Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Will Rogers County follow Delaware County?


Rogers County commissioners are awaiting legal counsel on how to proceed in paying a $22 million judgement to Materials Services Inc.


Commissioners contracted with a Tulsa law firm as well as a local firm to study and give them recommendations on what will be the best course of action.


Should it be increase property taxes or sales taxes to generate the $22 million?


Following a vote in Delaware County on Tuesday, commissioners might have some idea how they might proceed.




Delaware County commissioners found them in similar predicament after having to deal with a $13 million judgement against their sheriff's department. They presented voters with an increase sales tax dedicated to repay the judgment.


Vote approved the increase in sales tax for a 17-year period over a 3-year property tax.


More than 7,000 people voted for the increase with only 515 against it.


In Delaware County, residents organized meetings throughout the past year to discuss ways to pay the settlement.  The sales tax increase will go into effect in July.


So, will Rogers County commissioners seek the public's feedback?  Or will they let the Tulsa law firm decide for them.


Commissioners need to hear from Rogers County residents as how to proceed. 


Mike Helm, Dan DeLozier and Kirt Thacker need to hear from county residents. At least that is who put them in office, not a Tulsa law firm.


Isn't time Rogers County residents decided how the bungled lawsuit with Material Services repaid. Since the former Rogers County officials can't be held responsible for the $22 million, but if commissioners do not include residents in the decision making process, Helm, DeLozier and Thacker will be held responsible when it come election time, maybe even sooner.

Tuesday, April 3, 2012

Hey, Oklahoma House members - pass SB 327, make sheriff elections non-partisan

Politics has no place in law and order. At least it shouldn't be a factor when an Oklahoma sheriff deputy makes an arrest.
An Oklahoma Senate bill being considered by the House could change the law enforcement landscape as we have known it. If the House passes SB 327, all sheriff races in Oklahoma's 77 counties would become non-partisan. No Republican candidates. No Democratic candidates.
I know my Republican buddies and Democrat foes will be screaming in opposition to this bill, but it take politics out of the Sheriff's office and that is a great thing.
We do not need Sheriffs and Deputies make traffic stops based on political party affiliation. We need a fair, object and letter of the law approach, which is best served by a non-partisan election.
So, I am calling on Marty Quinn, Chuck Hoskin, Ben Sherrer and David Derby to help pass SB 327 and make Oklahoma Sheriff's elections non-partisan.
It is the right thing to do!