Claremore Daily Progress

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August 25, 2009

Is there something about Mary?

By Bailey Dabney, Publisher

August 25, 2009 — US Representative Mary Fallin was in town on Monday for a couple of hours of meetings and talks at Rogers State University.

This was the first opportunity I’ve had to meet the gubernatorial candidate who calls Tecumseh, Okla. home.

After lunch at the Pink House, she met with a group of students at 1pm. At 2pm she received a warm reception from local business leaders, RSU faculty, staff, and administration.

State Representative Tad Jones was also there to greet Representative Fallin.

Fallin took some time to speak individually with everyone in the room and followed up with some remarks to the group.

She focused mainly on her current experiences in the US House of Representatives.

It was, however, a short visit and then on to Tulsa for an energy conference.

Of the four major candidates for Governor in 2010, she is the only one whose current occupation requires that she spend more of her time outside the state than inside Oklahoma.

As a result, she didn’t seem to have polished her gubernatorial message fully yet.

After all, she’s representing Oklahomans vigorously in Washington and in town hall meetings about nationalized healthcare.

Representative Fallin is burning the candle on both ends; waging a campaign in Oklahoma while attending her duties in Washington.

Fallin expects to raise $5 million to run a formidable campaign for Governor.

Even in these tough times, I suspect she will have little trouble raising funds for her campaign.

Like Edmondson and Askins, she knows what it takes to win statewide support, having been elected statewide three times.

As the campaign progresses, we hope to see more of Fallin in Claremore.

Rogers County voters would benefit getting to know what she will bring to the Governor’s Office if elected. Having spent time in Washington certainly gives her an added dimension of experience and perspective.

The biggest question for me is how well will the next Governor work with the legislature to help Oklahoma thrive?

Will the next Governor control the agenda of the state? Or will they simply sign or veto the bills that are passed.

Oklahomans need a strong Governor of either party who will advance an agenda of growth, building jobs and quality of life.

Can we find a Governor who is more committed to Oklahomans than to their political party? Mary Fallin could be that person. Only time will tell.

You may be looking for something different in a Governor. As they parade through Rogers County I hope you’ll make time to get to know all of our candidates for yourself.

We have the power to elect people who understand us, work for us, and want to serve us first.

It’s an important right. Let’s all be informed as we exercise that right.

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