Leonard for Attorney General
The race for a new attorney general in Oklahoma is more important in 2010 than it has been in two decades.
After years of liberal politics and catering to special interests, there is a good possibility that Oklahoma can get an honest attorney general who holds to traditional values and will protect the public.
Ryan Leonard is an experienced state prosecutor. He fought crime and put dangerous criminals in prison. As a private attorney, Leonard battled to help small business – the engine of the state economy.
As a member of former U.S. Sen. Don Nickles administrative team, he helped pass legislation to help farmers, ranchers, hunters, fishermen and again – victims of crime.
A fourth generation native of the Oklahoma Panhandle, Leonard has a strong work ethic. That is essential for the next attorney general to battle the unconstitutional intrusion of the federal government in health care, the execution of the death penalty and protection of the unborn child.
Leonard has pledged to battle those who distribute methamphetamine and he will prosecute child predators to the full extent of the law. He will fight corruption among elected officials and will enforce existing laws against illegal entry into America.
Leonard faces former State Sen. Scott Pruitt in the July 27 Republican primary. Pruitt, an expert in constitutional law, shares virtually the same values as Leonard on most issues. Both would better represent the interests of Oklahoma than Democrat Jim Priest.
The Tulsa Beacon endorses Ryan Leonard for Oklahoma Attorney General.
Reese for Labor Commissioner
When Oklahomans passed term limits for state senators and state representatives, it put a big dent in the “good old boy” system that dominated Oklahoma for almost one century.
Now it’s time for a fresh start in the office of State Labor Commissioner.
Jason Reese is a bright, young conservative Christian. For the past three years, his law practice has centered on labor and employment law.
Reese has worked on enforcement of administrative rules at a state agency and advised the Oklahoma Legislature on regulations and workers’ compensation.
He knows how laws are made and he understands the importance of a proper balance between employers and employees.
After finishing OU Law School, Reese worked as a staff attorney at the State Legislature where he served as a part of the Workers’ Comp Task Force and was placed in charge of reviewing all regulations produced by the state of Oklahoma.
That level of competence is hard to find in state government.
His conservative credentials are solid. While at OU, he served as the state chairman of the College Republicans.
Reese understands labor, employment and immigration laws. He will push for genuine workers’ comp reform. He will seek mergers among overlapping agencies to save state funds.
Reese faces Mark Costello, a genuine conservative with an impressive business background, in the July 27 primary. Reese or Costello would be a welcome change over Democrat incumbent Lloyd Fields.
The Tulsa Beacon endorses Jason Reese for State Labor Commissioner. He has the background, training and moral fiber to lead Oklahoma into a new era.
Dennis Semler for Treasurer
While the federal government under Barack Obama borrows trillions of dollars for deficit spending and the state of Oklahoma faces a billion-dollar deficit, Tulsa County stands on firm financial ground.
The City of Tulsa, dependent on declining sales tax, is struggling to make ends meet and to correct the overspending of ex-mayor Kathy Taylor.
Credit for the county’s fiscal standing must go to the elected officers – almost all Republicans – who have kept spending in check and avoided layoffs and unpaid furloughs.
Tulsa County Treasurer Dennis Semler is charged with collecting the property taxes for the entire county and making sure they are distributed correctly and in a timely fashion. It’s a difficult job with hundreds of thousands of bills coming due each year.
Semler is a self-described advocate for the taxpayer. In a perfect world, Semler wishes everyone would pay their taxes on time and no one’s property would be sold for back taxes.
Semler has gone out of his way to make sure Tulsa County’s elderly and those on fixed incomes understand their rights and responsibilities. He has made the treasurer’s office more accessible in his tenure.
Semler has pushed to let seniors know about tax rebates even though some officials disagreed with his passion.
Semler faces Ruth Hartje in the July 27 Republican primary. If you interviewed both candidates, you would discover they really don’t disagree on much. Hartje is an active member of the Tea Party movement and has a bright future in politics.
We think Semler has earned another term. His list of endorsements is impressive.
The Tulsa Beacon is adding its endorsement of Dennis Semler for Tulsa County Treasurer to that list.