Candidates appear at luncheon

By CRAIG HALL
POTEAU—Local candidates running for the vacant House seat, Senate seat and Lt. Governor’s office appeared at the First Friday Luncheon presented by the Poteau Chamber of Commerce.

The event was held at the Days Inn & Suites.

Seven candidates for the representative spot were there: Matt Webb, James Lockhart, Jake Leming, Lynn Bullard, Jarrod Ridenour, David Hogan and Ed Brody along with Neil Brannon, running for the Senate and Kenneth Corn, who is running for Lt. Governor made short statements to the large crowd.

Each candidate was allowed to speak for three minutes and spoke after a draw was held to determine the order.

The first speaker was Webb, the general manager of Spider Webb’s John Deere Dealership. He is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma and got his masters from the University of Arkansas.

Some of his goals are increasing Hwy. 112 to a four-lane highway from Poteau to Fort Smith to improve the local economy, increasing health care for the citizens, improved care for our veterans and improving the local economy.

Next up was Lockhart, who is a graduate of Heavener, Carl Albert Junior College and Oklahoma State University. He talked about the promise of LeFlore County and how he feels prepared to serve after living all over the United States. Lockhart wants to make it so our youth can return to the county after graduating instead of moving away to find good jobs.

Leming, who also graduated from Carl Albert and OSU, has operated a Farmer’s Insurance office since 2004, one that he says is one of the best in the region. His two main goals if elected are to increase jobs and also have responsible spending for the state.

Brannon was the next speaker. He has 40 years experience in education and is entering his eighth year in the legislature. Brannon told of how proud he was to serve this area and his purpose is to serve the great people in the area he hopes to represent as a senator. One thing he is proud of is that Oklahoma has a balanced budget and he will fight hard to preserve it.

Bullard, one of two Republicans running for office along with Brody, is currently the superintendent at Fanshawe. He is a graduate of Wister, Carl Albert and Northeastern. Bullard talked about a vision he has where we draw and attract people to the county. He has been in education for 20 years and has an economic-business background.

Ridenour, of Cameron, graduated from Carl Albert and Northeastern. He currently is a coordinator for the Boys and Girls Club of LeFlore County and Pansy Kidd. His slogan is making tomorrow better today.

Hogan, from Spiro, is a graduate of Spiro, Carl Albert and NSU and is working on his masters at East Central. He works at CASC. Hogan said he would also see a lot of improvements to the area but we must need to take care of the infrastructure also. He is also concerned about keeping the current jobs the county has in addition to brining in more jobs.

Corn has served 12 years in state government. He is a graduate of Howe and the University of Oklahoma. Corn said we have a major challenge to determine the state’s future. He hopes all the elected officials can set aside partisanship and work together to make Oklahoma a better state.

Brody, the other Republican candidate, is a native of North Carolina. He stressed how all the county offices are non partisan and wants to see that at the state level.