Banner Year for OKGOP
by State Chairman Gary Jones
Thank you for your help over the past few weeks. With the help of Oklahomans like you, Oklahoma Republicans had a very successful election.
John McCain won every county in only one state - Oklahoma. His 65.64% share of the vote is highest in the nation. Senator Jim Inhofe was elected to his third full term in the U.S. Senate. Our four great Republican Members of Congress were reelected by large margins.
Thanks to Dana Murphy's hard work and great experience, there will again be three Republicans on the Corporation Commission. Dana beat Jim Roth, the Democrat appointed to hold the seat until this election, due to her superior qualifications and clean campaign. Incumbent Republican Corporation Commissioner Jeff Cloud received more votes than any other Oklahoman in yesterday's election.
The Oklahoma State Senate will be controlled by Republicans for the first time in history. Tulsa County voters said they wanted Dan Newberry by a 2-1 margin over his Republican-turned-Democrat opponent in the 37th Senate District, and 57% of the voters in the 21st Senate District chose Jim Halligan, the former OSU president, as their next Senator.
Republicans in the Oklahoma State House of Representative gained 4 seats, and will have a record 61 seats when the new session convenes in January. While all of our Republican incumbents were reelected, Eddie Fields beat an incumbent Democrat in District 36, which was a rematch of his 2006 race; Corey Holland (House 51), Charles Ortega (House 52), Harold Wright (House 57) and Mike Christian (House 93) picked up open seats formerly held by Democrats. Corey Holland ran for the seat in 2004 and Mike Christian ran for the House in 2006.
While I share your disappointment about the national results, it's important to remember that Oklahoma Republicans gained ground in all aspects of state government, which better positions us to elect a Republican Governor in 2010.
Yours in Victory,
Gary Jones
State Chairman, Oklahoma Republican Party
Tulsa talk show host Chris Medlock will be speaking at the Muskogee County Young Republicans meeting on October 20th. We will once again be meeting at Flair's Grille in Arrowhead Mall, at 5:30pm.
Chris Medlock was formerly a Tulsa City Councilman, representing District 2 for three years. He ran for mayor in 2006, narrowly losing in the Republican primary to the incumbent mayor. He now hosts the 'Chris Medlock Show', which runs from 2-4pm on Tulsa's 1170 KFAQ, Monday through Friday.
The new Cherokee County Young Republicans club will be meeting with us, so come and join your fellow Young Republicans from Muskogee and Cherokee counties for food, fun, and a good speaker!
Jordan Stevens, president of the Muskogee County Young Republicans club, was elected Vice-Chairman of the Oklahoma Federation of Young Republicans at the 2008 OFYR Convention September 27th.
The new OFYR board consists of Toni Calvey (State Chairwoman), Jordan Stevens (State Vice-Chairman), Michelle McCoy (Secretary), Toby Pedford (Treasurer), Garrett King (National Committeeman), and Lacey Davis (National Committeewoman).
Muskogee County Young Republicans President, Jordan Stevens, has announced that he will be running for Oklahoma Young Republicans State Vice-Chairman at the 2008 Oklahoma Young Republicans State Convention, to be held Saturday, September 27th in Norman.
Jordan is the mayor of Oktaha, and founded the Muskogee County Young Republicans club in January, 2008. The Muskogee County Young Republicans were the only actively meeting Young Republicans group in the state of Oklahoma in 2008.
Under Jordan's leadership, the MCYRS have formed a core group of dedicated YRs, and are beginning to reach out and be noticed in the Muskogee area. Jordan wants to "put the Oklahoma Young Republicans on the national map as the best YR organization in the Republican Party." He believes that the Young Republican need to be a group of Republican activists, not just another social group. As the future of the Oklahoma Republican Party, Jordan wants the Oklahoma Young Republicans to be an energetic engine for growth in the Republican Party.
The Muskogee County Republican Party invites you to our annual picnic and voter registration drive with special guest U.S. Army Lt. Col. Steve Russell (Ret.).
Lt. Col. Russell is a highly decorated veteran, and commanded the battalion that captured Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein.
The picnic will be held on Monday, September 15th at 5:30pm, at Honor Heights Park (North Pavilion). Admission is free. Hot dogs, baked beans, dessert, and drinks will be served. This is a voter registration drive, so bring your unregistered friends! Weather permitting, there will be a volleyball game between the Young Republicans and the "old" Republicans.
ARLINGTON, VA -- U.S. Senator John McCain today announced that he has selected Alaska Governor Sarah Palin to be his running mate and to serve as his vice president.
Governor Palin is a tough executive who has demonstrated during her time in office that she is ready to be president. She has brought Republicans and Democrats together within her Administration and has a record of delivering on the change and reform that we need in Washington.
Governor Palin has challenged the influence of the big oil companies while fighting for the development of new energy resources. She leads a state that matters to every one of us -- Alaska has significant energy resources and she has been a leader in the fight to make America energy independent.
In Alaska, Governor Palin challenged a corrupt system and passed a landmark ethics reform bill. She has actually used her veto and cut budgetary spending. She put a stop to the "bridge to nowhere" that would have cost taxpayers $400 million dollars.
As the head of Alaska's National Guard and as the mother of a soldier herself, Governor Palin understands what it takes to lead our nation and she understands the importance of supporting our troops.
Governor Palin has the record of reform and bipartisanship that others can only speak of. Her experience in shaking up the status quo is exactly what is needed in Washington today.
Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee's Huck PAC endorsed State Rep George Faught (R, Muskogee) on Wednesday, August 20th, as part of their "Support Your Local Legislator" day.
This month's Muskogee County Republican Club meeting will feature Oklahomans For Responsible Government Director Curt Price as the guest speaker at 7pm Thursday, August 14th, at Western Sizzlin.
A native Oklahoman and enrolled member of the Cherokee Nation, Curt Price is the Executive Director of Oklahomans for Responsible Government and Regional Director for American Majority Oklahoma.
Curt has been involved in Oklahoman politics since 1994, when he became a volunteer for Dr. Tom Coburn's first congressional campaign. Since then, Curt served on staff with Dr. Coburn as Director of Field Operations before joining the staff of Sen. Jim Inhofe, following Dr. Coburn's retirement from the House. In 2004, Curt left Sen. Inhofe's office to manage Dr. Coburn's Senate campaign, and served as Director of Field Operations and Political Director for Sen. Coburn's re-election campaign and leadership PAC through the end of 2006. Curt was the only manager of a statewide campaign for a Republican challenger who won in the past two election cycles.
Curt graduated from Northeastern State University in Tahlequah with a degree in accounting. After graduation, Curt began a career in banking which resulted in owning a loan brokerage/investing company still in operation. In addition to his duties as President of Heritage Investment Service Corporation, Curt also serves as Missions Director of his church in Keefeton, OK.
Calling all Young Republicans! The MCYRS June Picnic will be held at Honor Heights Park, beginning around 5:30pm on Tuesday, June 3rd. Hot dogs will be free, but donation are appreciated to cover the cost. The picnic will be at the north pavilion, by the playground equipment and splash pad.
Our guest speaker will be State Rep. Jason Murphey (R, Guthrie). Bring the family and come prepared for an evening of fun and games; we'll probably get up a game of volleyball or softball.
Dana Murphy, candidate for Corporation Commissioner and past vice-chairman of the Oklahoma Republican Party, visits with members of the Muskogee County Republican Party on Wednesday, May 28th.
Left to right: Tom Montgomery (Republican Club President and District Committeeman for Muskogee County), John Tyler Hammons (Mayor of Muskogee), Dana Murphy, and Jerry Huffer (County Chairman).
The MCYRS May Meeting will be held at Flair's Grille in Arrowhead Mall. The meeting will begin around 5:30pm, Tuesday, May 1st. Dr. Randy Jarman will be speaking about the FairTax.
The FairTax is the most researched tax reform plan that has been proposed in the last 50 years. Georgia Congressman John Linder Georgia has sponsored HR25 for the last 5 years. At the present time, there are 72 co-sponsors of this bipartisan legislation, including U.S. Sen. Tom Coburn and U.S. Rep. Dan Boren.
The FairTax completely eliminates our current income tax structure and replaces it with a National Sales Tax on retail products and services. No more deductions to calculate, no more FICA out of your check, no more Federal Income Tax, making April 15th just another spring day.
The FairTax is expected to stimulate the economy by unburdening people of the income tax, and puts the tax burden on those that have a lot of money to spend. Each month, every family will receive a rebate check from the government reimbursing them for taxes paid on basic necessities, giving poor working families a big break.
Dr. Randy Jarman is the 1st Congressional District representative for the Fair Tax. He has been involved in the Fair Tax organization for the last 4 years.
The Muskogee County Young Republicans will be hosting a SUPER TUESDAY Watch Party to see the primary returns live! We have secured Wings-to-Go (on Shawnee in the new Walmart shopping complex) from 8-10 PM and will have it all to ourselves.
We will be able to watch many different news channels and there might be a surprise call from a well known Republican figure. The YRs will provide the first 200 Wings, so please make plans to stop by. The Young Republicans are also inviting the Muskogee County Republican Club to join us in this time of fellowship and fun.
On January 10th, the Muskogee County Republican Club held a forum on the 2008 Republican Presidential Primary. Presidential candidates Mike Huckabee, Rudy Giuliani, Ron Paul and Fred Thompson were represented by speakers. Each speaker talked for 5-10 minutes, and fielded questions from the audience.
Representing candidate Mike Huckabee was former State Sen. Scott Pruitt; Richard Engle, president of the Republican organization NFRA, came for Fred Thompson; Sharon Caliendo spoke for Rudy Giuliani, and State Rep. Charles Key talked for Ron Paul.
The forum was very well attended; over 50 people came to the Club meeting. The Muskogee Phoenix sent a reporter, who published this article in the Friday edition of the newspaper.
The forum was a great success, not only in informing local Republicans about the Presidential candidates, but also in spreading the word about the Muskogee Republican Club.
