CLAREMORE — Today, we celebrate the independence of our nation. A day when brave souls stood up to tyranny and formed a more perfect union that would treasure freedom for everyone.
Our Founding Fathers set in motion a republic that now boasts 50 states and more than 300 million citizens. All enjoying the freedom which began on July 4, 1776 with the Declaration of Independence. We celebrate our liberty today.
We stand and reflect upon the cost of our freedom and give thanks for all who have come before us, giving their lives to sustain it.
It took a revolution with the Royals of Great Britain to formalize and unite the 13 colonies. It took a revolution to establish individual rights and freedoms.
One of which is our precious freedom to cast a ballot for who we believe will best represent us in government.
Last week, Rogers County residents had the opportunity to exercise their right to vote in the June 26 Primary Election.
It seemed so cut and dry when the results were announced. There were no close races. The county’s proposed sales tax drew the largest number of votes. In the other races the margins of victory were quite clear.
However, in the Rogers County Sheriff’s race, where incumbent Scott Walton defeated challenger Cole Butler for a second time in four years, the 2,287 vote difference was never close.
On election night, Walton received 5,481 and Butler, 3,194.
By the end of the week Butler had decided there just might be a problem with the voting machines not counting accurately. He paid $600 for a recount, which is his right. Whether it was in his best judgment is what many asked.
Most recounts happen when there is small margin of victory, but 2,287 votes?
The tedious recount was conducted on Monday and the results did not change the outcome, nor the questioning of Butler’s motives. The hand recount revealed one vote difference — Walton, 5,480 to Butler’s 3,195. Instead of Walton defeating Butler by 2,287 votes, it was 2,286 votes.
The recount procedure when flawlessly. Rogers County Election Board Secretary Julie Dermody prepared her volunteers. The opening of the boxes, the counting of each ballot, the tallying, the registering of new totals all went exactly as it is supposed to, she said as the final precinct was counted.
Two years ago, there was chaos and eventual distrust when a recount as sought in the Rogers County District 1 Commissioner race. Ballots had not bee properly secured and Rogers County District Judge Dynda Post had no choice in ordering that election night results stand.
Carl Parson, Butler’s agent at the recount, said the recount was not about disputing the final outcome, but a challenge to the accuracy of the voting machines. With the exception of two precincts where a ballot in each were either unreadable or invalid, all of the other nine precincts match up exactly with what the voting machines counted on election night.
Butler’s camp almost created a conspiracy atmosphere of the election. It was something that was totally unnecessary.
Dermody’s leadership, organization and integrity as the county’s election board secretary were validated with the recount. The process worked and Dermody did an outstanding job, despite the challenge to the system.
Though a political appointee, Dermody serves all political parties, candidates and voters. She is neutral when it comes to overseeing elections. She manages the election officials who give voters their ballots. They set up the machines, break them down, seal the ballot boxes at every election.
The Primary Election went off without a hitch here in Rogers County, that’s a direct reflection of Dermody’s leadership.
At the state level there was a glitch in their reporting software, but that did not impact votes here.
As we celebrate our independence and freedom today, remember those who help make our elections possible. They help carry on the freedom establish on July 4, 1776.
Randy Cowling is editor of the Claremore Daily Progress.
Raw: Kevin Durant Tours Moore After $1M Pledge
Weiner Launches Bid to Become NYC Mayor
Okla. Teens Get Video of Deadly Tornado Overhead
Man Shot While Questioned in Boston Probe
School Storm Protection Spotty in Tornado Zones
9-year-old Tornado Victim Loved Family, Singing
Moore Native Toby Keith Tours Tornado Damage
Oklahoma Survivors, Heroes Survey Damage
Okla. City Mayor: Up to 13K Homes Hit by Tornado
Raw: Aftermath of Deadly Attack in London
Paperless Scanner, Vision of the Future
Florida FBI Shooting Has Boston Bombing Links
Garcetti Elected Los Angeles Mayor Over Greuel
Raw: New Video of Deadly Oklahoma Tornado
IRS Official Pleads 5th Amendment
Lawyer: Feds Investigating Susan Powell Case
