Endorsements

Editorial Board
The Express-Star

CHICKASHA November 04, 2006 11:25 am

— Grady County Assessor
For Bari Firestone
One issue added significant weight to the race for Grady County Assessor.
A group of Grady County Superintendents asked Assessor Phyllis Ray to follow a trend and change oil and gas inspection contractors.
Thirty-seven Oklahoma counties switched from their previous contractors to Visual Lease Services (VLS). This company has an increased up-front cost but has produced returns for every county that made the change.
Ray stood up to the Superintendents - whose schools would receive 83 percent of the increased tax revenues - and the county commissioners and kept her current contractor.
She has been rewarded with many campaign contributions from oil and gas companies whose tax bill won’t increase thanks to Ray’s hard stand.
Ray says she believes VLS taxes oil companies unfairly. She says the contributions to her re-election effort are merely in appreciation of fair and just treatment.
We disagree.
These companies are making an investment in keeping Ray as assessor. They expect a return on that investment. The return they receive should go to Grady County school districts and other government agencies who receive ad valorem tax money.
Firestone has 10 years of experience in the assessor’s office. She has an appreciation for the experience of the current staff in the office.
Firestone’s allegiances will be to Grady County residents - not out of state oil companies.

Grady County Associate District Judge
For John Herndon
This race has garnered a lot of attention for a judicial election. The non-partisan nature of the election usually leads to non-controversial campaigns.
However, Judge John Herndon recused himself from a second trial of an admitted child molester. His reason for recusal was that his sentence - of 10 years to serve and 10 years suspended - from her first trial had just been overturned. He wasn’t prepared to change his opinion on the issue so he sent the matter to another judge.
The other judge created a firestorm when he commuted the sentence to time served and released the woman in question.
Herndon received a $1,000 campaign contribution from the defendant’s attorney. He said he did not know about the contribution at the time he recused himself from the case, nor would a $1,000 contribution affect his ability to rule fairly in a case.
Herndon’s recusal was proper.
If he had assigned the same sentence the case could easily have bounced back to the appellate court and tied up the local court system even further.
Herndon’s experience far outweighs his opponent - who has very little experience in criminal cases.
Herndon has been a good judge for Grady County since his appointment. He deserves another term.

4th District Congressman
For Tom Cole
Tom Cole has served District 4 well and he should continue to.
He has earned the voters’ confidence with his success in fighting Base Closures for Tinker, Fort Sill and the Altus Air Force Base. Cole returns to the district regularly - not only at election time like some legislators.
His performance representing the district exceeds expectations and he deserves your vote Tuesday.

Lieutenant Governor of Oklahoma
For Jari Askins
Jari Askins has served her district well as a State Representative from Duncan. She understands southwest Oklahoma and she has many ties to the Chickasha area. Askins believes the state’s second highest office should be responsible for job growth, tourism and helping control spending.
Her opponent Todd Hiett takes credit for a bi-partisan budget which included a tax cut. Hiett’s partisanship forced the budget to be created in a special session at an unnecessary cost to taxpayers. He is a divisive force in politics. There is no room for that in the Lieutenant Governor’s office.
Askins can work with legislators from both sides and will be a positive leader in state government.

Oklahoma State Treasurer
For Scott Meacham
Scott Meacham was recently appointed to the state treasurer’s office. Meacham has continued many of the good projects begun by Robert Butkin.
He has invested about $1 billion into higher-yielding investments which provides more money to the state’s budget.
He has also negotiated a deal creating about $3 million which will go toward helping 7,000 Oklahomans quit smoking. This will save the state money in related health costs in the long run.
Meacham is a native of Chickasha who still has strong ties to the area.
He has done a good job for the state and will continue to do so.
He has been creative and effective in his position. He deserves another term.