For the past three weeks, the Tulsa World has been hosting a governor’s debate in written form.
The campaigns of Republican candidate Kevin Stitt and Democratic Party nominee Drew Edmondson have supplied arguments for their candidates on the critical questions of education improvement, economic growth and leadership. In today’s paper, the candidates themselves make their closing arguments to the voters of Oklahoma.

Both are promising the same thing: change.

Edmondson says Republicans have had complete control of the state Capitol for eight years, and the results have been four-day school weeks, teachers fleeing to other states, overcrowded prisons, sick hospitals and sicker people.

Stitt looks at an even longer swath of Oklahoma history and says we’ve elected the same group of people with the same inside-the-Capitol resumés for generations, and we find ourselves in last place in all the lists where we should be first.

Read the complete story on tulsaworld.com

IN this year’s gubernatorial race, the major parties have nominated two very different, but accomplished, men.

Republican Kevin Stitt is a political outsider who has achieved impressive private-sector success. He promises to apply business expertise to management of government, free from the pressures of status-quo affiliation.

Democratic candidate Drew Edmondson has had a long and successful career as a public servant, most notably 16 years as attorney general. He promises to bring a steady hand to government and touts his knowledge and expertise as a political plus.

Both are serious men and credible candidates. Deciding between the two therefore requires weighing which man has the greatest potential upside and appears most likely to lead Oklahoma in a new and better direction. On that basis, The Oklahoman believes Stitt is the better candidate.

Read the complete story on NewsOK.com

June 21, 2018

The AFL-CIO has announced its endorsement of Leslie Osborn in the Oklahoma Labor Commissioner race and Cathy Costello is happy to see the union is supporting her opponent.

“The AFL-CIO kingpins have no interest in what is best for the people of Oklahoma,” Cathy Costello says. “The leadership of the AFL-CIO is notoriously liberal, operating as a political machine, that has prioritized its agenda above the interest of workers across the country. Oklahoma voters overwhelmingly passed Right To Work yet AFL-CIO bosses have relentlessly fought to reverse that law so they can strong-arm our workers into paying union dues. I proudly stand against the entire AFL-CIO agenda.”

The labor union’s endorsement of Cathy Costello’s GOP primary challenger, Leslie Osborn, highlights the difference between the candidates.

“The AFL-CIO engages in substantial political spending and activism, typically in support of Democrats and liberal or progressive policies,” says labor author and historian, Timothy J. Minchin.

“Today, the AFL-CIO appears to exist primarily to launder union dues into the campaign war chests of Democrats who don’t even deliver on the core organized labor agenda,” according to American Conservative contributor, Grant Starrett.

“The AFL-CIO does not represent rank-and-file workers — it represents liberal activism,” says Costello. “Republican voters in Oklahoma can judge candidates by the company they keep. The union bosses’ endorsement of Leslie Osborn says more than I could in a thousand campaign commercials.”

Cathy Costello is a co-founder of several businesses, both domestic and international, and is a sought-after national speaker and advocate on issues of mental health. She has been instrumental in passing major state and federal legislation to improve how employers address mental health needs in the workplace.

The Republican primary for Labor Commissioner is scheduled for June 26, 2018 and the general election will be held November 6, 2018.

For more information on Cathy Costello’s campaign for Oklahoma Labor Commissioner, visit her website at www.CostelloForOK.com.

Oklahoma could use more young politicians like Matt Pinnell.

Pinnell, 38, is a charismatic young leader and entrepreneur from Tulsa who is committed to public service, loves his native state and wants to make it a better place to live.

The Republican Party has two other strong candidates for lieutenant governor, which is a bit surprising since it’s a position with little responsibility outside of those assigned by the governor, rarely controversial jobs promoting tourism and executive leadership when the governor is gone.

Corporation Commissioner Dana Murphy is smart and brings diverse experience to the table. Her time in office has shown that she is able to understand complex issues and get along with challenging conditions.

State Sen. Eddie Fields beats the field in real political experience and know-how. If public policy issues of current interest — education funding and taxation — were the only factors, he would get our nod.

Read the complete story on tulsaworld.com

Senate Insurance Committee Chair Endorses Glen Mulready

TULSA, OK – Chairman of the Senate Insurance Committee, Sen. Bill Brown (R-Broken Arrow), is the latest insurance expert to endorse Glen Mulready and his bid to be Oklahoma’s next Insurance Commissioner. Current Insurance Commissioner John Doak and House Insurance Committee Chairman Lewis Moore have previously endorsed Mulready.

“Glen Mulready and I have worked together in the insurance industry in and around Tulsa for more than 20 years.” said Brown. “Furthermore, Glen and I have worked closely together in our roles as House and Senate Insurance Committee Chairs. I have seen firsthand his tenacity when it comes to advocating for insurance reforms in the legislature and I know that he will work just as hard to create a competitive, business-friendly market for the consumers of this state. Glen Mulready is just the kind of experienced conservative Oklahoma needs as our next Insurance Commissioner and I am proud to endorse him.”

Senator Brown was elected to the Oklahoma legislature in 2006 and represents portions of Broken Arrow and Tulsa.

“I am honored to receive Senator Brown’s endorsement,” said Mulready. “Senator Brown knows the insurance industry better than most and is a well-respected member of the Oklahoma State Senate. His support is encouraging and I look forward to continuing to work with him should I be elected to lead the Insurance Department.

Mulready spent 13 years on the executive teams of Oklahoma’s two largest health insurance companies and for the last eight years has been self-employed as an independent broker working with businesses of all sizes. He has worked in the insurance industry for more than 33 years.

Mulready was first elected to represent House District 68 as a Republican in the Oklahoma House of Representatives in 2010.

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The Oklahoma Federation for Children Action Fund (OFC-AF) is happy to announce its endorsement of Shelley Brumbaugh for Oklahoma’s State House District 76. Brumbaugh is seeking the House District 76 seat in a special election on Tuesday, August 8th

Please listen to the radio ad OFC-AF released as an independent expenditure HERE.

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Statement from Jennifer Carter with the Oklahoma Federation for Children Action Fund:

“The Oklahoma Federation for Children Action Fund is committed to supporting candidates who support parents’ right to choose the best education for their children. Shelley Brumbaugh has demonstrated a commitment to ensuring all children have access to a high-quality education. Shelley is the most qualified candidate and is ready to hit the ground running for the people of House District 76.”

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