Oklahoma County Democrats Featured Content

Jon Robinson is no longer running for the position of State Treasurer

Pam Paul pam@okcountydemocrats.org — Sun, 04 Apr 2010 09:14:30 PST

Jon Robinson is no longer running for the position of State Treasurer.

Here is his announcement.

April 2, 2010

For the past three months, I have campaigned to be elected State Treasurer of Oklahoma. It has been a great experience and I must say I have a whole new respect for politicians and candidates.

As rewarding as the experience has been, I have not been able to earn the kind of support necessary to win. So my family, friends, and campaign staff all agree that it is the right time to put this effort behind and go on.

Thanks so much,

Jon Robinson

What's Ahead For US in 2010?

Pam Paul pam@okcountydemocrats.org — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 18:42:50 PST

Everything!

There is no doubt that 2010 is going to be packed with ways to Get Involved as we continue to offer Real Solutions for Our Fellow Oklahomans and we strive for Victory in November.

As we proceed into the new year we will continue our work building an organized, unified & electrified county party but we need each and every one of you to help. We can only reach "the masses" if we are "the masses" and it is going to take every Democrat possible to make this happen.

We know there is a lot to do and we understand the obstacles, but we will succeed by using our diversity, our talents and our energy to forge our way to meeting our expectations.

How can you help us solidify our party, help build winning campaigns & grow our organizing teams?

Join us on Tuesday, January 12 at 6:00pm at 4100 N Lincoln Blvd, OKC, to hear County Party reports, Committee reports, ideas/plans for our future and to begin working on or with the following:

OKC Martin Luther King JR Parade on January 18, 2010. We need walkers, and we need folks to invite walkers.

Medallion Dinner tasks for the upcoming event that is scheduled on 02/20/2010.

Work with our already formed Outreach, Education & Hospitality/Fundraising teams, or become a member of our upcoming Communications Team. Committee meetings meet at least once monthly and task work is ongoing.

If you cannot make the meeting on January 12, but wish to help you can contact the following:

MLK Parade: Bill, bill_sue_clifford@yahoo.com

Medallion Dinner: Marguerite, mleon82@msn.com

Outreach Committee: Ladonna, lhunt1234@att.net

Education Committee: Pam, pampaul@cox.net

Communications Committee: for now- Pam, pampaul@cox.net

We also want to remind you that there is no Luncheon this Friday, 01/08/2010. We will resume our speaker series on 01/15 with Representative Richard Morrissette as our speaker. Be sure to join us at noon at the Boulevard Cafeteria, 525 NW 11^th ST, OKC.

We have had many folks connect with us via the web site contact forms, if you have done so but have not received a proper response please let us know by hitting reply to this email.

We thank you for your support!

Oklahoma County Democrats

‘Deeds of Giving are the Foundation of the Democratic Party”

OK County Democrats Want Meal Money Restored for Seniors

Pam Paul pam@okcountydemocrats.org — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 19:28:31 PST

At 3:00 pm today, October 29th, leaders of the Oklahoma County Democratic Party will hold a press conference in the State Capitol 4th floor Press Room regarding budget cuts made to senior nutrition programs in Oklahoma.

Speakers will include Al Lindley, Chair of the Oklahoma County Democratic Party, Don Hudman, Executive Director of Areawide Aging Agency and Tom Guild, Oklahoma County Democratic Party Secretary. Karen Thompson, Director of the Harrah Senior Center, will accompany a group of seniors from that site who feel strongly about supporting the press event this afternoon.

"This program is vitally important for those who attend the meal site and almost even more so to those who cannot. A hot meal and human contact once a day is so helpful to those who cannot get out. Over the years we have found homebound seniors in need of emergency help numerous times. The Harrah Center alone served 990 meals at the site and 395 hot homebound meals in September," stated Thompson, who has worked for the Oklahoma County Senior Nutrition Program (OCSNP) for nearly 14 years.

Because of a drop in state revenue, the state Department of Human Services implemented a budget cut to nutrition programs earlier in July. In late September, DHS announced a second budget cut of 30% or $7.4 million for the nutrition programs statewide. That money is used by area agencies on aging across the state to pay for senior nutrition centers and home-delivered meals.

For Immediate Release:

Thursday, October 29, 2009 Press Conference

Contact: Rep. Al Lindley - Chair, OK County Democratic Party 405-473-2128

Dr. Tom Guild - Sec, OK County Democratic Party 405-359-7920

Al Lindley, Oklahoma County Democratic Party Chair stated “During the 12 years I represented House District 93 in the Oklahoma House of Representatives I do not recall allowing any of Oklahoma's citizens to go hungry for any reason. Even in the toughest of budget times money was found within the DHS budget to guarantee that no senior citizen goes without food. DHS must search their budget for funds for remodeling and construction projects. State funds for nutrition programs that feed our seniors are matched by federal funds. It's simple, DHS management ought to look for the needed funds within the existing budget.”

"It's disastrous," said Don Hudman, Executive Director of the Areawide Aging Agency. "The situation has been caused by the poor economy and rising costs, although the actual cost to taxpayers is less than $5."

Other elected officials are encouraging Gov. Brad Henry and legislative leaders to return to the Capitol for a special session and look for other possible cuts to less vital programs.

“In my opinion, of all the government services we provide, one of the most vital is that which care for our elderly in the twilight of their life. Nutrition centers and their home-delivery services are invaluable to our most vulnerable seniors. They now face the very real prospect of going hungry as we approach the winter months,“ stated House MInority Leader Danny Morgan.

“The Democratic Party has a rich history of working to protect the most vulnerable among us. Seniors, particularly seniors who are on fixed incomes and struggling to survive, are virtually politically powerless. If there is any group that should be protected from budget cuts it is seniors who are hungry and dependent on government programs to maintain proper nutrition and health. We should use any available revenue source to restore the millions of dollars recently cut from the senior nutrition program,” stated Tom Guild Oklahoma County Democratic Party Secretary.

"To say what has happened is foolish is a huge and gross understatement," Hudman said. "It is my belief that the Legislature knew the situation and what it was going to be like and chose, in spite of that, to make tax cuts, which only hurt the populations we serve.”

“In a country as wealthy as ours, seniors should not go hungry when we have the resources to properly provide for their basic needs,” Guild said.

Without a special session, or intervention from Gov. Henry, the legislature cannot resolve this issue until it is brought back into the session in February of 2010.

Oklahoma County Democrats Support Funding Senior Nutrition Programs

Pam Paul pam@okcountydemocrats.org — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 09:16:45 PST

Leaders of the Oklahoma County Democratic Party will hold a press conference on Thursday, October 29th, at the State Capitol to discuss the recent budget cuts made to the senior nutrition programs in Oklahoma. The event will begin at 3:00p in the 4th Floor Press Room, #432B.

Speakers will include Al Lindley, Chair of the Oklahoma County Democratic Party and Tom Guild, Secretary of the Oklahoma County Democratic Party.

Because of a drop in state revenue, the state Department of Human Services implemented a budget cut to nutrition programs earlier in July. In late September, DHS announced a second budget cut of 30 percent or $7.4 million for the nutrition programs statewide. That money is used by area agencies on aging across the state to pay for senior nutrition centers and home-delivered meals.

Other elected officials including State Sen. Kenneth Corn (D-Poteau), State Rep. Neil Brannon (D-Arkoma) and Glen “Bud” Smithson (D-Sallisaw) are encouraging Gov. Brad Henry and legislative leaders to return to the Capitol for a special session and look for other possible cuts to less vital programs in the state budget.

“Just a few years ago we enacted the largest tax cuts in Oklahoma history, which provided a windfall for those who needed it least and hampered the state's ability to provide our most basic public services,” said Floor Leader Mike Brown (D-Tahlequah).

Last week, State Senator Patrick Anderson (R-Enid) sent Gov. Henry a letter asking to use some of the governor's $105 million in discretionary funds to help replace cuts in funding to the nutrition programs. But the discretionary funds are already promised to other services in the state, according to Paul Sund, communications director for Henry.

“In a country as wealthy as ours, seniors should not go hungry when we have the resources to properly provide for their basic needs,” Guild said.

Without a special session, or intervention from Gov. Henry, the legislature cannot resolve this issue until it is brought back into the session in February of 2010.

Unity & Victory in 2010

Pam Paul pam@okcountydemocrats.org — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 21:38:17 PST

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