TAHLEQUAH —
In the Wednesday edition, readers were able to glimpse some of the opinions and ideas of four candidates for Cherokee County sheriff who responded to a questionnaire.
Incumbent Norman Fisher, and challengers Charley Batt, Clint Johnson and John Parris addressed 10 issues pertinent to voters. All four are Democrats. Randy Osburn, also a Democrat, and independent V. Kevin McFarland, chose not to participate. (The responses can still be purchased in our e-edition at www.tahlequahdailypress.com.)
Voters have serious decisions to make at the polls Tuesday, June 26. In the case of the sheriff’s race, all five men on the Democratic primary ticket have friends and family here, and some are veteran law enforcement officers. A runoff could occur, and even if it doesn’t, one of the five will face McFarland in November. This will give Republicans and other independents a chance to weigh in.
But local folks have more to consider than the county’s top law enforcement officer. The composition of two or three races has been directly affected by the state Legislature’s exercise in what many students of political science consider to be blatant gerrymandering. A look at a map detailing the new makeup of Senate District 3, which resembles a giant “G” more than an orderly geographical block, offers a picture that’s difficult to deny, even for the most partisan voter.
For Cherokee County residents, the redistricting presents the possibility we may no longer have in the Senate one of our “own,” exclusively dedicated to our interests. This is a tough pill to swallow for a county that has always sent strong, active and well-respected politicians to the statehouse, where they quickly achieved seniority and plum committee posts. Political observers point to Mike Brown as a current example; the District 4 House representative didn’t draw an opponent this time around.
The District 3 Senate seat is now held by Jim Wilson, an outspoken advocate for working people, education, and health care reform who is term-limiting out – and whose seat is now the focus of a tug-o’-war among Tahlequah and other towns as far afield as Grove. The two cities have little in common other than recreational lakes and large retiree populations. Cherokee County has one man in the race: Jim Bynum of Tahlequah, a Democrat, who will face Brian Sitsler of Westville in the primary. On the Republican ticket, Cyndi McArtor and Wayne Shaw, both of Grove, will be duking it out.
Many people who were in Wilson’s district now belong to Senate District 9, a seat held by Earl Garrison of Muskogee. Barney S. Taylor, a Muskogee Republican, is challenging him in the general. Muskogee, too, has considerably different interests and populations from Tahlequah.
Two other House races will affect certain parts of Cherokee County. In District 14, three Democrats – Bobby Jefferson, Jack Reavis and Jerry Rains – will go head to head. All are of Muskogee, but Reavis has local ties. One of them will face Fort Gibson Republican Arthur Hulbert in November. In District 86, Republicans will choose Tuesday between Honesimo Garcia of Rose and Russell Turner of Stilwell, with the victor taking on incumbent Democrat Will Fourkiller, of Stilwell, in the general.
It’s not too late to ask of ourselves, and of the candidates, whether they intend to champion our little corner of the world, or put us on a back burner to simmer indefinitely. Especially in Senate District 3, with such a diverse constituency, the slot will require a talent for multi-tasking and an ability to balance priorities that most politicians don’t possess.
Do the research, ask the questions, and above all, vote Tuesday. Saying your vote doesn’t count is a lame excuse, and besides, it’s not accurate. Elections here have, indeed, been decided by a vote or two.
Editorials
Don’t forget to vote Tuesday
- Editorials
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Welcoming our visitors to town
In just a few days, visitors will be pouring into Cherokee County, as the Memorial Day weekend officially ushers in the local tourist season. For some of us, that means it’s time to batten down the hatches; for others, it’s time for the cash registers to start ringing.
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Phone record debacle an insult to press
Distrust of government secrecy has been elevated to an exceptional level with the disclosure the Justice Department covertly examined two months of Associated Press phone records to determine who leaked details to the AP about a foiled terrorist plot.
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Punishing the animal dumpers
Animal dumping is not a problem unique to Cherokee County, but anyone who’s been keeping up with current events for the past decade or so will acknowledge it’s especially prevalent here.
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Openness on AG the right course
It takes courage to admit to a serious mistake or a personal lapse, especially when the nature of the situation may call for a public mea culpa.
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Legislative action not encouraging
It’s outrageous to advance the argument that it’s “fair” for Chesapeake Oil to wind up with a negative tax bill – lower than the average Oklahoman paid last year. Yet that’s precisely the message some of that company’s protectors in the state Legislature are trying to convey.
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Cast your ballot for ‘At Its Best’
May has arrived, and that means folks will be relishing their upcoming trips over the Memorial Day weekend to Lake Tenkiller and the Illinois River. Before that, families with 12th-graders in their households will be making plans to watch their children make the monumental transition that graduation brings.
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Corporations shouldn’t have ‘people’ status
Since the Supreme Court made its fateful 2010 decision in the Citizens United case, most Americans have come to agree with the cynical statement that “corporations aren’t people.” And most Americans – except that tiny fraction who wield all the power – would approve of a constitutional amendment to make it tougher to buy a congressman.
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Anti-texting bill still needs look
A bill that would have banned texting while driving was shot down for the third and presumably final time this legislative session, and we can’t say we’re surprised.
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Red Fern a great family fun event
By the time many of you read this, you’ll already be just hours away from milling around, or kicking back in your lawn chairs, at Norris Park. Some of you might already be downtown before your paper arrives.
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Progress set to print Sunday
Sporadic readers will want to pick up a copy of the Sunday, April 21 Daily Press. It will contain the first “wave” of our annual Progress edition.
- More Editorials Headlines
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Welcoming our visitors to town
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