Balkman Heads New Oklahoma Lawyers Association

Former Rep. Thad Balkman of Norman has announced he's the executive director of the newly-formed Oklahoma Lawyers Association.

Balkman headed the 100 Ideas Initiative for former House Speaker Lance Cargill and worked in Mitt Romney's presidential campaign.

He later joined California manufacturer Phoenix Motorcars, a firm that makes freeway speed, battery-powered electric vehicles. The economy apparently took its toll on the firm.

Share |

Balkman Joins Electric Vehicle Manufacturer

Former State Rep. Thad Balkman of Norman, who headed the 100 Ideas Initiative and worked in Mitt Romney's presidential campaign, has joined a California manufacturer of electric vehicles.

Balkman said he's joined Phoenix Motorcars, a firm that makes freeway speed, battery-powered electric vehicles.

Share |

Balkman Reacts To Romney's Decision

Mitt Romney's top Oklahoma representative, former State Rep. Thad Balkman (seated, second from left, in this photo of Romney in Norman), issued this statement today after The McCarville Report Online asked for his reaction to Romney's suspension of his presidential campaign:

I’m disappointed by the announcement of Governor Romney’s suspending his campaign. And while he has now stepped aside, I am pleased that he was successful in calling attention to conservative principles of free enterprise and family values – much like another former governor did in his unsuccessful bid in taking on the Republican establishment back in 1976. As our nominee, I hope Senator McCain will champion these conservative values and I will cast my vote in support of him. Like Governor Romney mentioned earlier today, while he and Senator McCain differed on a number of issues, on the issue of confronting radical jihadism and winning the war on terrorism, we are united and we cannot let Senator Obama or Senator Clinton in the White House and implement their retreat and defeat policy.

Share |

Romney Gives Balkman Expanded Campaign Role

The Mitt Romney for President campaign announced today that former State Rep. Thad Balkman has been given an expanded role and is now political director for the Oklahoma statewide campaign. Balkman, who has been assisting Romney in the state, will work to expand Romney's grassroots efforts throughout the state, and will help communicate his message of conservative change in Washington.

Romney for President's National Political Director Carl Forti said, "Mr. Balkman is an excellent addition to our team in Oklahoma. We are pleased that he will be volunteering his time to help organize our campaign efforts at the grassroots level. Our campaign is committed to Oklahoma and we are excited that Mr. Balkman will bring his political experience and leadership to our campaign."

Balkman said, "Governor Romney is the only candidate in this race who has the proven record to lead America forward as we face a new generation of global challenges. He has extensive experience in problem solving and has governed with principled leadership. Mitt Romney is the only candidate who will bring conservative values back to Washington. I am proud to join his Oklahoma campaign."

Balkman served in the Oklahoma State Legislature From 2000 To 2006. He now serves as executive director of Oklahoma's "100 Ideas Initiative," a plan led by House Speaker Lance Cargill to spark innovation for Oklahoma's second century.

During the 50th legislature he was selected as Majority Caucus Chairman and the Chairman of the Appropriations and Budget Subcommittee on Health & Social Services. His efforts in opposition to tax hikes earned Balkman recognition as "Friend of the Taxpayers" by Grover Norquist's Americans for Tax Relief. Balkman is also active on social issues and was responsible for creating the "Choose Life" license plate, the sales of which go to help unborn babies, pregnant women and the counseling centers that serve them. Balkman is a licensed attorney and is the Vice President of External Relations and General Counsel for Phoenix Motorcars, an industry leader of battery electric, freeway speed vehicles.

Share |

Romney Oklahoma Campaign Tackles Mormon Issue

Leaders of Republican Mitt Romney's campaign in Oklahoma are today circulating a memo that, among things, addresses resistance to Romney from some conservative Christians because he is a Mormon. Thad Balkman, former State House member from Norman who is working on Romney's behalf, sent an email on the subject.

The memo is from public relations strategist Mark DeMoss, who wrote, "As a Southern Baptist evangelical and political conservative, I am convinced I have more in common with most Mormons than I do with a liberal Southern Baptist, Methodist, Roman Catholic or a liberal from any other denomination or faith group. The question shouldn’t be, 'could I vote for a Mormon,' but, 'could I vote for this Mormon? After all, Mitt told me there are Mormons he couldn’t vote for (I presume Harry Reid, for example); and there are Southern Baptists I couldn’t vote for (Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, Al Gore, to name a few)."

Read the entire memo at http://hughhewitt.townhall.com/blog/g/62b0dd8d-fc86-4669-a254-7288402a7573

Share |

100 Ideas Initiative Raises $487,000

The 100 Ideas Initiative has raised $487,000, with about half of it in in-kind donations, the group reports.

The Initiative was launched in January by House Speaker Lance Cargill, R-Harrah. Former Rep. Thad Balkman, R-Norman, is the initiative's executive director.

The initiative includes a series of "IdeaRaisers," or forums, at which Oklahomans can share their ideas for the state's future. It also includes an interactive Web site, www.100ideasok.org, where people can submit their ideas online.

Major contributors to the organization are Chesapeake Energy and Chickasaw Enterprises, both of which provided $100,000. AT&T provided $50,000. Major in-kind donors included Cox Communications, $100,000 in television advertising; Lamar Outdoor, $61,200 in billboard advertising; and the Tulsa World, $60,000 in newspaper advertising. Expenditures totaled about $199,000, including $41.500 for staff and $30,000 for public relations and advertising.

Share |

OEA To Host Thursday 'IdeaRaiser'

The next IdeaRaiser for Oklahoma’s 100 Ideas Initiative will be hosted by the Oklahoma Education Association on Thursday, March 29 at 6 p.m. at Westfield Elementary School, 17601 N. Pennsylvania in Edmond.

The 100 Ideas Initiative is a non-partisan project designed to solicit the best ideas for Oklahoma’s second century. IdeaRaisers are public meetings designed to encourage input and discussion about those ideas and suggestions. To date, six IdeaRaisers have been held at locations throughout the state, and more are scheduled in the coming months.

100 Ideas Executive Director Thad Balkman said Thursday’s event has great potential for some fantastic ideas related to education and its importance. “I think this IdeaRaiser, much like our higher education event earlier this year, can bring some great minds together to come up with some groundbreaking solutions in addressing education related issues and improving our overall education system,” said Balkman. “The OEA has been very helpful in organizing this event and we are looking forward to a productive evening.”

The public is invited to attend Thursday’s IdeaRaiser. Reservations can be made via e-mail to rsvp@100ideasok.org or by calling 1-888-465-2007.

Share |

Florida House Speaker Co-hosts IdeaRaiser Event

Florida Speaker of the House Marco Rubio will be co-hosting an IdeaRaiser Friday in Tahlequah.

The IdeaRaiser, focusing on rural health, will feature the Florida speaker, who initiated Florida’s successful 100 Ideas program in 2005.

100 Ideas Oklahoma Executive Director Thad Balkman said organizers and participants were looking forward to hearing from Rubio. “We are all looking forward to the opportunity to hear from Speaker Rubio, particularly about Florida’s initiatives and success stories in health care,” said Balkman.

The rural healthcare IdeaRaiser will be held at Northeastern State University in the Ceder Room of the University Center. Registration will begin at 4 p.m.

In addition to Rubio, co-hosts include NSU President Larry Williams and his wife, Pamela, Oklahoma Speaker of the House Lance Cargill, the NSU Oklahoma College of Optometry and the Cherokee Health Science Center. Local legislators State Sen. Jim Wilson and State Reps. John Auffett and Mike Brown have been invited to the event, which is open to the public.

Those interested in attending are encouraged to RSVP to info@100ieasok.org as space is limited.

Rubio started the Florida 100 Ideas program in September 2005. By the end of January, the Florida House had passed nine of the 100 ideas chosen by Florida’s 100 Ideas board. Ideas passed include adopting a uniform statewide building code and ensuring that insurance companies expedite payments for damages and consider expanding the short-term, no-interest bridge loan program.

Share |

100 Ideas Donors To Be Identified

The Tulsa World's Mick Hinton reports today that, "Thad Balkman, the executive director of the 100 Ideas Initiative launched by House Speaker Lance Cargill, said a list of its financial supporters would be released 'on a quarterly basis.'"

Share |

100 Ideas Advisory Board Members Named

The 100 Ideas Initiative, a statewide project launched a month ago to seek the best ideas for Oklahoma second century, has announced members of the project’s advisory board.

“Our advisory board members represent the best and brightest of Oklahoma’s various professions and backgrounds,” said Thad Balkman, Executive Director of 100 Ideas. “But one thing they all share in common is a thirst to bring innovation and new ideas forward for Oklahoma’s second century. I look forward to their participation in the idea gathering and selection process over the course of this year.”

Members of the board include: Carols Bermudez, Newalla resident and owner of Sonshine Services; Kirk Humphreys, former Oklahoma City mayor and real estate developer; Jonathan Small, resident of Edmond and a CPA; Daniel W. Pullin, Associate Vice President and Executive Director for the University of Oklahoma’s Center of Economic Wealth; Xavier Neira, Vice President Special Projects, Rooney Holdings, Inc.; Christopher B. Howard, Associate Vice President of the University of Oklahoma’s Honors College; veteran of the War on Terror; Rhodes Scholar and founder of the Impact Young Lives Foundation; Stuart Ericson, resident of Muskogee and a former lawmaker, now an attorney; Jason Ramsey, Policy Analyst OSU/A&M Board of Regents; Melissa McLawhorn-Houston, resident of Norman and a licensed attorney and Chief of Staff for the Office of Homeland Security; Tom Langdon, Edmond resident and vice president of Stephens Inc., an investment banking firm; Devon Shannon, Lawton resident, stay-at-home mother and wife of State Rep. TW Shannon; Tom Cooper, Tulsa resident and chairman and chief executive of the Warren Professional Building Corporation.

Along with House Speaker Lance Cargill, former Oklahoma governors George Nigh, David Boren and Frank Keating are serving as co-chairs of the 100 Ideas Initiative.

“I am honored to have these outstanding Oklahomans helping us find the best ideas from the best minds in Oklahoma as we seek citizen input from across the state,” said Cargill.

Executive Director Balkman said that 100 Ideas has partnered with the Oklahoma Community Institute, an organization focused on improving community planning and leadership and that 100 Ideas will share information about the project’s partners on a quarterly basis, beginning in the spring. Later this year, the advisory board will help review the ideas to select the best 100, to be published in a book.

IdeaRaisers are planned for February 13 in Tulsa at the Greenwood Cultural Center and February 16 in Tahlequah. In addition, future IdeaRaisers will address aviation, classroom education, public safety and transportation.

The first IdeaRaiser, held January 30 in Oklahoma City, attracted over 100 participants offering ideas on improving bioscience research and technology in Oklahoma.

For more information about 100 Ideas, visit the 100 Ideas web site online at www.100ideasok.org

Share |

First '100 Ideas' Reported By Cargill

The first 100 ideas have been logged, a majority of them coming through the new interactive website which was introduced one week ago by House Speaker Lance Cargill.

The site, 100ideasok.org, was launched as part of a statewide initiative to find the best 100 ideas for Oklahoma’s second century.

"The 100 Ideas Initiative has picked up real momentum over the past week, and I've been pleased with the level of participation so far," said Cargill, who officially unveiled the project on Jan. 10. "This first milestone shows that Oklahomans are excited about sharing their good ideas for our state's future."

Former Rep. Thad Balkman, executive director of the initiative, said he was excited to have reached the first milestone. “This is just the beginning of the 100 Ideas Initiative,” said Balkman. “We look forward to receiving the next 100 ideas and the next 1,000.”

Balkman said the ideas, submitted primarily through the website, www.100ideasok.org, came flowing in through e-mail, mail and through online submissions. “People from Elmore City to Henryetta to Tulsa submitted ideas,” said Balkman.

Submitted ideas ranged from eliminating the state sales tax on groceries to creating incentives for biofuels and biofuel research.

In addition to accepting submissions via mail, e-mail and online, the project will host “IdeaRaisers” across the state which will invite the public to attend, share and discuss varying ideas.

At the end of the year, 100 Ideas will publish a book with the best 100 ideas gathered from IdeaRaisers and the website. Balkman said an announcement detailing the specifics of the first two IdeaRaisers, scheduled to be held in Oklahoma City and Tulsa, will be released later in the week.

Share |

Balkman To Head 100 Ideas Initiative

Former State Rep. Thad Balkman of Norman will be named tomorrow as executive director of House Speaker Lance Cargill's "100 Ideas Initiative," The McCarville Report Online has been told.

Cargill sent this email today: "To All Members of the Oklahoma House: You are invited to attend a press conference that Speaker Lance Cargill will be holding this Wednesday, Jan. 10, to announce details of the 100 Ideas Initiative, a plan to spark innovation for Oklahoma's second century. Here are the details of the press conference: WHEN: Wednesday, Jan. 10, at 10:30 a.m. WHERE: Oklahoma History Center auditorium, located at 2401 N. Laird Avenue (or the northeast corner of N.E. 23rd and Lincoln Blvd) in Oklahoma City, across the street from the State Capitol STORY AT A GLANCE: Speaker Cargill will announce details of the 100 Ideas Initiative, an effort to involve all Oklahomans in the process of sparking improvement and innovation in their state as it enters its second century. Details will include an interactive Web site where citizens can directly submit their ideas for a better Oklahoma, as well as the announcement of an advisory board for the 100 Ideas Initiative. Speaker Cargill welcomes your participation in this initiative, and we hope you will be able to attend the press conference Wednesday."

Share |

Balkman Joins Romney Campaign

Former State Rep. Thad Balkman, Norman Republican, has joined the presidential exploratory campaign of former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney (pictured).

Balkman sent emails to some Republicans announcing his involvement and urging recipients to join him in supporting Romney, who announced this week the formation of his committee.

Share |