| When Gary Richardson was the first to announce his candidacy for governor, fourteen months ago; he laid out a campaign platform which every other candidate in the primary seems to love. When the newest state issues developed since that spring day, Richardson was the first to step up and give his guidance.... guidance which just about every one of his opponents now echos. But that's where the flattery of imitation ends. When the Oklahoma legislature and governor launched an attack on the Oklahoma constitution, I reached out to all the leading candidates last June, asking them to show the Republican voters some authentic leadership by challenging the unconstitutional taxes at the Oklahoma Supreme Court. Only Richardson returned my calls and letters. |  |
Richardson went even further. He filed his challenges. He understood constitutional law. He used his own family savings to assemble a legal team. The Supreme Court issued a unanimous decision based on his team's arguments, and ordered the governor & legislature to fix the gross violations.
Had Richardson been the governor for these past 2 years, Oklahoma would have been a more prosperous and free state for our citizens.
Had Richardson been the governor for these past 2 years, Oklahoma would have been a more prosperous and free state for our citizens.
Richardson is a former member of Ronald Reagan's Justice Dept. He took on the corruption of the 1980s County Commissioners Scandal. Scores of corrupt politicians went to prison when Richardson carried out the public trust of the people.
Richardson is boldly challenging the corrupt abuse of our constitution by challenging the legality of the many 'State Trusts' & State Authorities' that were created in order to skirt the restrictions established by our constitution. Chiefest of these is the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority. Aside from corruption and exploitation of our citizens & visitors, the turnpikes are holding back economic development. Richardson wants to return to the promise made when our first toll road was proposed... that the toll gates will come down when the cost of construction is collected. It is this process which has led to economic boom in other states; Texas being the latest example (you may not have even heard of a city called Arlington, TX before they took down the toll gates). The Turnpike issue is one bold and visionary reform where Richardson separates from 'the boys' in the pack. The others are either too corrupted or too timid to make these real reforms.
Richardson is boldly challenging the corrupt abuse of our constitution by challenging the legality of the many 'State Trusts' & State Authorities' that were created in order to skirt the restrictions established by our constitution. Chiefest of these is the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority. Aside from corruption and exploitation of our citizens & visitors, the turnpikes are holding back economic development. Richardson wants to return to the promise made when our first toll road was proposed... that the toll gates will come down when the cost of construction is collected. It is this process which has led to economic boom in other states; Texas being the latest example (you may not have even heard of a city called Arlington, TX before they took down the toll gates). The Turnpike issue is one bold and visionary reform where Richardson separates from 'the boys' in the pack. The others are either too corrupted or too timid to make these real reforms.
 Gary & Lanna Richardson | To this and many other reasons, SoonerPolitics.org heartily endorses Gary Richardson. Richardson is the elder in the pack, but you wouldn't know it by looking at the boldness of the campaign platforms or the rigorous daily schedule that Gary keeps. His passion and energy for Oklahoma is as youthful as a man half his age. But his many years of professional service as a federal officer and even more years as an officer of our state & federal courts; makes him a solid choice for leading Oklahoma. The Richardson law firm has produced leaders in the past. It was a partner in Gary's law firm who stepped up in 1994, to end the ineptness and corruption of the David Walters tenure in the governor's mansion. It was Frank Keating, a law partner & friend of Gary Richardson, who brought Oklahoma into the prosperity of 1995-2003. - David Van Risseghem, Publisher of SoonerPolitics.org |
