House Representative Jadine Nollan appointed as State Director for NFWL

/

ALEXANDRIA, VA – Representative Jadine Nollan has been selected to serve in leadership for the nation’s oldest non-partisan organization addressing the needs of elected women at all levels of government.

Nollan was recently appointed to serve as the 2017 Oklahoma State Director for the National Foundation for Women Legislators (NFWL).

“I am excited and feel very honored to have the opportunity to serve as the Oklahoma State Director for the National Foundation for Women Legislators and look forward to working with the organization to help promote leadership development and effective governance at the state, county and municipal level. This organization serves as a valuable resource for women in elected positions and I am pleased to have been appointed to serve in this capacity.”

“We are so proud Representative Nollan has accepted a leadership position in our Foundation,” stated Minnesota State Senator Carrie Ruud, NFWL’s 2017 Chair. “NFWL’s theme for 2017 is leadership, and Representative Nollan exemplifies this theme. She will play a key role in aiding elected women in Oklahoma, as we continue to grow as an organization.”

Nollan begins serving in her new position immediately and will hold this office through the end of 2018.

Gov. Fallin signs legislation allowing military personnel to carry without license

/

OKLAHOMA CITY – Governor Fallin recently signed legislation to allow certain military members to carry a handgun without a handgun license. Senator Kim David is the author of Senate Bill 35 and says military members’ extensive training with weapons makes the requirement of having a gun license unnecessary. 

"Our military men and women are highly trained in combat and how to use weapons. Requiring them to get a license to carry a handgun is redundant and an expense our Oklahoma heroes shouldn’t have to worry about,” said David, R-Porter. “I want to thank my colleagues and Gov. Fallin for supporting this important measure and respecting the training and knowledge of these brave men and women.”

SB 35 modifies the Oklahoma Self-Defense Act by allowing active military members and those who are in the Reserves or National Guard who are 21 years of age or older to be able to present a valid military identification card in place of a handgun license. Individuals must also have in their possession a valid Oklahoma driver license or an Oklahoma state photo ID card at all times when carrying an authorized pistol. 

The new bill goes into effect November 1, 2017. 

This press release was submitted by the Oklahoma State Senate media department.

Any opinions expressed or implied are those of the author and do not reflect an editorial endorsement by Sandite Pride News.

Sandite Pride News encourages community submissions regardless of platform or position, to effect a constructive dialogue about any issues affecting our community.

SB 35 passed the House of Representatives by unanimous 85-0 vote and the Senate by unanimous 46-0 vote. Representative Jadine Nollan and Senator Dan Newberry, whose districts include Sand Springs, both voted in favor of the measure.

Individual Career Academic Plan bill authored by Jadine Nollan passes Senate vote

/

OKLAHOMA CITY – State Superintendent of Public Instruction Joy Hofmeister today praised Senate members for approval of a measure to help ensure that all students develop their own relevant and dynamic pathway for success in college, career and life. Authored by Rep. Jadine Nollan and Sen. Gary Stanislawski, House Bill 2155 phases in the implementation of an Individual Career Academic Plan (ICAP) over a three-year period, beginning with pilot districts. Oklahoma is one of only seven states that does not have a state-level ICAP strategy for students.  

The legislation now heads to Gov. Fallin for her signature.

“Too many high school students wait until after graduation to begin exploring career pathways in career technology centers or colleges,” Hofmeister said. “By contrast, tailored career and academic plans made earlier in middle school help our students complete required courses and build foundational skills to be able to hit the ground running after high school with meaningful, self-defined career, college and life goals.”

Beginning in sixth grade, ICAPs will follow each student through middle and high school and evolve to reflect any changes in interests, strengths and growth. They will include interest inventories, written goals, a step-by-step plan to reach those goals, career surveys, academic progress measures and a list of completed apprenticeships, internships or mentorships. Students will be able to create individualized portfolios, utilize high-school planning tools, explore career options and access college campus information with the assistance of parents, school counselors and teachers.

Many graduates today lack the skills employers are looking for or the necessary coursework to succeed in college or career without remediation. Thirty-nine percent of all first-year college students in Oklahoma currently require remedial courses before earning college credit, a process that, according to the Center for American Progress, costs Oklahoma families $22.2 million annually. By defining career goals or post-secondary plans earlier in their education, students will have the opportunity to make important decisions regarding coursework and extracurricular activities that align with their postsecondary career and life goals.

In addition, ICAPs will encourage greater enrollment in advanced coursework in high school, particularly during a student’s senior year, and funnel more Oklahoma students toward postsecondary degree attainment or industry certification. Currently, only 54 percent of Oklahoma students complete a degree program or advanced credential after high school. By 2025, the Oklahoma Office of Workforce Development estimates that 77 percent of new jobs in Oklahoma will require some sort of postsecondary credential or degree. ICAPs will equip schools to close this so-called “workforce gap.”

“This legislation is a positive step forward and better positions Oklahoma students to achieve their aspirations and compete,” said Hofmeister. “Too many doors shut unnecessarily on students because of poor planning. Exploring career options and advanced planning fosters self-motivated learners.”

The Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE) will pilot ICAPs in selected districts during the 2017-18 school year, and increase the number of district pilots in 2018-19. In the 2019-2020 school year, they will become a graduation requirement for those entering ninth grade, as required by House Bill 3218, which the governor signed into law in 2016.

Tuesday is Election Day, here's your guide to the candidates

/

By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

On Tuesday, June 28th, Oklahomans will travel to the polls for the statewide primary elections. Both the Democratic and Libertarian Parties have opened their primaries to Independent voters this year, but only registered Republicans can vote in the Republican primary.

More than 400 candidates have filed for office in Oklahoma this filing period, more than in any presidential year in recent history, according to Oklahoma State Election Board Secretary Paul Ziriax. The following is a brief summary of each candidates' qualifications. For their policy views, click on their names to be redirected to their campaign web sites.

Incumbent United States Senator James Lankford has the Republican nomination secured with no challengers, as does Democratic nominee Mike Workman. Libertarian voters will choose between Robert T Murphy and Dax Ewbank for their candidate. There are also two independent candidates: Sean Braddy and Mark Beard.

  • Murphy has ran for election to US House of Representatives five times and has never garnered more than 25% of the vote.
  • Ewbank previously ran in the gubernatorial Republican primary in 2014 and came in third with 9% of the vote.

Current Congressional District 1 Representative Jim Bridenstine is up for reelection and is challenged by Tom Atkinson and Evelyn L. Rogers for the Republican nomination. No Democrats filed for the race. The winner of the Republican nomination will square off against Independent David Matthew Hullum. 

  • Bridenstine acquired a BS at Rice University before serving nine years as a US Navy Pilot. He worked as a Defense consultant at Wyle Laboratories while attending Cornell University and working towards an MBA. He was the Director of the Tulsa Air and Space Museum from 2008 to 2010 and was first elected to Congress in 2012. He ran unopposed in both the primary and general elections of 2014.
  • Atkinson has never ran for public office prior to this election. He served in the US Air Force, was a federal prosecutor in the Department of Justice, and later a bankruptcy judge for the Northern District of Oklahoma. He founded Okie Crude Company in 1985 and holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Southern Methodist University and a law degree from Oklahoma City University.
  • This marks Rogers's eleventh campaign for various State and Federal offices, she has yet to secure more than 16% of the vote. She holds a BS in healthcare management from the University of LaVerne, and an MA in practical theology from Oral Roberts University.

Sand Springs City Councilman Brian Jackson is challenging incumbent State Senator Dan Newberry for the District 37 Republican nomination, as is Paula L. Patterson. 

  • Newberry was first elected in 2008 and won reelection in 2012 with 67% of the vote. He holds a diploma of Charismatic Ministry from ORU as well as a Liberal Arts BS with focus on Leadership and Organizational Management. He works as the Vice President of Real Estate Operations at TTCU: The Credit Union.
  • Jackson was the youngest ever representative elected to Sand Springs City Council and is currently serving his third term. He is the Development Manager for Junior Achievement of Oklahoma and has previously served as the Sand Springs Vice-Mayor. He is a Marketing graduate from Oklahoma State University.
  • This is Patterson’s first election campaign. She is an OSU graduate with an International Business Degree with Finance and Marketing Minors.

There are also three contenders for the District 37 Democratic nomination in outgoing Sand Springs Superintendent Lloyd Snow, Andrew Nutter, and Cory Gage.

  • Snow has served as a Superintendent for 36 years, including 16 at Sand Springs. He is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma, a recipient of the Oklahoma Foundation Medal of Excellence in School Administration. He was inducted into the Oklahoma Educators Hall of Fame in 2013, was the Oklahoma Superintendent of the Year in 1995 and has twice served as the President of the Oklahoma Association of School Administrators. This is his first time running for political office.
  • Nutter and Gage are also first time political candidates and neither maintains a website and have limited information available on Facebook or other platforms.

District 66 State Representative Jadine Nollan has one challenger in Emily G. DeLozier for the Republican nomination. Dianna Phillips, wife of former City Councilman Michael Phillips, has the democratic nomination locked up.

  • Nollan was first elected in 2010 and won reelection in 2012 with 66% of the vote. She was unopposed in 2014. She holds a BS from OSU, is married to Sand Springs City Councilman Phil Nollan, and previously spent eleven years on the Sand Springs School Board. She was the Executive Director for Sand Springs Community Services from 2007-2010 and was the Pastor at C3 Ministries for Word of Life Fellowship from 2006-2010.
  • Delozier holds a BS in International Business from the University of Tulsa.

Donald Newberry, Ron Phillips, and Mary Atkinson are running for County Court Clerk as Republicans.

  • Newberry is a US Air Force veteran who served as an Explosive Ordinance Disposal Specialist. He holds an Associates in Business Administration from TCC, a Bachelors in Psychology from Liberty University, and a Masters of Jurisprudence in Indian Law from TU. He is currently the Title Research Manager in the Tulsa County Assessor’s office.
  • Phillips is the Special Projects Director for the Tulsa County Clerks Office and holds a degree in Business Administration.
  • Atkinson holds a BA from Drake University and is on the Board of Directors of Tulsa Camerata.

Rex Berry and Arthur Jackson are vying for the Democratic nomination for County Sheriff. 

  • Berry served in the Tulsa Police Department from 1973 till 1999 and retired as a Corporal. He served as a Security Management instructor in Afghanistan, was a civilian police office in Kosovo, and an Inspector of Training Facilities in Iraq. He is a US Air Force veteran and also served in the US Army Active Reserves with the Criminal Investigations Division. He holds an Associates in Police Science.
  • Jackson is a US Army veteran who has served in a supervisory position at the David L Moss Criminal Justice Center since 2001.

Vic Regalado, the incumbent from Sand Springs, is being challenged by Russell Crow and Luke Sherman for the Republican nomination for County Sheriff.

  • Regalado was just elected to the position of Tulsa County Sheriff in a special election earlier this year. He previously was the lead homicide detective for the Tulsa Police in 81 cases. He supervised a Special Investigations Gang Unit and served on the Tulsa Police SWAT team for nearly a decade. He received the Medal of Valor in 2004. It’s worth mentioning that he is currently being sued by Tulsa newspaper The Frontier for failure to comply with the Oklahoma Open Records Act in regards to not releasing County jail footage. He maintains the footage does not fall under Open Records requirements.
  • Sherman is a 23 year veteran of the TPD and has served as a tactical operator and assistant team commander on the Tulsa SWAT team. He is currently a sergeant leading the department’s Fugitive Warrant’s Unit and is on the U.S. Marshal’s Violent Crimes Task Force.
  • Crow is an eighteen year veteran of the Tulsa Sheriff’s Office and Tulsa Police Department. He also owns a private investigation firm in Tulsa.

Michael Willis and Nancy Rothman are running for the County Clerk nomination from the Republican party.

  • Willis holds a BA in Public Affairs and Administration from OU and is working towards a Masters of Public Administration. He currently serves as the Chief Deputy County Commissioner and Public Information Office and is a member of the TPD Reserve.
  • Rothman serves as the Chief Deputy in the County Clerk’s Office, the President of the Board of Directors for “Neighbor for Neighbor” in Tulsa, and is a Board Member of the Tulsa County Juvenile Justice Trust Authority.

Deanna Vincent is challenging Karen Keith for the Democratic nomination for County Commissioner District No. 2.

  • Keith has been the County Commissioner since 2008 and serves on various local boards and organizations. She was the President of the Rotary Club of Tulsa and serves on the Oklahoma Historical Society board of directors. She is a graduate of OSU, served as a KJRH anchor and executive producer of Oklahoma Living.
  • Vincent does not appear to maintain a website, facebook page, or presence on any web forum that we could find.

Jonathan Grable and Sand Springs’s Josh R. Turley are running for the Republican nomination.

  • Grable is the CEO of a local real estate management company and previously worked for Arrow Trucking Company as the Truck Assignment Coordinator. He’s served in the Oklahoma State Senate for the past six years and is an Eagle Scout.
  • Turley is a 24-year veteran of the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office and is the founder of the Risk Management program for the TCSO.

This article was originally published in the June 26, 2016 Sandite Pride News Weekly Digital Magainze. Sandite Pride News does not endorse political candidates and strives to provide non-partisan unbiased reporting of elections. Any perceived slant towards an individual is entirely unintentional.