Elections~ Why so Many?

Elections are my business. It's what I do. I've been studying how Elections take place here in Oklahoma for absolutely years even before it was my job. I know rather pathetic.
None the less, I want to educate you, my friends on a few things.
Every year the our State Legislators set the election dates for the year ahead. In odd numbered years there is a possibility of 11 different election dates. This means that there are 11 times during the year that Municipalities, School Districts, Fire Districts, Counties or even the State can call for a "Special" election. This "Special" means an election is not planned, ie.. tax issues, bonds, changes in laws. There are also planned elections during these odd numbered years that happen every time. School Board is in February, Municipal in April.

Now here's where it gets crazy, because I could never understand it before I was in office and continue to be perplexed now that I'm here. When entities call for an election the month before a planned election, or the month after a planned election, when they could piggyback on to the dates of "planned" elections and save taxpayers money, and quite honestly have a much higher voter turnout.

I get phone calls at my office, consistently from voters wondering why I would schedule an election when it could have been with the planned ones. The Election Board is not the one that plans them or calls them. We only facilitate them.
The other phone calls we get consistently is voters calling wanting to know why they didn't know that there was an election or what it is all about. We at the Election Board send out press releases to all the media for every election. The Election Board does not promote. We notify via the Media outlets, but if they fail to run the stories on the "front page" many voters will never know.

Every Monday before an Election Contest takes place we will place signs out in front of the effected polling places. If there is a sign out at your normal polling place there is an Election happening. It may or may not affect you, depending on if it is a Municipal, School or Fire District. But if you don't know you can either call us at the Election Board or stop in on Election Day. Election Days in Oklahoma are always on a Tuesday.

I hope that if you have pondered any of these questions and wondered why, that this enlightens you.

This message is brought to you by your favorite Secretary of the Rogers County Election Board. Have a great day!

Pledging Allegiance ~ What Does it Mean?

I pledge allegiance to the flag, of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, One Nation Under God, Indivisible with Liberty and Justice for all.

Where did this pledge come from and what was the intention of the writer? In 1892 Francis Bellamy, composed this pledge and published it in a children's magazine, so children could feel a sense of pride and thereby encourage them to love their country.

I have to wonder if today, we as citizens of this great Nation really understand what we are pledging our allegiance to ~ what does it mean when we say the words of this pledge? It should be more than lip service, more than empty words.

It is an oath of loyalty. It is a promise to be true to follow and obey and never to renounce, desert, or betray. We are pledging our faithfulness to our Flag which is a representation, a symbol of our country. It is a loyalty for which our armed forces are willing to lay their life on the line, so that we may continue to be free.

These United States of America are states that bound themselves together for a common purpose. That common purpose was to create a country where the people choose others to make laws for them —a government for the people, by the people.

Our Republic stands upon the foundation set up by our forefathers represented by our flag, Old Glory. Together we are One Nation designed to be ruled by its citizens in a representative government.

In a republic we have the right to speak freely and vote for our leaders who run the government. In our republic, we also live in democracy (democracy means the people run the country and they make the laws.)

The phrase "Under God" acknowledges the dependence of our people and our Government upon a supernatural being. We are creatures who are indebted to our creator who granted us certain inalienable rights.
We are Indivisible, we are a country that does not want to be split into parts—this stands as a reminder of  the Civil War. It should also remind us that We The People are of many ethnic and cultural backgrounds who all have a common dream. It is the "liberty and justice for all" that binds our Nation. That Liberty and Justice is a balance between equality and individual freedom.  This is the most important part of the Pledge. This means everyone should be treated fairly and all citizens should be entitled to the same freedoms

We are the United States of America ~ and when we recite this pledge, we should feel the impact of these words from the top of our head to the bottom of our feet. Together we as a Nation stand as one, we are entitled to speak our hearts to have a difference of opinion. Yet it is these words that should unite us ~  we have the same dream of our forefathers ~ to live in a nation without tyranny. A Nation that gives justice fairly to all its citizens.

Next time you lay your hand over your heart and recite the pledge, remember that the words you are reciting came at a cost. These words should resonate within your heart before they pass through your lips.

Enjoy this Independence Day!

Loosing our Freedom

Did you Vote in the Oklahoma State Primary? I'm going to get on my soap box here. 


It is the loud minority that has a voice because ~ they get out and vote. Conservatives are notorious for being just that ~ conservative in act and deed. The Conservative person has spent years refining their lifestyle becoming more and more quiet and reserved. However, this personality trait will be the doom of the Conservative... it will be their march into slavedom. Yes, your read me right, Slavedom. 

Yesterday's turnout at the Primary was atrocious! Tulsa County has 13% turn out Rogers County had about 20%. 

Let's break it down...In the Republican races about 8K voters our of 25K made the decision on the Sheriff and County Clerk races... That's 34% of registered Republicans.Where were the other 66%? 

"WOW" ?

You may think that's awesome... really? That's not even a passing grade. We have 54,000 people registered to vote in Rogers County. Less than 13,000 voted. What a shame on us the American voter. 

WE have a Right to VOTE... a right that has been bought with a blood sacrifice of our forefathers. If that doesn't make the hair stand up on the back of your neck think of it this way... 


God gave us a gift of allowing us to be born in this great Nation ... We could have been born under a flag of totalitarian rule, instead he granted us birth in a Nation that allowed for freedoms like no other.
 What are we going to do with the freedom we have been blessed with? Squander our freedom because we don't want to take the time to learn about the candidates...because we don't want to stop our busy life for a few minutes to cast a ballot? 

We are a generation of spoiled brats. Give me give me give me. Me me me.... 


The last generation that truly had to sacrifice for us to retain our freedom are those who lived during WWII. What are we doing to keep our freedom intact for the next generation? the generation of our children and grandchildren?

There is an opportunity to vote again in August and in November. Will you take the time to educate yourself and your family on the issues and candidates? Remember it's not just your Freedom you are throwing away when you don't vote but that of the next generation!