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Why Are You Running? Oklahoma Candidates Say Why They’re in the Race – Oklahoma Watch

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Editor’s notice: If you’re a candidate not talked about right here and need to discuss why you might be working this yr, you may attain out to Oklahoma Watch reporter Trevor Brown at tbrown@oklahomawatch.org to arrange an interview. Solutions are deliberate to be included in a digital voters’ information that might be up to date all year long. 

Tons of of candidates formally joined Oklahoma’s 2022 marketing campaign season by formally submitting with the state over final week’s three-day submitting interval. 

The candidates will now start making the case to voters why they need to be elected later this yr. Oklahoma Watch talked with some candidates as they filed their paperwork to see why they need to maintain statewide, congressional, legislative or judicial workplaces. 

Arturo Alonso

Arturo Alonso 

Operating for: State Home District 89 (South Oklahoma Metropolis)

Get together: Democrat

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Why are they working: “My coronary heart is in my neighborhood. I grew up in District 89 and hope to herald a brand new perspective. I’m not a standard politician. I’m really an engineer and I wish to drawback clear up and construct issues. I do know that our state and our neighborhood face plenty of issues and I hope to make use of my mindset and the folks and connections I’m making to actually make a change.” 

Nick Archer

Nick Archer

Operating for: State Home District 55 (Elk Metropolis, Sayre, Cheyenne) 

Get together: Republican

Why they’re working: “I’ve been the mayor of Elk Metropolis for the final two phrases and District 55 has an open seat this yr, so it felt like the proper time to take that step. I feel rural well being care is necessary, particularly to our smaller communities in western Oklahoma. And the Second Modification. I’m a firearms producer, so I all the time shield our Second Modification.” 

Michelle Lee Bodine-Keely

Michelle Lee Bodine-Keely

Operating for: District Decide, District 14, Workplace 5

Get together: Non-partisan workplace

Why they’re working: “I’ve been a public servant my complete life. I used to be lucky sufficient to have been appointed to this place, and I simply really feel like I’ve a job to do. There are lots of people in jail who have to be tried they usually’re simply ready for his or her trial. I feel I’ve the judicial expertise and temperament to get to them.”

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April Brown

April Brown

Operating for: State Home District 48 (Ardmore, Davis, Healdton)

Get together: Republican

Why they’re working: “I’m a freedom fighter, an Military veteran and I’ve seen our rights been infringed the final two years. I’ve requested our state representatives to step up and shield us and sadly they haven’t. As a constitutional conservative and an Military veteran I do know what it means to guard the Structure.”

Brady Butler 

Brady Butler 

Operating for: State Senate District 26 (Watonga, Anadarko, Sayre)

Get together: Republican 

Why they’re working: “Our governments are basically damaged. They not signify the folks properly. We’re killing infants at 5,000 per yr. A Republican authorities is one the place the folks maintain supreme energy, and I don’t suppose you would persuade 10% of the state’s inhabitants that they maintain energy in state authorities. I’d wish to see good illustration and biblical Christian values carried out in our state authorities and push again in opposition to the D.C. overreach.” 

Abby Money

Abby Money

Operating for: Affiliate District Decide, Beaver County 

Get together: Non-partisan workplace

Why they’re working: “It’s been over three many years since there was a judicial choice or race in our county. We’ve all the time had an appointed choose. I simply consider that proper now there’s a swelling of those who need to take again our democracy and really forged votes for the those who signify them. So I’ve chosen to run for choose to provide folks an opportunity to have a selection.” 

Josh Cantrell

Josh Cantrell

Operating for: State Home District 49 (Marietta, Madill, Thackerville)

Get together: Republican

Why they’re working: “Our present consultant (Tommy Hardin) is term-limited out. He’s been nice. We’re a rural space and I need to make sure that it stays rural. I need rural folks to be represented with somebody who already is aware of the difficulty folks have. I’m pro-life, large Second Modification, transportation and state rights. These are the massive 4 points for me.” 

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Heather Coyle

Heather Coyle

Operating for: District Decide, District 7, Workplace 8 (Oklahoma County)

Get together: Non-partisan workplace

Why they’re working: “I benefit from the work and being on the bench. I feel it’s so necessary to deal with everybody with respect and that’s how I conduct enterprise in my courtroom.”

Jo Glenn

Jo Glenn

Operating for: U.S. Senate 

Get together: Democrat

Why they’re working: “We have to shield democracy on this nation. They’re carving it away and slicing it out with voter suppression. I watched and I hoped the courts would maintain it and Congress would maintain it, however they haven’t. I’m working in opposition to Sen. (James) Lankford as a result of he proved on January 6, 2021, that he was part of the group that wished to overthrow the federal government.” 

Ellyn Hefner

Ellyn Hefner

Operating for: State Home District 87 (Oklahoma Metropolis) 

Get together: Democrat 

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Why they’re working: “I’m a longtime advocate for adopting children with disabilities. There’s an understanding I’ve about lack of entry to high quality psychological well being care. As an advocate, I perceive the budgeting course of. Why do we’ve got so many individuals we pay salaries for however just a few folks resolve our price range? Public faculties have been necessary to my youngster, and we have to strengthen public faculties.” 

Matthew D. Huggans

Matthew D. Huggans

Operating for: State Home District 42 (Lindsay, Washington, Maysville)

Get together: Republican

Why they’re running: “The political local weather these days is the place folks discuss quite a bit however don’t do quite a bit, and I simply had sufficient of it. Abortion must utterly been gone. My second large difficulty is election integrity. I’m simply mad about it.” 

Connie Johnson

Connie Johnson

Operating for: Governor

Get together: Democrat

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Why are they working: “I’m working to offer the advantage of my over 40 years of expertise within the political, legislative course of. And to provide management within the areas that make the distinction in all of Oklahomans lives resembling schooling and higher-ed, jobs, infrastructure, well being — the necessity for psychological well being and competent supply methods — and the necessity for the reform of our justice system. Oklahoma is a personal jail industrial advanced and we can’t maintain that stage of funding by criminalizing behaviors which might be non-violent. And finally (I’m working) as an advocate for all the folks within the disparate teams: The veterans, folks with disabilities, the unhoused, folks coping with immigration points, girls — particularly girls within the reproductive ages.”

Gregory Johnson

Gregory Johnson

Operating for: Affiliate District Decide (Marshall County)

Get together: Non-partisan workplace

Why they’re working: “I used to be appointed by Gov. (Mary) Fallin in 2011. I ran in 2014, and once more in 2018 and ended up successful an uncontested race in 2018. So, I’m hoping I win uncontested this yr. It will in all probability be the final time earlier than I retire.” 

Jeff McCommas

Jeff McCommas

Operating for: State Senate District 28 (Lincoln, Pottawatomie and Seminole counties)

Get together: Republican

Why they’re working: “I need to work on agriculture, schooling and a few tax reform. We have to revitalize our essential streets and produce rural communities again to life.”

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Jamey Mullin

Jamey Mullin

Operating for: State Senate District 28 (Lincoln, Pottawatomie, Logan, Oklahoma, Seminole counties)

Get together: Republican

Why they’re working: “I feel (enterprise) has been overregulated, which has been a giant difficulty. Help for our officers is a giant factor and I’m actually troubled by the shortage of help, even right here in Oklahoma.” 

Gunner Ocskai

Gunner Ocskai

Operating for: State Home District 63 (South Lawton, Cache, Frederick)

Get together: Libertarian 

Why they’re working: “I really feel like the present establishment is untenable. That goes for mainly any political get together. My soul doesn’t need to be a hypocrite. In the end, if I have been to complain about what’s incorrect with my space of society and never do something about it then I’d be a hypocrite. I felt morally compelled to behave.”

Timothy Olsen 

Timothy Olsen 

Operating for: District Decide, District 22 (Hughes, Pontotoc and Seminole counties)

Get together: Non-partisan workplace

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Why they’re working: “I would like yet another time period to retire. I’ve been at it for 16 years.”

Patrick Pickerill

Patrick Pickerill

Operating for: Affiliate District Decide (Pawnee County)

Get together: Non-partisan workplace

Why they’re working: “The work will not be carried out in Pawnee County. We haven’t gotten our drug court docket all the way in which up and we simply began neighborhood sentencing, so I need to see that during. We’ve plenty of packages, together with placing prisoners to work inside and out of doors the jail so taxpayers can get their cash’s value.”

James Siderias 

James Siderias 

Operating for: District Decide, District 7 Workplace 14 (Oklahoma County)

Get together: Non-partisan workplace

Why are they working: “It’s actually necessary that the general public believes that once they seem earlier than a choose, who’s oftentimes the final line of protection for them, that they’re getting any individual that’s neutral, that’s truthful, that’s skilled, and that’s conscious of the problems. I’m working for my seat to ensure that impartiality and equity are the mainstays in courts.” 

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Mark Sherwood

Mark Sherwood

Operating for: Governor 

Get together: Republican

Why are they working: “I regarded on the standing of the state and thought we have to make a change. There’s a lack of accountability from the highest and I feel our constitutional rights have been violated. I feel being a non-politician is strictly what we’d like. “

Cindy Truong 

Cindy Truong 

Operating for: District Decide, District 7, Workplace 7 (Oklahoma County) 

Get together: Non-partisan workplace

Why are they working: “As a result of I need to proceed to do the job that I really like a lot. And since I need to serve the folks of Oklahoma County.”

Tanya Wilson

Tanya Wilson

Operating for: District Decide, Tulsa County (District 14, Workplace 12)

Get together: Non-partisan workplace

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Why they’re working: “I’m presently a particular choose in Tulsa County. I get pleasure from serving my neighborhood and the constituents of Tulsa County, and I need to proceed to do this work as a district choose.” 

Max Wolfley

Max Wolfley

Operating for: State Home District 95, (Oklahoma Metropolis/Midwest Metropolis) 

Get together: Republican

Why they’re working: “It’s been an honor serving the Mid-Del/Tinker (Air Drive Base) space, and I really feel like there’s nonetheless quite a bit we have to get carried out to enhance schooling and well being care and to take care of the results of plenty of dangerous insurance policies on the federal stage.” 

Tom Woods 

Tom Woods 

Operating for: State Senate District 4 (Sallisaw, Poteau, Vian)

Get together: Republican

Why they’re working: “My background is in small enterprise, working a feed retailer and a farm. What motivated me was to push folks to be higher financially educated in our faculties, to keep away from the pitfalls of very bad credit. In addition they want to know the facility of residence possession and saving for retirement.” 

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Trevor Brown has been an Oklahoma Watch reporter since 2016. He covers politics, elections, well being insurance policies and authorities accountability points. Name or textual content him at (630) 301-0589. Electronic mail him at tbrown@oklahomawatch.org. Observe him on Twitter at @tbrownokc

Paul Monies has been a reporter with Oklahoma Watch since 2017. He covers state companies and public well being. Name or textual content him at (571) 319-3289 or e-mail pmonies@oklahomawatch.org. Observe him on Twitter at @pmonies. 

Lionel Ramos is a Report for America corps member who covers race and fairness points for Oklahoma Watch. Contact him at (210) 416-3672 or lramos@oklahomawatch.org. Observe him on Twitter at @LionelRamos21

Keaton Ross is a Report for America corps member who covers jail situations and legal justice points for Oklahoma Watch. Contact him at (405) 831-9753 or Kross@Oklahomawatch.org. Observe him on Twitter at @_KeatonRoss

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Oklahoma

Local museum to celebrate Military Appreciation Day

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Local museum to celebrate Military Appreciation Day


OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) – Activities are in preparation for military service members and their families as the Oklahoma City Museum of Art (OKCMOA) in collaboration with the United Service Organizations (USO) kick off Military Appreciation Day on Friday, July 12.

This inaugural event is anticipated to provide a day where service members and their families can experience all the Museum has to offer free of charge.

“We’re very excited to collaborate with the USO on this endeavor,” said OKCMOA President and CEO Michael Anderson, PhD. “Our military service members and their families are an important part of our community, and it’s an honor to share the Museum with them in this way.”

The scheduled programming will be as follows:

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Painting Classes 

10:30 am-12 pm and 2-3:30 pm | Exclusive to military service members and their adult guests 

Participate in a painting class led by an OKCMOA teaching artist. Limited to 20 registrants per session. Questions? Email usooklahoma@uso.org 

Card-Making Station 

11 am-4 pm | Open to the public 

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As part of our commitment to fostering a sense of community, visitors to the Museum will have the meaningful opportunity to create “thank you for your service” cards. These heartfelt messages will be sent to our brave service members who are deployed overseas, allowing our visitors to directly contribute to their well-being and show their support.  

Drop-In Gallery Tours 

11 am, 1 pm, 2 pm, and 3 pm | Exclusive to military service members and their families 

Participate in a guided tour of OKCMOA’s world-famous Chihuly glass collection. Offered at the top of the hour at 11 am, 1 pm, 2 pm, and 3 pm. No registration required.  

Oath of Service Ceremony 

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12 pm | Open to the public 

In coordination with the USO, Military Entrance Processing Stations (MEPS), and Recruiting Command, OKCMOA will host an Oath of Service ceremony in front of the Museum at Carolyn Hill Park. Immediately following the ceremony, new recruits and their families will be invited to stay for an informal lunch in the Museum.  

Military Kids Art Exhibition  

On View July 12-14 | Open to the public 

OKCMOA invites all participants in the annual USO Craft Camp to visit the Museum to see their art on display. OKCMOA is pleased to host a punch and cookies reception for the artists and their families. (Reception time to be announced.) 

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For more information, please visit okcmoa.com or contact OKCMOA’s Head of Education Bryon Chambers at bchambers@okcmoa.com. 



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Oklahoma to execute Richard Rojem Jr. for murder of ex-stepdaughter. What to know.

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Oklahoma to execute Richard Rojem Jr. for murder of ex-stepdaughter. What to know.



Rojem was convicted in 1985 of kidnapping, raping and murdering his former stepdaughter, 7-year-old Layla Cummings. His execution Thursday follows that of Ramiro Gonzales in Texas on Wednesday

Richard Rojem Jr. is set to be executed by lethal injection in Oklahoma on Thursday for the rape and murder of his 7-year-old former stepdaughter. If it goes forward, the execution will be the nation’s second in as many days.

Rojem, 66, was convicted in 1985 of raping and stabbing 7-year-old Layla Dawn Cummings to death. Her brutalized body was left in a field and found by a farmer; she was still wearing her mom’s nightgown.

“Everything she might have been was stolen from her one horrific night,” Layla’s mother, Mindy Cummings, told the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board this month. “She never got to be more than the precious 7-year-old that she was. And so she remains in our hearts − forever 7.”

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Rojem has always maintained his innocence, telling the board on June 17: “I did not kidnap Layla. I did not rape Layla. And I did not murder Layla.”

The board rejected his clemency request. His execution will be the state’s second of the year and the nation’s ninth.

Here’s what we know ahead of the execution.

What is Richard Rojem convicted of?

Layla was abducted from an apartment in Elk City, Oklahoma, where she lived with her mother and 9-year-old brother, on July 6, 1984, Oklahoma state court documents say. The children’s mother and Rojem’s ex-wife, Mindy Cummings, had left them alone to work a late shift at a local fast-food restaurant.

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The child’s body was found the next morning in a field 15 miles from her home by a farm in Burns Flat. the appellate court records say.

Rojem and Mindy Cummings had only been divorced for two months before Layla’s murder. The two met while Rojem was serving time in a Michigan prison for the rape of two teenage girls; Cummings was the sister of Rojem’s cellmate, according to court records.

The then-26-year-old Rojem knew Cummings’ work schedule and that the lock to her apartment door was broken, according to the court filings.

Rojem was found guilty on May 31, 1985 and sentenced to death.

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Has Richard Rojem appealed?

Rojem appealed his death sentence multiple times until he exhausted his attempts in 2017, Oklahoma court records show. He did win two appeals as his initial and second death sentences were thrown out in 2001 and 2006 due to problems with the jury in both instances.

A jury sentenced him to death again in 2007, and he did not win anymore appeals afterward.

Rojem’s final attempt to remain on death row for the rest of his life was on June 17 during a clemency hearing. During the hearing, Rojem maintained that he did not murder Layla and he apologized for his past, which included the rape of two teenage girls.

“I wasn’t a good human being for the first part of my life, and I don’t deny that,” a handcuffed Rojem said during the hearing. “But I went to prison. I learned my lesson and I left all that behind.”

The Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board denied Rojem clemency.

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When will Richard Rojem be executed?

Rojem is scheduled to be executed at 10 a.m. CT at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary in McAlester, 90 miles south of Tulsa.

Oklahoma executions are scheduled 90 days apart due to the “emotional and mental trauma on correctional staff,” Attorney General Gentner Drummond said in a May news release. The execution interval was previously 60 days, he added.

How will Richard Rojem be executed?

Rojem will be executed with a three-drug lethal injection containing midazolam, vecuronium bromide and potassium chloride, according to Oklahoma execution protocols.

Midazolam is a sedative that is normally administered to help patients feel relaxed before surgery, vecuronium bromide is peripherally used as part of general anesthesia and potassium chloride is a medication for low blood potassium. The combination of the drugs the prison is using is fatal.

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Who will witness the execution?

The Oklahoma Attorney General’s Office told USA TODAY that the “witness list is confidential for security reasons.”

While unclear who will be in the execution room, the Oklahoma State Penitentiary at McAlester does provide a place to view for people 18 or older who are immediate family of any deceased victim of the defendant, according to state statutes.

Rojem’s attorney, Jack Fisher, told USA TODAY that he would be attending his client’s execution on Thursday.

Among the select members of the news media who will witness the execution is reporter Nolan Clay of The Oklahoman, part of the USA TODAY Network.

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What will be Richard Rojem’s final meal?

According to the Oklahoma Department of Corrections, Rojem’s final meal will consist of:

  • A small Little Caeser’s pizza – double cheese/double pepperoni
  • Eight salt packets
  • Eight crushed red pepper packets.
  • Vernors Ginger Ale, bottled.
  • Four ounces of vanilla ice cream cups



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OSU Recruiting: Oklahoma State Gets Commitment From JUCO Transfer LB Chris Robinson

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OSU Recruiting: Oklahoma State Gets Commitment From JUCO Transfer LB Chris Robinson


On Wednesday, Kilgore College (TX) linebacker Chris Robinson announced his commitment to Oklahoma State.

Robinson’s pledge comes 16 days after the Rangers’ standout took a visit to Stillwater and picked up an offer from Bryan Nardo and company. Prior to his trip to Stillwater, Robinson visited the Cougars and new head coach Willie Fritz.

After seeing OSU, however, the the Cowboys were able to get a commitment from Robinson on Wednesday.

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Listed at 6-foot-1 and 210 pounds, Robinson played one season at Kilgore College, tallying 38 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss and two sacks in 11 games, helping lead the Rangers to a 9-2 record and a Southwest Junior College Football Conference championship.

Robinson’s efforts resulted in the star freshman earning offers from Missouri State, Eastern Kentucky, Texas Tech, New Mexico, Houston and Oklahoma State.

Before attending Kilgore College, Robinson played at Harker Heights (TX), a high school 55 miles southwest of Waco. Harker Heights is also just five miles from Killeen, TX, the home of Cowboys’ 2025 tight end commit Isaiah Butler-Tanner, who commented on Robinson’s pledge.

For Joe Bob Clements, the addition of Robinson gives the Pokes’ linebacker room great depth heading into the 2024 season. With talented linebacker duo Nick Martin and Collin Oliver both back in Stillwater after impressive performances in 2023, inserting Robinson into the rotation will only make the position group better.

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In addition to Robinson, Oklahoma State also adds 3-star Melissa (TX) linebacker Gunnar Wilson to its roster ahead of the 2024 season.

Want to join the discussion? Like AllPokes on Facebook and follow us on Twitter to stay up to date on all the latest Cowboys news. You can also meet the team behind the coverage.





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