Local/Area News
State Senator Roger Thompson and Stat Repsentative Scott Fetgatter just finished the first full week of the new legislature. They were on hand Friday to speak with constituents about some of the upcoming bills and hear concerns over everything from COVID to schools and even marijuana.
UPDATE: A protest has been filed in one of the Henryetta city council races. Janna Duggan is claiming her At Large council seat opponent Steve Sanford does not live within the Henryetta city limits.
That protest calls for a hearing Feb. 11 at the election board office if Sanford wants to dispute it.
Okmulgee County election board secretary said under state law her office provides the candidate packets but it is up to each candidate to make sure they are eligible to run. Sanford listed his address as 9274 West Main Street.
The city code dealing with quaifications to serve on the council reads: SECTION 2-204. Qualifications of Council Members.Council members shall be residents and registered voters of the City. Council members from wards shall be actual residents of their respective wards at the time of their candidacy and election, but removal of a Council member from one ward to another within the City after his election, or a change in ward boundaries, shall not disqualify him from completing the term for which he was elected.
The filing deadline has passed and several city council seats around the county will be coming up for election while others will see candidates seated without opposition.
In Henryetta, Two races are going to be up for grabs. The Ward 4 seat currently held by Jennifer Munholland is being challenged by Buck Sheward. Munholland was first elected to that post in 2013 and reelected in 2017. Both times Sheward ran against her and was defeated.
The council member at large spot has Janna Duggan and Steven Sanford as candidates. Duggan has been serving as the Ward 3 council member.
Michael Dickey, who was appointed to the at large seat last year, was the lone candidate filing for the Ward 3 spot. Since he received no opponent, he will automatically fill that spot.
Dewar has three people running for the Board of Trustees Office 2 position. They include Barbara Lou Shatswell, Landon Eugene Jefferson, jr., and Anthony D. Polk.
The Trustee Office 5 spot has Darlene Rene Pierce Sandefur and Dana L. Wells as candidates.
Gary McGowin was the lone candidate filing for the Trustee Office 4 seat. With no opponent, he will automatically be elected.
Morris has two people filing for the Ward 1 council position. They are Jerome Warren Dugas, jr., and Jess Wayne Payne.
Receiving no opposition were Sonny Lee Lamb for Ward 2; Gregory Seamons, Ward 3 and Jennifer Simons, Ward 4.
The office of Mayor for Beggs has four candidates seeking election. They include William Buchanan Smith II, Jacob Kiley Branson, Trevor Dillon Meyer and Larissa Jack Melton.
Two candidates will be on the ballot for the Beggs Ward 3 council seat. They are Jimmy Glen Beard and Richard Lee Roberts.
Running without opposition for the Ward 1 post is Christopher Michael gore.
Filing ended 5 p.m. Wednesday.
Municipal elections will be held April 6. Voters have until March 12 to register and may request absentee ballots until 5 p.m. March 30.
In Okmulgee, voters will be choosing between Marcus Jeffrey and Javier Ramirez for the ward 4 city council seat.
Weleetka voters will be casting ballots for a $250,000 bond issue to buy three new vehicles.
According to Ashley Caries, Okmulgee County election board secretary, early voting for both elections will be held this Thursday and Friday at the Okmulgee County court house from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
On Feb. 9, polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Two of the three Henryetta city council seats have candidates already putting their names on the ballot.
Jennifer Munholland and Janna Duggan declared their candidacy shortly after the filing period opened Monday morning. Duggan has filed for the council member at large office. She currently holds the ward 3 seat. Munholland is seeking a third term as ward 4 council member.
In other filings, Jim Beard has filed for the ward 3 Beggs council post and Jacob Branson is a candidate for the Beggs mayor’s office.
The filing period started at 8 a.m. Monday and will continue until 5 p.m. Wednesday.
Voters will go to the polls April 6.
Created by the Legislature in 1935, the GRDA is Oklahoma’s largest public power utility and is funded through the sales of electricity and water. The agency’s mission is also to serve as a conservation and reclamation district for the waters of the Grand River. The task force was created to study the functions, activities, policies, procedures and expenditures performed by the district and any related issues the task force deems appropriate.
“While GRDA does not receive state appropriations, it is a state agency, and as such, we have a responsibility for oversight,” Thompson said. “I look forward to working with my fellow legislators on behalf of the people of Oklahoma who rely on the GRDA.”
The task force includes five members of the Senate and five from the House whose legislative districts include a portion of the GRDA district. Members are appointed by the leaders of their respective chambers.