Oklahoma Lesbian and Gay Political Caucus

Update: E=Elected

October, 2008 – Dear Friends of Human Rights:

Vote Tuesday, November 4 - GENERAL ELECTION for U.S. Congress, Statewide, State Legislature, County offices, and President: Polls are open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at your neighborhood polling place that day. You may instead vote absentee in-person at your county's Election Board on Friday (October 31, 8 a.m.-6 p.m.), Saturday (November 1, 8 a.m.-1 p.m.), and Monday (November 3, 8 a.m.-6 p.m.). You may vote early for convenience; no reason is required. You don't need your Voter Registration Card.

Use the following information to help you make up your mind how to vote. You may take this sheet into the polls. Only the districts (Dist.) for your voting precinct will be on your ballot.

Every opposed candidate for U.S. Senate and Congress, statewide office, state legislature, and county offices in the large counties was sent a survey with eleven questions relating to gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, other minority, and women's concerns, including employment, marriage, and HIV. Each response was scored +2 or -2, and bonus points were given for additional comments. Those candidates best on our issues scored +14 or higher; the worst –14 or lower.

Some candidates are listed as NR, for No Response to the survey. We also know the public records and statements of some candidates who did not respond. They are rated NR+ (favorable), NR++ (very favorable), NR– (unfavorable), or NR–– (very unfavorable, going out of their way to make life difficult).

President & Vice-President: National organizations such as Human Rights Campaign and Stonewall Democrats are supporting Senators Barack Obama and Joe Biden, who publicly support equal employment opportunities and civil unions. They are not for gay marriage, but oppose amending the U.S. Constitution; Senator McCain is also against the Constitution change but campaigned for a ban in his home state. Log Cabin Republicans have endorsed Sen. McCain, “because of his inclusive record.” O.G.L.P.C. did not survey the candidates.

Candidate ratings: (D) = Democrat (R) = Republican (I) = Independent (no party)

PRESIDENTIAL (electors for)

PRESIDENT & VICE-PRESIDENT

E + Barack Obama & Joe Biden (D)

- John McCain & Sarah Palin (R)

CONGRESSIONAL OFFICERS

U S SENATOR (statewide)	U S REPRESENTATIVE (cont.)	U S REPRESENTATIVE (cont.)
NR+ Andrew Rice (D)	Dist. 2 (Muskogee, Hugo, Miami)	Dist. 4 (Norman, Lawton, Ardmore)
E NR-- Jim Inhofe (R)	E NR Dan Boren (D)	+27 Blake Cummings (D)
	NR Raymond J. Wickson (R)	E NR- Tom Cole (R)
U S REPRESENTATIVE	Dist. 3 (Stillwater, El Reno, Enid, Altus)	NR David E. Joyce (I)
Dist. 1 (Tulsa)	+22 Frankie Robbins (D)	Dist. 5 (OKC, Shawnee, Seminole)
NR Georgianna W. Oliver (D)	E NR Frank D. Lucas (R)	NR Steven L. Perry (D)
E NR John Sullivan (R)	NR Forrest Michael (I)	E NR- Mary Fallin (R)

STATE OFFICERS (statewide)

CORPORATION COMMISSIONER

Full term

NR Charles Gray (D)

E NR Jeff Cloud (R)

Short term

+24 Jim Roth (D)

E NR Dana Murphy (R)

LEGISLATIVE OFFICERS

STATE SENATOR

Dist. 5 (Hugo)

E NR Jerry Ellis (D)

NR Patrick K. Miller (R)

Dist. 7 (McAlister, Wilburton)

E NR Richard C. Lerblance (D)

NR Kenny Sherrill (R)

Dist. 15 (Norman OU, W & E)

NR Diane M. Drum (D)

E NR Jonathan Nichols (R)

Dist. 17 (Shawnee, Harrah)

E NR Charlie Laster (D)

NR Donald Rominger, Jr (R)

Dist. 21 (Stillwater, Guthrie E)

NR Bob Murphy (D)

E NR Jim Halligan (R)

Dist. 27 (Woodward, Guymon, Alva)

NR Bowdy E Peach (D)

E NR Bryce Marlatt (R)

Dist. 31 (Lawton E & S, Waurika)

NR Keith Erwin (D)

E NR Don Barrington (R)

Dist. 33 (Tulsa near S & E & W)

E NR Tom Adelson (D)

NR Gary A. Casey (R)

Dist. 37 (Tulsa SW, Sand Springs, Jenks)

NR Nancy C. Riley (D)

E NR- Dan Newberry (R)

Dist. 41 (Edmond, Guthrie S)

NR David Taylor (D)

E NR Clark Jolley (R)

Dist. 43 (Del City, Moore E)

NR David Boren (D)

E NR Jim Reynolds (R)

STATE REPRESENTATIVE

Dist. 1 (Miami)

E NR Dennis R. Bailey (D)

NR Rusty Farley (R)

Dist. 2 (Sallisaw)

E NR Glen Bud Smithson (D)

NR Lawrence J. Mann (R)

Dist. 5 (Grove)

NR Kelly Kerr (D)

E +9 Doug Cox (R)

Dist. 9 (Claremore)

NR Bill Snyder (D)

E NR Tad M. Jones (R)

Dist. 10 (Nowata, Bartlesville)

NR Eric Epperson (D)

E NR Steve Martin (R)

Dist. 13 (Muskogee W)

E NR Jerry McPeak (D)

NR Debbie Lienhart (R)

Dist. 14 (Muskogee E)

NR Eugene Blankenship (D)

E NR George Faught (R)

Dist. 23 (Tulsa E)

+21 Connie Dodson (D)

E NR Sue Tibbs (R)

Dist. 25 (Ada)

NR Gary Starns (D)

E NR Todd Thomsen (R)

Dist. 27 (Tecumseh)

+21 Cole Koszara (D)

E NR Shane Jett (R)

Dist. 28 (Seminole)

E NR Ryan Dean Kiesel (D)

NR Ronald G. Sheppard (R)

Dist. 30 (Sapulpa)

NR Joe Crowder (D)

E NR Mark E. McCullough (R)

STATE REPRESENTATIVE (cont.)

Dist. 31 (Guthrie)

NR Jennifer Sherrill (D)

E NR Jason W. Murphey (R)

Dist. 33 (Cushing, Lansing)

NR Mike Pierson (D)

E NR Lee R. Denney (R)

Dist. 34 (Stillwater)

E NR+ Cory T. Williams (D)

NR Aaron Carlson (R)

Dist. 35 (Pawnee, Perry)

NR Rodger Ensign (D)

E NR Rex Duncan (R)

Dist. 36 (Pawhuska)

NR Scott N. BigHorse (D)

E NR Eddie Fields (R)

Dist. 37 (Ponca City)

E NR Ken Luttrell (D)

NR Brent Colle (R)

Dist. 39 (Edmond W)

NR Graham Guhl (D)

E NR Marian Cooksey (R)

NR Richard Prawdzienski (I)

Dist. 40 (Enid)

NR Pierce Jones (D)

E NR Mike Jackson (R)

Dist. 41 (Enid to Yukon)

E NR John Enns (R)

NR Scott Cooper (I)

Dist. 42 (Pauls Valley, Purcell)

NR- Brad Perry (D)

E NR Lisa J. Billy (R)

Dist. 44 (Norman W)

E +22 Bill Nations (D)

NR Tod J. Barrett (R)

Dist. 45 (Norman E)

E +24 Wallace Collins (D)

NR Aaron Stiles (R)

Dist. 46 (Norman W)

NR Miranda Norman (D)

E NR Scott Martin (R)

Dist. 47 (Chickasha)

NR Harold Jackson (D)

E NR- Leslie Osborn (R)

Dist. 48 (Ardmore N)

NR John L. Moore (D)

E NR- Pat Ownbey (R)

Dist. 49 (Ardmore S, Madill)

E NR Samson R. Buck (D)

NR Sean Oliver (R)

Dist. 50 (Duncan)

NR Daisy Lawler (D)

E NR Dennis Johnson (R)

Dist. 51 (Waurika, Chickasha E)

NR Tommy Cosgrove (D)

E NR Corey Holland (R)

Dist. 52 (Altus)

NR Dan McMahan (D)

E NR Charles L. Ortega (R)

Dist. 53 (Moore SE)

+22 Troy Green (D)

E NR- Randy Terrill (R)

Dist. 57 (Clinton, Weatherford)

NR Perry Adams (D)

E NR Harold Wright (R)

Dist. 59 (Kingfisher, Vici)

+19 Donald Edward Russell (D)

E NR Mike Sanders (R)

Dist. 60 (Elk City, Arnett)

E NR Purcy D. Walker (D)

NR Dan Gambill (R)

STATE REPRESENTATIVE (cont.)

Dist. 61 (Guymon, Buffalo)

NR Jordan Shearer (D)

E NR Gus Blackwell (R)

Dist. 62 (Lawton W)

E NR Randy Warren (D)

NR T.W. Shannon (R)

Dist. 66 (Tulsa W)

E NR Lucky Lamons (D)

NR Jay K. Ramey (R)

Dist. 67 (Tulsa S)

NR Sebastian Lantos (D)

E NR Pam Peterson (R)

Dist. 71 (Tulsa near S)

NR George Bullock (D)

E NR Daniel S. Sullivan (R)

Dist. 72 (Tulsa near NE)

E NR+ Seneca Scott (D)

NR Lawrence Kirkpatrick (I)

Dist. 78 (Tulsa)

E +24 Jeannie McDaniel (D)

NR Jay Matlock (R)

Dist. 79 (Tulsa)

+20 Chad Hawkins (D)

E NR Weldon Watson (R)

Dist. 82 (OKC far NW)

+30 Jane Anderson (D)

E NR Guy Liebmann (R)

Dist. 83 (OKC far NW)

+24 Edward K Holzberger (D)

E NR+ Randy McDaniel (R)

Dist. 84 (Bethany, OKC W)

+40 Ron Marlett (D)

E NR-- Sally Kern (R)

Dist. 85 (OKC NW, Nichols Hills, 39th strip)

NR+ Bart Jay Robey (D)

E NR David Dank (R)

Dist. 87 (OKC NW)

NR+ Dana Orwig (D)

E NR- Jason Nelson (R)

Dist. 90 (OKC SW)

NR Linda James (D)

E NR Charles Key (R)

Dist. 93 (OKC S)

NR David Castillo (D)

E NR Mike Christian (R)

+30 Jack Cherry (I)

Dist. 94 (Del City)

E NR Scott Inman (D)

NR Kyle E. Coulter (R)

Dist. 95 (Midwest City)

+11 Michael A. Walker (D)

E NR Charlie Joyner (R)

Dist. 96 (Harrah, Edmond E)

+22 Dianne Hunter (D)

E NR Lewis H. Moore (R)

Dist. 97 (NE OKC)

E NR Mike Shelton (D)

NR Joe Lott (R)

Dist. 98 (Broken Arrow)

NR Greg Frederick (D)

E NR John Trebilcock (R)

Dist. 99 (NE & N OKC)

E NR+ Anastasia A. Pittman (D)

NR Willard Linzy (R)

Dist. 100 (OKC W)

NR James Baggett (D)

E NR Mike Thompson (R)

Dist. 101 (Midwest City)

NR Donnie Lewis (D)

E NR Gary Banz (R)

COUNTY OFFICERS

Canadian County (El Reno, Yukon)

Court Clerk

NR Sherry D. Murray (D)

E NR Marie Ramsey (R)

Cleveland County (Norman, Moore, far S OKC)

SHERIFF

NR Rick Adkins (D)

E NR Joe Lester (R)

Comanche County (Lawton, Fort Sill)

SHERIFF

E NR Kenny Stradley (D)

NR Jon Shepard (R)

Logan County (Guthrie, Langston):

County Clerk

NR Tanya M. Tucker (D)

E NR Troy L. Cole (R)

Sheriff

NR Randy Richardson (D)

E NR Jim Bauman (R)

NR Perry Patterson (I)

Commissioner Dist. 2 (Guthrie E, Langston)

NR Kevin Leach (D)

E NR Mike Pearson (R)

Oklahoma County (OKC, Edmond, MWC)

SHERIFF

E NR+ John Whetsel (D)

[see note] Jim Heitmeyer (R)

[Note: The Heitmeyer campaign returned a questionnaire that scored +24. Concerns have been raised that the answers did not represent the candidate. We are trying to reach the candidate himself for verification.]

Commissioner Dist. 2 (W&S OKC, Del City, Harrah)

+22 Jim Dickinson (D)

E NR Brian Maughan (R)

Payne County (Stillwater, Cushing):

SHERIFF

NR Noel Bagwell (D)

E NR R. B. Hauf (R)

Commissioner Dist. 2 (Stillwater)

E NR Gloria A. Hesser (D)

NR Rondal Ross Gamble (R)

Pottawatomie County (Shawnee, Tecumseh)

SHERIFF

E NR Mike Booth (D)

NR Jerry Farris (R)

Tulsa County (Tulsa, Broken Arrow)

Commissioner Dist. 2 (Tulsa SW & near E, Sand Springs)

E NR Karen Keith (D)

NR Sally Bell (R)

CITY OFFICERS

Oklahoma City (special election, non-partisan)

City Council Ward 6 (near W & SW)

E NR+ Meg Salyer

NR Clarence L. Warstler

JUDICIAL RETENTION: Not rated. Votes are on whether to keep those already in office.

STATE QUESTIONS (on back side of ballot): There are four questions, dealing with property taxes, hunting and fishing, and wineries. O.G.L.P.C. has not taken a position. (Election Board information)

WHY VOTE? Now is the time for us to fully exercise our citizenship with our vote.

The State Legislature creates the state laws that we are all required to follow. They decide if we could lose our job because of sexual orientation or identity (there's no protection now). They decide if we could be kicked out of an apartment or denied a home sale (that's legal now). They decide if we could have visitation if a partner is in the hospital (the blood family may the only say).

And this year, we have an openly gay candidate, JIM ROTH for Corporation Commissioner (statewide), who is very well qualified and an excellent public servant.

Can't find my voter registration card? Go to your polling place; you may vote without the card if your name is on the list. If you aren't on the list, see the next paragraph:

WHERE do I vote? Call your county's Election Board (list at www.ok.gov/~elections/ceb_phys.pdf), or try the website www.ok.gov/elections/ppl/index.php if you know your registration zip code.

What Districts Am I In? Call your county's Election Board, or check these websites:

For U.S. Representative and State Senator: www.oksenate.gov/Senators/maps.htm

For State Representative: www.okhouse.gov/Research/HouseDistricts.aspx

For County Commissioner: geo.ou.edu/MapsFrame.htm - select your County, then Precincts

The ballot: It is a large card, printed on two sides. You will use a special pen to draw lines between the arrows for candidates and positions you support. All contests (except judges and city council) are by political party. The ballot is not a test; you may leave parts blank where you have no opinion. Straight Party voting is in four separate sections; if you want a straight-party vote for all partisan races you have to vote all four. Of course, you may mark each race separately. The state questions and judges are on the back. We are fortunate in Oklahoma that our voting equipment is very reliable, and that the marked ballots are stored for several months in case a recount is needed.

Future Election Dates in 2009 Election Date Voter Registration Deadline

Republican Precinct Meetings January n/a

School Boards February 3 January 9

Democratic Precinct Meetings March 12 n/a

Other Municipal & School Elections many 25 days before election

The Real Gay Agenda “Pink Papers”: Check our website at www.oglpc.com/pinkpapers.htm.

Come visit O.G.L.P.C. at the Peace Festival, Saturday November 15, 10 to 4, Civic Center Music Hall (Hall of Mirrors 2nd floor), 201 N Walker Ave, OKC. Free admission.

O.G.L.P.C. meets the second Monday of each month, 7 p.m., at Neighborhood Alliance, 1236 NW 36th St, OKC. The next meetings are November 10 and December 8. You are welcome.

Support O.G.L.P.C.: We invite you to join O.G.L.P.C. (membership form). We'll use your contributions to send candidate ratings for next year's elections.

Paul R. Thompson Jeanne Flanigan

Co-Chairs, O.G.L.P.C.

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Past announcements:

PFLAG-OKC, is sponsoring a rally and press conference at the Capitol Tuesday morning [3/18/2008]. The rally is supported by National PFLAG (Parents Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays), GLAAD, the Human Rights Campaign, the National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC), The Peace House, Peace Institute and many, many more organizations. Rally at 11:30, Press conference starts at noon. Public parking lots are south of the capitol on Lincoln Blvd. (www.pflagokc.org)

Oklahomans for Equality is sponsoring a Solidarity Vigil in Tulsa Tuesday evening [3/18]: Join us in honoring the support of our allies, hear words of comfort from local community leaders, and celebrate our diversity and oneness in a time of healing as we bridge to a journey of continued justice and equality for all Oklahomans. (www.okeq.org)

Protest the outrageous anti-gay remarks of State Rep. Sally Kern - and the refusal of the Speaker of the House to denounce her! Oklahoma is in the national spotlight, but now for an ugly side. Come make your voices heard!

Democrats: The major candidates who have not withdrawn are Senator Hillary Clinton and Senator Barack Obama, both of whom are on record as being in favor of same-sex civil unions but not marriage, and both support meaningful hate-crimes laws with inclusion of LGB people (possibly not Ts however). The Human Rights Campaign has an analysis of Democrats at www.hrc.org/news/5207.htm.

Republicans: The major candidates still standing are former Governors Mitt Romney and Mike Huckabee, and Senator John McCain. None has expressed current support for same-sex unions or strengthening hate-crimes laws including LGBTs; Gov. Huckabee has seemed especially anti-gay lately. The Log Cabin Republicans have an analysis of candidates at online.logcabin.org/issues/elections_2008.html.