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Bob Gibbins
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Bob Gibbins
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Kick it out!
TAHLEQUAH DAILY PRESS — Democrats have always had the ability to respond to their neighbors in need and have been a party that cares for the people, according to Lt. Gov. Jari Askins.
Askins, keynote speaker for the 2007 Cherokee County Democratic Party Roundup, urged those in attendance to help the party regain the majority in the state Legislature. She was speaking to a packed house at the Tahlequah Community Building.
"We need to rebuild," she said. "I like to say we need to garden our grassroots."
Askins, a 12-year veteran of the state House and former special judge in Stephens County, cited a need to reach out to the young Democrats. She said adults at the event Tuesday night were serving as role models for younger members of the audience.
"They're the voters, and the candidates of tomorrow," Askins said of the young people.
The lieutenant governor recalled being at the 1993 Democrat Roundup when former Gov. David Walters came to Tahlequah to speak. She and former State Rep. Barbara Staggs were part of a Leadership Oklahoma class, and Askins had recently started to work for Walters as deputy general counsel.
"The room was full then, just like it is tonight," she said. "I was impressed, and it was something I'll never forget."
Askins said Cherokee County's Democrat Party organization is a powerful team that is envied in other parts of the state for its willingness to participate in the process.
She said it's a place she and other Democrats want to visit because of the strong support the county officials, as well as the state legislators and others, receive here.
"You need to pat yourself on the back," she said.
Askins reminded those in attendance that Congressman Dan Boren is a new father, and that has given him a stronger passion in his job of representing the state's 2nd District.
"It's personal now," she said. "It was important before, but it's personal now."
She also told those present how she has enjoyed working with State Sen. Jim Wilson and State Reps. Mike Brown and John Auffet, and how well she worked with the county's previous delegation: Sen. Herb Rozell, House Speaker Larry Adair and State Rep. Bob Ed Culver.
She also worked with Wilson when he entered the House, and former Rep. Barbara Staggs, now chair of the Muskogee County Democrats.
"I learned so much from each of them," she said.
Prior to Askins' remarks, Pat Frank recognized three women -- Celeste Looney, Margaret Winton and Margaret Daniel -- for their history of work in making the local party and the Cherokee County Democrat Women the force they are today. Each woman received a centennial pin for having played a key role in the foundation of the women's group.
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