AG Drummond rebukes Gov. Stitt, Director Kintsel over Veterans Commission drama

Drummond says veterans panel appointments not allowed by law, optimistic Legislature will resolve issues

OKLAHOMA CITY (Feb. 9, 2023) – Attorney General Gentner Drummond said today that while there are significant statutory deficiencies with recent appointments to the Oklahoma Veterans Commission, he is confident that state legislators will resolve the matter this legislative session by stripping the Governor of his autonomy over the panel.

Joel Kintsel to challenge Gov. Kevin Stitt in GOP primary

Joel Kintsel, a former Republican parliamentarian for the Oklahoma House of Representatives has announced his campaign to unseat incumbent Governor Kevin Stitt. Kintsel made news in March for claiming there was a politically-motivated computer breach at the Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs that was indirectly aimed at him.

Joel Kintsel Announces for Oklahoma Governor

(April 7th) Joel Kintsel announced his candidacy for the office of Oklahoma Governor and will challenge the current governor for the Republican nomination. Kintsel is a Ronald Reagan conservative.

“Throughout my career, I have served the people of Oklahoma and I am honored today to announce my candidacy for Governor. Oklahoma is in desperate need of a governor who will obey the law, set high ethical standards and do things by the book. The Stitt Administration is rife with corruption, self-dealing and cronyism and Oklahomans deserve another choice.”

Joel grew up in Oilton, Oklahoma in Creek County and graduated from Cimarron Christian Academy. Joel earned his bachelor’s degree from Oklahoma State University and his law degree from the University of Oklahoma. Joel enlisted in the Oklahoma National Guard in 2001.

Surplus hospital beds secured for McAlester Regional Health Center

Surplus Beds Secured for McAlester Regional Health Center

MCALESTER -- State Rep Jim Grego (R-Wilburton) and State Sen.  Larry Boggs (R-Wilburton) announced Thursday that a load of surplus hospital beds from the Talihina Veterans Center had been shipped to the McAlester Regional Health Center in McAlester.

“McAlester Regional officials reached out to their elected delegation expressing difficulty in obtaining some additional equipment in order to restock a previously closed wing of the hospital in anticipation of a surge of patients in the coming weeks due to COVID-19,” Grego said.

Grego said he worked with State Rep. Chris Kannady (R-Oklahoma City) along with Executive Director of the Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs Joel Kintsel and Deputy Director Sarah Lane. They were able to confirm the existence of the beds, which had been taken out of service and deemed surplus. The beds then were made available to McAlester Regional Health Center.

Pittsburg County Commissioner Ross Selman secured a truck along with a van trailer loaned by Big V Feeds Inc. of McAlester to provide transportation.

“This is the way government is supposed to work,” Grego said. “You have an identified need, locate a source, then connect the transportation to make it happen. We had state, county and local officials along with private entities involved.

“While this equipment is now positioned where it can do the maximum good, the hopes and prayers are that it will not be necessary to use.”

Jim Grego represents District 17 in the Oklahoma House of Representatives, which includes parts of Latimer, LeFlore and Pittsburg counties.