Message to Oklahoma County Democratic Party Colleagues from Oklahoma County Democratic Party Secretary Dr. Tom Guild

At a recent forum on children’s issues I heard first hand, as they stood next to each other, the two exceptional Democratic candidates for governor in 2010, eloquently field questions. The stakes are so high that we must pull together and do whatever we can to enthusiastically support the candidate who survives the nominating process and get that outstanding individual elected in November of 2010.

We will have Democratic incumbents for labor commissioner and insurance commissioner and open seats with accomplished Democrats running for attorney general and lieutenant governor, too. Hopefully strong Democratic candidates will emerge for state treasurer (if our incumbent decides not to run again) and corporation commissioner, along with good candidates for state auditor and state superintendent who will need our help to win. This means that we will field a strong team of statewide candidates that we can support with great passion and pride.

We have good Democrats who currently hold offices at the Oklahoma County Courthouse and several vulnerable Republicans, too. We need to go full tilt to preserve the county offices that are currently in Democratic hands and add to our numbers. We have several incumbent Democratic legislators and several strong Democratic challengers in state legislative races where Republicans currently hold seats. With a strong and unified effort we can add to our numbers in the Oklahoma County legislative delegation.

We hope that an accomplished and serious Democratic candidate, who can attract adequate funding, will emerge to run for Congress in the Fifth District. This is an open seat that we can win with the right candidate, if everything breaks our way.

To elect as many of these dedicated and principled Democrats as possible we need to—
• Strengthen our party organization in Oklahoma County by filling as many of our precinct officer vacancies as possible and raise as much money for the county party and individuals candidates as we can. We need to continue to work conscientiously on the various county party committees which will help get us ready for the 2010 election cycle and pull together as a team with everyone pulling on the same rope.
• Use our energies to oppose Republican policies, candidates and rhetoric whenever and wherever possible. Press conferences, letters to the editor, phone calls, e-mails, knocking on doors and direct mail can all move Oklahoma County in our direction.
• Allow for diversity of approaches and ideas in the county party as we move forward. We also have to have the courage to change. We can’t simply do everything the same way it has been done without looking at alternatives with an open mind. We have many challenges facing the county party and can gain strength in 2010 through unity.

The future of Oklahoma County and Oklahoma hangs in the balance. We can seize available opportunities if we are smart enough, disciplined enough and united to meet the challenges facing us. Let’s wake up every day and ask what we can do to further the cause, promote our principles and elect more Democrats to office in our county and state. We owe it to ourselves and we owe it to our fellow citizens to give it our best.

To Unity & Victory in 2010!

-Dr. Tom Guild