CLAREMORE — Only two times in history has Rogers County’s U. S. Congressional district been represented by anyone with Rogers County ties: Clem McSpadden(one term) and Brad Carson(two terms), both were Democrats. A local Republican has never been sent to Congress.
Out of 53 two-year terms, only three terms have been served by one of us. 30 of the last 34 years, our congressional district has been represented by someone from Muskogee.
Prior to that Rogers County supplied the 2nd District representative only two of the 72 years.
The political landscape has changed over the last eight years making Rogers County the largest block of Republican voters in the district by a wide margin, more “likely” Republican voters than the next three largest counties added together. We usually have the highest voter turnout in the state. Should Rogers County ever unite behind a single candidate, we would control this seat every term. History shows that rarely happens. We have historically diluted our vote so substantially that we have ceded representative autonomy to Muskogee. Your job this Tuesday is to vote thoughtfully and carefully.
This cycle, the Democrat candidates have been scarce in Claremore. The Progress offered to host a televised debate with RSU-TV, they all either declined to participate or to even return the calls. None have visited the Claremore Progress, and we have been aware of very little other interaction in the county. After all, Rogers County is not the center of Democrat activity it once was.
The Republicans, on the other hand, with the possible exception of Dustin Rowe, have made Rogers County a top priority. All of the Republican candidates are conservative family men with deep Oklahoma roots and values. Their debates and forums have been notable for their lack of disagreement. Their ages, methods, abilities and experiences are different, but their values are mostly the same. Below is a primer from my perspective on each of the Republicans in the primary.
Dakota Wood is the only candidate from Rogers County. Wood was valedictorian of his class at Claremore Sequoyah High School, graduated with honors from the US Naval Academy, the Naval War College, and attained the rank of Lt. Colonel in the US Marine Corps. He served all over the world, but most notably in command and control aspects of the response to the terrorist attacks on 9/11. He identifies with the Tea Party, supports the Fair Tax, and believes Christian values should be protected at all costs. A student of history, Wood has a strong grasp on the issues - all of them. His website details his conservative positions on 24 major issues. A distinct advantage for Wood has been his intellect. One other candidate assessed that Wood has the brains and experience of a Cabinet Secretary; even joked that Wood might be over-qualified for Congress. Another candidate offered Wood a job advising him on the issues. Because Claremore is his home, he has put considerably more effort into reaching Rogers County than his competitors and enjoys the support of a wide variety of local and area officials.
Markwayne Mullin is a successful businessman with a rancher’s worth ethic. Don’t let the “plumber” moniker cause you to under-estimate his capabilities. As a teenager he took over a struggling family plumbing business and built it into arguably the largest service company in the state. Nobody is that lucky, he’s earned it one clogged drain at a time. He’s raised and spent more money than the other candidates, but he has also acquired more campaign debt. Owning a large blue-collar company has made him more vulnerable to guilt by association. He was embarrassed by association with a felon he employed, but that incident hasn’t defined his campaign even though it has been nationally reported, nor has it slowed him down. His name recognition is off the charts. His differentiating message is his passion for ending stifling regulations that hurt job creators. He has declared his intent to serve no more than three terms so he can return to his family.
Wayne Pettigrew is a very successful businessman in the financial services and insurance industries and a former state legislator of ten years. He lives in McAlester, and represented Edmond in the legislature when he lived in that part of the state. His personality really grows on you. His first impression is not a bad one, but over time it’s easier to appreciate his maturity, his intellect and his business acumen. He hangs his hat on his ability to understand the country’s financial woes as well as the current healthcare debacle. He faced some scrutiny early in the race for activities some considered to be lobbying, but the voter verdict on that seems to have been “so what.” It likely helped his name recognition more than anything. His top agenda items are a balanced budget amendment and tax reform. He speaks of eliminating loopholes and lowering rates, but not the Fair Tax as much as a ‘flatter tax.’ He believes his insurance background uniquely qualifies him to alleviate and unravel the damage done by passage of the President’s healthcare bill.
George Faught owns a carpet cleaning company and is a state representative. He is making a bid to extend the Muskogee stranglehold on District 2 for a few more terms. Faught has been praised for his campaign organization by professional observers. He makes a good first impression. Not to be outdone by Mullin on brevity, he will serve no more than three terms, citing the founding fathers intent. Faught has a comfortable grasp on issues. His top issues are Oklahoma values and immigration. His tough stance on immigration is interesting considering that former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee endorsed him. Huckabee is widely considered to be soft on immigration. Faught’s campaign has aggressively sought endorsements, which backfired when two of his endorsements changed their minds last month. One Sunday morning in May Rogers County woke up to hundreds and hundreds of Faught signs lining the major thoroughfares of Rogers County. A staffer claims to have asked permission of county officials who told her the city rarely enforces their sign ordinances. She saw that as a green light to line main street with a dumpster full of signs.
Dwayne Thompson went to Owasso High School and played basketball at Rogers State College. That’s the closest any of the candidates come to Wood’s local bona fides. Thompson runs an underfunded campaign, but he works hard to make up for money with effort. A pastor by trade, Thompson believes he can be most effective in Washington by holding his colleagues to the morality they profess. He expects to shine the mirror of truth on those who vote contrary to the faith they brag about.
It’s a great plan that may never have been tried. Thompson refers back to the constitution as often as he does the Bible - frequently and comfortably. If this was a beauty pageant, he would win Miss Congeniality, but I’m not sure he has spent enough money to win the ticket to Washington. Thompson plans to serve two or three terms.
Dustin Rowe is still a bit of an enigma. He has never even stopped by the newspaper office to visit with staff, but he did send a nice Christmas card. He has always been available for Salesha Wilken when she is preparing a story and he seems to follow the Claremore Progress website and Facebook pages, but he’s been pretty scarce in Rogers County by Republican standards. He has done well in our online polls. Rowe was the Mayor of Tishomingo when he was only 18 years old and is currently the Tishomingo city attorney, and a Chickasaw Nation judge.
His FEC campaign filings seem incredibly incomplete given that he is actually actively in the race. They read more like a candidate who dropped out early. His talks surround the constitution, the role of government, and states rights, and the top issues listed on his website are Social Security and Welfare/Healthcare. His perspective is very academic, and he has made significant campaign efforts on student voters.
Bailey Dabney is publisher 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
