OKLAHOMA CITY (August 17th) – The Oklahoma-based public affairs firm Amber Integrated has released a survey measuring attitudes about the current political environment held by Republican voters likely to vote in the August 23 run-off elections.
OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma-based public affairs firm Amber Integrated has released two surveys measuring attitudes about the current political environment and the upcoming primary and general elections in Oklahoma.
OKLAHOMA CITY (Nov. 22, 2021) – Governor Kevin Stitt has appointed Mark Wood to serve as Oklahoma Tax Commissioner. Wood’s appointment fills the vacancy created by the resignation of Clark Jolley.
“Mark brings a wealth of tax experience from his impressionable career spanning over nearly four decades in the private sector,” said Governor Stitt. “I have every confidence in his ability to serve Oklahomans well in this new role.”
“I am honored to be appointed by the governor to this position. I have worked in public accounting and tax for over 35 years. I look forward to utilizing this experience to serve the citizens and taxpayers of the State of Oklahoma. I will work with the other commissioners to ensure the OTC operates fairly and efficiently,” said Wood.
(November 9th) Today, lifelong Oklahoman and longtime public servant Clark Jolley launched his campaign for State Treasurer by outlining his 10-point plan to propel the office forward. His straightforward approach demonstrates his experience and the values that he believes are exactly what Oklahomans have come to expect from the position.
“My experience as Appropriations Chairman, Secretary of Finance, and Chairman of the Tax Commission has uniquely prepared me to protect and safeguard taxpayers’ dollars,” stated Jolley.
Jolley’s experience includes serving as State Senator in a key leadership role as Senate Appropriations Chairman, overseeing and negotiating five state budgets, none of which raised taxes on Oklahoma families. In addition, Jolley served as Secretary of Finance, Administration, and Information Technology, where he successfully fought to protect the state’s bond rating from dropping during difficult economic times. Jolley recently left the Oklahoma Tax Commission where he had been appointed Chairman by Governor Kevin Stitt. While at the Commission Jolley also served as the Vice Chair of the Oklahoma Public Employees Retirement System, where assets grew by $2.5 billion (a 25% increase in funding) during his tenure.
“Oklahoma’s State Treasurer should have the relevant experience to get to work on day one,” Jolley stated. “Based on my experience and conservative values, I have developed a 10-Point plan for moving our state finances forward.”
Governor Mary Fallin Announces Oklahoma Tax Commission Appointment
OKLAHOMA CITY – Governor Mary Fallin today announced the appointment of former state Sen. Clark Jolley to the Oklahoma Tax Commission. He succeeds Dawn Cash, who resigned earlier this month.
Jolley’s appointment to the Tax Commission requires confirmation from the state Senate. His term would expire Jan. 10, 2023.
Jolley, of Edmond, serves as an adjunct professor at Oklahoma Christian University and Mid-America Christian University. He served in the state Senate from 2004 until 2016, the last five years as chairman of the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee. He could not seek re-election because of 12-year legislative term limits.
“Clark Jolley understands well the intricacies of our state budget and brings a vast knowledge of how taxes fund our state government,” said Fallin. “He realizes that our economy has shifted from manufacturing-based to services-based. He understands that the way we impose taxes and collect revenue no longer reflects our current economy, but instead an outdated system that has not changed much since the inception of Oklahoma’s sales tax in 1933. Clark will work to make sure taxpayer dollars are spent wisely, both in government agencies and as it relates to the state’s many tax credits and economic incentives.”
Jolley earned two degrees from Oklahoma Baptist University, a law degree from the University of Oklahoma, and a certificate in public treasury management from the National Institute of Public Finance at Pepperdine University in Malibu, Calif.
"It is an honor to serve the people of Oklahoma and I appreciate the governor’s confidence in my abilities to perform the duties as a member of the Oklahoma Tax Commission,” Jolley said.
He and his family make their home in Edmond, where his children attend Edmond Public Schools.
According to the most recent voter records I have handy, from July 2012, Francis A Keating II and Catherine H Keating are registered to vote in precinct 720071, with a residential address of 2121 S. Yorktown Ave. (a condo tower just east of Utica Square), Apt. 1203. No one named Keating owns property at that address, according to Tulsa County Assessor records, but Cathy Keating's mother, Frances Herndon Chandler, is listed as trustee of a trust that owns that unit.It will be interesting to see if Keating decides to pursue this any further.
But both Keatings list the following as their mailing address in their voter registration record (at least as of July, 2012):
820 NORTHEAST 23RD STREET
OKLAHOMA CITY OK 73105
Recognize that address? It's Oklahoma's Governor's Mansion, home to Brad and Kim Henry and their daughters from 2003 to 2011, and home for the last three years or so to Mary Fallin and her family. More than eleven years after moving out, Frank and Cathy Keating had not bothered to contact the county election board to change their voter record to their new mailing address. But they have continued to vote consistently, via absentee ballot. Presumably those ballots are being sent to a mailing address other than the one in their voter registration records.
After much prayerful consideration with friends and family, I've decided to launch a campaign for Attorney General. While a formal announcement is still forthcoming, I'm now in the process of filing the necessary paperwork and getting my campaign team in place.Pruitt enters into a competitive Republican primary, with candidates Ryan Leonard and State Sen. Clark Jolley already running. However, I feel that Pruitt comes into the race ahead of Jolley, perhaps on Leonard's heels.
I'd like to thank my good friend, Charlie Polston, for his guidance and encouragement in regards to this decision. He began a Draft Pruitt blog many months ago (www.pruitt4okag.blogspot.com) and I'd ask that you please sign up for updates there until my website is up and running.
I look forward in the coming days and weeks to sharing with you my vision for the office of Attorney General. In the mean time, I leave you with this quote:
"Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children's children what it was once like in the United States where men were free." -- Ronald Reagan
Thank you and God Bless,
Scott Pruitt
Rumor Control:
NRA-PVF Has Not Issued Any Endorsement in the Race for Attorney General!
Recently, it was erroneously reported on an Oklahoma City political news program that the NRA Political Victory Fund (NRA-PVF) had issued an endorsement in the race for Attorney General for the July primary election. This report is untrue and has caused no small amount of confusion among NRA members and political candidates, alike.
Please note that NRA-PVF has made NO endorsement in this or any other race as of today, Tuesday, February 23. The false statement was made by a third party and not by any of the candidates for Attorney General.
Please continue checking your email and www.NRAPVF.org for candidate grades and endorsements.
