Cody Maynard announces candidacy for House District 21, opening campaign HQ in Durant

Republican Cody Maynard Announces Candidacy for State Representative, District 21

DURANT, OK – With the final lines of districts drawn, Conservative Republican Cody Maynard, a CPA, announces that his campaign is underway to serve Oklahomans in the State House of Representatives, District 21, which will cover parts of Bryan and Marshall counties. After a strong fundraising quarter, his team is slated to open his campaign headquarters on January 22nd on First Street in Durant. 

“I am running to represent District 21 because my wife, Crystal, and I want to ensure that Oklahoma remains a beacon of freedom and a place to see dreams realized for generations to come. Serving as a legislator is an opportunity to ensure that Oklahoma is a state embodying pro-family policies, including but not limited to: protecting the pre-born, honoring the sanctity of life, advocating for parental and guardian rights, and promoting policies that reduce poverty and champion excellence in education.”

Gov. Stitt appoints Tim Webster as DA for Atoka, Bryan and Coal counties

GOVERNOR STITT APPOINTS DISTRICT ATTORNEY FOR ATOKA, BRYAN AND COAL COUNTIES

OKLAHOMA CITY (Nov. 30, 2020)- Governor Kevin Stitt announced today the appointment of Tim Webster as District Attorney for District 19, which includes Atoka, Bryan and Coal Counties. Webster fills the seat of Emily Redman, who retired on October 1, 2020. By statute, Webster has been serving as acting District Attorney since then.

"Tim Webster has spent almost four decades serving the people of Atoka, Bryan and Coal Counties," said Gov. Stitt. "His experience as a litigator and prosecutor, as well as his heart for his community, makes him the best choice to serve as the next District Attorney for District 19." 

Second Amendment Sanctuary County: Pittsburg becomes sixth to join

Pittsburg County Sheriff Chris Morris has joined the Second Amendment Sanctuary County movement, which has swept Oklahoma this week.

County Sheriffs that have declared Sanctuary status:

• Logan County (Wednesday)
• Stephens County (Thursday)
• Canadian County (Friday)
• Bryan County (Friday)
• Haskell County (Friday)

Sheriff Morris posted the following statement this morning:

Haskell, Bryan County sheriffs join 2A Sanctuary movement

The Second Amendment Sanctuary movement is sweeping through Oklahoma, after kicking off in Logan County earlier this week.

• Wednesday: Sheriff Damon Devereaux of Logan County
• Thursday: Sheriff Wayne McKinney of Stephens County. 
• Friday: Sheriff Chris West of Canadian County

Haskell and Bryan counties have joined today as well, according to announcements by their respective sheriffs, becoming the fourth and fifth Second Amendment Sanctuary Counties in Oklahoma.

Haskell County Sheriff Tim Turner released the following statement this morning:

Haskell County Sheriff Tim Turner

Bryan County Sheriff Johnny Christian issued this statement earlier today:

Bryan County Sheriff Johnny Christian

Republican Steve Taylor announces for HD21

Local Community Leader, Attorney Steve Taylor of Durant Announces Candidacy for Oklahoma House District 21 

April 4, 2018 - Steve Taylor, an attorney and longtime member of the Bryan County community, and husband of Dr. Christine Taylor, an OB-GYN serving our region, announces his candidacy for Oklahoma State Representative. Steve Taylor is a registered Republican.

Taylor states, "I thank State Representative Dustin Roberts, who is not running again, for his years of serving honorably. I intend to continue his example as a strong advocate for the priorities that are important to continue moving our region and state towards a strong future."

Steve Taylor has an extensive history of investment of time and expertise in local community organizations. Taylor serves as Vice Chairman of the Board of J127 Ministry, which assists young adults who have aged out of the foster care system. He is also Vice Chairman of the Board of the Pregnancy Center of Bryan County, is former President of the Durant Noon Lions Club, and has served on the Board of Directors for the Durant "OK Kids" Baseball League, where he was Commissioner for three seasons. His professional career, in addition to serving as an attorney, included working for four years as the Assistant Director of the Medical Alumni Annual Fund for Columbia University's College of Physicians and Surgeons in NYC, and working for the Land of Lincoln Legal Assistance Foundation.

Steve Taylor said, "My wife and I chose to live in Durant, to educate our children here, and to work in, and for, our local community.  I am proud of our community and care deeply for our neighbors. The dysfunction currently at the state Capitol is not serving to strengthen Oklahoma, to better health care and education outcomes, nor does it assist with needed longterm planning to meet the demands of our growing cities and population. I am running to provide a real-world, mature perspective gained from 20+ years of working with businesses, families, and on projects to serve our neighbors."

The Taylors have four children, one in college at the US Military Academy at West Point, two at  Durant High School, and one attending Durant Middle School. The Taylors attend Community Christian Church in Durant.

Steve Taylor graduated from Oklahoma State University in 1991 with a BA in History, and then earned his law degree from Washington University School of Law. He was awarded Order of the Coif, graduating in the top 10% of his law school class. He is an attorney with a law office in Durant. His wife, Dr. Christine Taylor, graduated from Oklahoma State University and earned her MD from Columbia University's College of Physicians and Surgeons.

The Republican Primary is June 26, and the General Election takes place on November 6, 2018.

Rep. Dustin Roberts Announces He Will Not Seek Re-Election

Rep. Dustin Roberts Announces He Will Not Seek Re-Election

OKLAHOMA CITY – State Rep. Dustin Roberts announced this week that this will be his last legislative session. He is not seeking re-election.

“I want to thank the great people of House District 21 for putting their trust in me over the last eight years; it has been a true honor to be your representative,” said Roberts, R-Durant. “I spent a great deal of time thinking about this decision, and after conversations with my family I am announcing today that I will not seek re-election as your state representative.

“I first took an oath at 18 to defend and serve the greatest county the world has ever known, and I’ve continued in public service since. Although I’m stepping away from public service as an elected individual that does not mean I will be stepping away from my home, and I will continue to fight for our rural way of life.

“I want to say thank you to the great folks of Bryan county; there is truly is no place better in Oklahoma or the world.”

Roberts was first elected to the Oklahoma House of Representatives in 2010. He serves as the assistant majority whip in the House and as the chairman of the Appropriations & Budget Transportation Subcommittee. He also serves as a member of the following committees: Appropriations & Budget, Common Education, County & Municipal Government, and the Joint Committee on Appropriations & Budget. His House district covers all of Bryan County.

SHOCK POLL: Brecheen Leading Gumm

I say "shock poll", because that's the only way a Democrat can view this news: Republican candidate Josh Brecheen is leading 8-year incumbent Democrat State Senator Jay Paul Gumm 46-40, according to a recent poll.

The two are running for State Senate District 6, which covers all or portions of Atoka, Bryan, Coal, Johnston and Marshall counties (covering the communities of Durant, Tishomingo, Madill, Coalgate, and most of the Lake Texoma area).

Just under 20% of voters in the district are registered Republican - never has a Republican won a State Senate race in Atoka, Bryan, Coal, Johnston or Marshall counties. Even for State House, a Republican has only won in Atoka County once (1909), and Coal County once (1921)

Brecheen is in excellent shape to make history by becoming the first GOP legislative candidate to represent these five southeastern counties in the State Senate. Frankly, from everything I have seen about this race, I am not surprised that Brecheen is leading. I'm fully convinced that Brecheen will make history by winning this race.

Boren Hypocrisy on Rangel, Health Care?

This must be the week for news relating to Congressman Dan Boren (D, OK-2)! The Bryan County Republican Party sent this release out earlier this week.

ALERT:

On February 24, [Congressman] Boren sent out a release that he would vote against the health care bill as it "raises taxes on businesses, creates job-killing mandates, grows the size of government, and cuts services to seniors."

And now today (March 3) Boren is sending out statements all over calling on Charlie Rangel to step down from his position as the House Ways and Means Chairman - the head of the powerful committee that sets tax and budget policies, because "I feel that all members of Congress should be held to the highest ethical standards and these preliminary findings are very troubling."

THE FACTS:

Last October 7, after a long investigation already into Rangel's activities which included shaking down an oil company's CEO, and allegations of tax evasion and failure to report income, a resolution came to the floor of Congress to remove Rangel from his place due to the severity of the claims against him. (These are detailed well in the [following] link). However, Dan Boren voted when it counted to KEEP Rangel in place, just sending the resolution back to the ethics committee to continue investigating while not removing Rangel - despite the fact that the committee had been investigating Rangel for well over a year before that and revelations of Rangel hiding at least 500,000 in assets, investment properties not reported, getting sweetheart deals from the IRS in not paying penalties or interests and others.

What did Boren's crucial vote at that time allow Rangel to do? Right after Boren voted to keep Rangel in the Chairmanship, Rangel then facilitated the adjustment of the Health Care bill to allow more of it to fall under the "Nuclear Option" - which will allow the bill to pass Reconciliation in the Senate to cram the vote through with only 50 votes. The news story on this is in the [following] article.

Boren's actual vote - not what he is saying at home - is helping to facilitate the passage of the federal takeover on health care. We need to be informed and very careful about holding him to his actual record in DC - he is getting very savvy at voting no in highly publicized things, but when no one is looking, voting to facilitate the movement forward of legislation that still promotes Obama/Pelosi's plans to grow government.

The Bryan County GOP brought up Boren's October vote up in one of their meetings late last fall. With the results from Public Policy Polling's survey, is Boren going to be vulnerable to inconsistencies like these?

Bryan County GOP Action Alert - ObamaCare

Here's an important email from the Bryan County Republican Party regarding ObamaCare:

Good Morning Everyone:

As many of you know, Obama's Health Care "Reform" Bill was introduced in the House yesterday. Obama has spoken on this issue multiple times stating explicitly that if you have your own insurance, you will be able to keep it, and that the gov't won't force people to go onto the government plan.

However, today's Editorial Headline in the Investor's Business Daily based on reading the over 1,000 page bill, states that on page 16 of the bill, in actuality, from the day the bill is signed into law, insurance companies will no longer be able to issue new policies. So, you can keep your insurance, but you can't change it and once you lose it (you leave your company or if your insurance company goes out of business since they can't issue new policies) you then MUST go onto the government plan as that will be the only remaining option.

Please read the Investor's Business Daily article here: http://www.ibdeditorials.com/IBDArticles.aspx?id=332548165656854 to come to your own conclusions.

If the news concerns you, we are asking that please call each and every one of Dan Boren's offices in Oklahoma and DC on Friday, July 17, between the hours of 9am-4pm to voice your concerns based on what you read yourself in the article and news- the phone numbers are listed below.

We have heard of an effort mobilizing across OK to be picketing Boren's offices in Muskogee , McAlester, and Claremore so it will be very helpful for us to call across the state to let his other offices as well know that not only are the people outside his office upset, but additional people are taking action by calling as well. We will not demonstrate outside his Durant office, but we can make a big statement just by taking a five minute break to make our voices heard by phone calls.

We simply need to voice our concerns that Mr. Boren not only needs to vote against this bill, but needs to take an active stand - speeches and interviews to media and working to sign on other Democrats to vote against this bill so it does not pass the House - to defend the people of Oklahoma against this power grab by the government.

Here are the Boren office phone numbers:

Durant: 580-931-0333
McAlester: 918-423-5951
Claremore: 918-341-9336
Muskogee: 918-687-2533
Washington DC: 202-225-2701

Thank you everyone for being willing to take the time to learn the facts and speak up for our freedom!

It is vital that we stop Obama's health care "reform". The stakes are too high.

Jack Accountius Announces for State House District 21

To continue with the candidacy announcements, this one came out of Bryan County in southern Oklahoma on Monday.

Jack Accountius Announces Candidacy for Oklahoma District 21 Representative

Durant, OK -- Jackie (Jack) Accountius today announced his candidacy for the Republican nomination for State Representative for District 21. He has been a resident of Bryan County for twenty-two years, and much of that time has been spent in service to our local community. He served on the Philadelphia VFD as a fireman and held the office of Secretary/Treasurer, and then once Roberta Fire Department was organized, served Roberta VFD as fireman, Chief, and member of the Board of Directors. Jack is also a member and past President of the Bryan County Master Gardeners. As well, he has served on the Bryan County Fair Board, and has assisted or superintended the Open Horse Show at the Fair. Jack is active in his church, St Williams Roman Catholic Church, serving on his parish council in many different capacities including President. He and his wife have been faithful volunteers for over four years in serving Durant's hungry through the church's St. Catherine's Food Bank.

On the state level, he is participating in the planning process for the 2010-2060 Oklahoma Comprehensive Water Plan.

Accountius is a 1958 graduate of the United States Naval Academy. He served 20 years in the USAF as munitions officer, 15 of those years as explosive ordinance disposal qualified, and spent two years serving overseas at various locations throughout Southeast Asia. Upon retirement from the Air Force, Jack received his Masters in Business Administration from East Texas State University, and in 1996 retired from Texas Instruments.

Since moving to Oklahoma, Jack and his wife of fifty years Pat, have raised, trained and shown their miniature horses at all levels of competition. They have won one American Miniature Horse Association National Championship and two National Reserve Championships.

Because of his experience in the military and in the civilian work sector, Jack feels he can contribute to the positive growth of this great state of Oklahoma. He looks forward to enlisting yet again in service to our country through representing District 21 in the Oklahoma State House of Representatives.

# # #

Accountius can be contacted at chimera@texomaonline.com. His website is JackFor21.com.

House District 21 is currently held by State Rep. John Carey (D, Durant). Carey is not seeking reelection, and word is that he will be jumping in the Lieutenant Governor race in the near future (joining fellow Little Dixie Democrat State Sen. Kenneth Corn). Democrat Chris Pierce announced for House District 21 on June 23rd.

2010 looks to be an active year for the Republican Party in the traditionally and heavily Democratic Second Congressional District. Recruitment for state legislative races, as well as candidates for Congress, seems to be going at an above-average pace, which has to bode well for the GOP.