've organized alongside for years. Most of them feel like nobody at the Capitol is listening. As a small business owner and community organizer, I've seen what's possible when people are heard and given a fair shot. I'm running to be that voice and to fight for an Oklahoma that's affordable for every family.
Young people choose where to live based on opportunity and quality of life, so we have to compete on both. First, make housing affordable by modernizing the Housing Trust Fund with a State-Local Match that doubles the impact of programs in cities like Tulsa. Second, offer student loan repayment help to graduates who stay and work in high-need fields like teaching, nursing, and mental health. Third, support entrepreneurs with small business grants, access to capital, and less red tape. As a small business owner, I know how hard it is to get started. Fourth, invest in the things that make a place worth staying: strong public schools, accessible healthcare, reliable childcare, and vibrant neighborhoods. Tulsa has shown that people will move here when we invite them in. Finally, we must be a welcoming state. Young professionals won't build their futures somewhere they don't feel wanted.
Our Constitution promises every child a public education, and I take that seriously. I will support fully funding the state aid formula so districts can plan beyond one year at a time. I'll back teacher pay that's competitive with surrounding states, along with raises for support staff like bus drivers, aides, and counselors, who keep our schools running. I support enforceable limits on class sizes and expanding access to pre-K and early childhood programs, where every dollar pays off. I will oppose diverting public money to private schools through vouchers and tax credits with little accountability. Every dollar that leaves our public schools is one less for the 90% of kids who attend them. I'll also fight for mental health resources and safe, modern buildings. When we invest in public schools, we invest in Oklahoma's future workforce and communities.
Oklahoma's economy rises and falls with oil and gas prices, and working families pay the price every bust. We need to diversify. Tulsa already has strengths in aerospace, advanced manufacturing, healthcare, and tech, and we should grow them through workforce training partnerships with CareerTech and our universities. We should support small and locally owned businesses, which keep dollars circulating in our communities. My Healthy Food Financing Initiative would help local grocers and urban farms create jobs while improving access to fresh food. We must also protect the state's budget. That means maintaining a strong Rainy Day Fund and avoiding tax cuts that mostly benefit the wealthy while shrinking revenue we'll need in hard times. Finally, investing in infrastructure and rural broadband builds a foundation that holds up when the national economy doesn't.