Monson Defeats Humphreys 57-43%

Former State Senator Angela Monson won the chairmanship of the Oklahoma City Board of Education with 6,387 votes to 4,840 votes for former Oklahoma City Mayor Kirk Humphreys. She earned 56.9 percent of the vote.

Humphreys, 58, took the chairman's seat in August after Cliff Hudson, Sonic CEO, resigned.

Monson, 53, is associate provost for community partnerships and health policy at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center. She first was elected to the House of Representatives in 1990 and left the Senate in 2005 under term limits. She served as president of the National Conference of State Legislatures.

Humphreys resigned as mayor of Oklahoma City to run for the U. S. Senate in 2004. He lost in the Republican primary.

Share |

Monson Leads Humphreys; Tally Incomplete

Former State Senator Angela Monson has taken what appears to be a commanding lead over former Oklahoma City Mayor Kirk Humphreys in their battle for the chairmanship of the Oklahoma City Board of Education.

Humphreys is the incumbent, having been named to the seat when Cliff Hudson stepped down.

With 128 of 143 precincts reporting today in results delayed by Tuesday's storm, Monson had 5,400 votes, or 55.5 percent, to 4,322, or 44.5 percent, for Humphreys.

Humphreys could have been hurt by the storms, which hit northwest Oklahoma City areas considered to be his strongest area of support.

Share |

State Of Black Oklahoma: 'Operation Nehemiah'

A supplement to The Sunday Oklahoman presents details of an initiative in the black community to improve itself under the umbrella of "Operation Nehemiah," an organization "working to renew, rekindle and reconnect the community."

Former State Senator Angela Monson's introduction reports the organization was inspired by Tavis Smiley's book, Covenant With Black America, which outlines a philosophy "upon which progress and unification in the black community could be achieved." She said the themes of the organization are "unity, responsibility for self, and self determination."

The organization's goals are to work to improve health care, education, economics and justice in the black community. It notes, "Blacks are over represented in Oklahoma's justice system. It is important to determine the factors, and identify the actions black Oklahomans can take to turn this situation around." In particular, it cites providing "alternatives to gangs, drugs and other risky and destructive activities." It also cites the need to improve educational achievement, graduation rates, employment rates and health care availability.

Share |