Muskogee Phoenix: Barresi, Priest, Lamb, Fallin

Mary Fallin



Todd Lamb

 

Jim Priest



Janet Barresi

Editorial/Muskogee Phoenix ~ This is the most important election Oklahoma has had in some time.

A new governor for the first time in eight years, a new state superintendent for the first time in 20 years and a new attorney general for the first time in 16 years is at the top of the list of what’s at stake Tuesday.

And here are our recommendations.

State superintendent: Vote Janet Barresi. While this race has strong candidates with Susan Paddack and Richard Cooper, we believe Barresi holds the edge. A former speech pathologist and dentist, she founded Independence Charter Middle School and then became the board president of Harding Charter Preparatory High School. She also opposes State Question 744. She says a complete overhaul of the state’s education system is needed. We believe her charter school experience sets her apart from the field.

Attorney general: Vote Jim Priest. Priest has extensive law experience. He wants to fix Oklahoma. He says his top priorities are our children, our seniors and the victims of domestic violence. His opponent, Scott Pruitt, says fighting Washington, D.C., is his top priority. We should be focused on Oklahoma, not Washington.

Lieutenant governor: Vote Todd Lamb. Lamb is running against Kenneth Corn and Richard Prawdzienski. Lamb says that rural and urban Oklahoma must be partners, not competitors, to improve the state. We agree. This race took an interesting turn in the last month. Corn has bumbled his way down the home stretch with attack ads against Lamb which have come under question by Republicans and Democrats. If the way he managed his campaign is any indication of how he’d manage his office, he doesn’t belong there.

Governor: Vote Mary Fallin. In a race with two very strong candidates, Fallin gets the nod over Jari Askins. Fallin has a better vision and a sense of urgency. We need someone who is ready to take action and move Oklahoma forward. Fallin has the experience as a state representative and lieutenant governor. The state will be in good hands either way, but we believe Fallin is a cut above. However, we are discouraged by her latest comments when she said that being a mother, having children and raising a family sets her apart from Askins. It was a clean race up until then. Kudos to Askins for not firing back.

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