We Oklahomans are a strong-willed (read: stubborn) lot.
Strong, capable and compassionate, we have faced down terrorists, tornadoes and the Dust Bowl. We’ve seen boom and bust economies and we have survived a global pandemic.
We have done this because we have worked hard and taken a focused and pragmatic approach to our challenges.
We’ve also been blessed with leaders who understand and want to help.
Such is the case with Gov. Kevin Stitt.
Young, energetic and easy to talk to, Stitt came into office with ideas and the energy to put them into action. He set a goal to make Oklahoma a Top Ten state. He has worked hard to accomplish that goal. Since his election, Stitt has worked to bring in new businesses, make state government more responsive and lower the tax burden on Oklahomans. At the same time, the governor and his team have overseen a rapid economic recovery, the growth of our energy, defense, aerospace and cybersecurity industries and achieved one of the lowest unemployment rates in the nation.
Governor Stitt also made plans for the future, including earmarking more than $800 million dollars for the Constitutional Reserve Fund, also known as the Rainy Day fund. This massive financial cushion will go a long way toward protecting our state from future problems.
Sure, there have been disagreements. And yes, not every problem has been solved.
But we believe Stitt remains focused on making Oklahoma better. He helped lead the way on reforming the state’s criminal justice system and expedited the process for those in the legal system to get proper state identification so they can reenter the workforce.
Along with big picture issues, the governor has worked tirelessly to help solve many of the nagging problems faced by Sooner State residents. For example, when problems arose with the Real ID drivers’ license system, he helped cut red tape to ensure every Oklahoman who needed to obtain a new license or renew their old one, didn’t have to wait months to do so.
We appreciate his efficient approach.
There have been times we disagreed with a policy or approach taken by the governor. But those times have been few, and the governor has always proved to be a thoughtful listener. This is one of many reasons we believe Kevin Stitt is the type of leader this state needs.
This year, the Republican primary for governor is crowded and noisy. Though we have no doubt each person seeking the GOP nod for governor truly wants to make the state better, we believe the best option is to stick with the man who has already generated results.
We believe voters should re-elect Gov. Kevin Stitt.