| Tulsa Republicans have a clear choice for the future leadership of the party. The publisher of SoonerPolitics strongly endorses David McLain and Terry Flattem. While the political candidates and elected officials face difficult decisions in municipal, county, state, and national issues; the party must be thriving with openness, resolute principles, and cooperative energy. That has been desperately missing at the county GOP. David McLain is a former senatorial candidate and local businessman. He pastors a congregation in northern Tulsa County. Terry Flattem is an enthusiastic party volunteer at the headquarters who is dedicated to assisting party members and candidates. A veteran and retired IT specialist, Flattem possesses the skill and experience in managing the operations at the party headquarters. The former chairman (Mike Ford) punished and exiled some of the most effective precinct organizers and lied repeatedly about his campaign promise to hold County Committee meetings quarterly. He failed to provide on-demand organizational information to precinct members seeking to better communicate with each other for the sake of the party. Ford does not deserve any party leadership in the county. |  |
Tulsa County Republicans will gather this Saturday morning at the Jenks High School Auditorium to elect county leadership for the GOP organization. This past Tuessday night, several candidates gathered at the Tulsa Republican Assembly meeting. The packed hall heard from several candidates who are running for 6 party offices. McLain and Allen Branch are two ofthe candidates for chairman. Others may eventually announce their candidacy at the convention. Branch and McLain spoke of the need to improve on the cooperative effort for the party. They both emphasized the need to correct the way precincts are treated by the county chairman.
Terry Flattem said he volunteered regularly for the past 2 years at the headquarters. But he said recently Chairman Ford removed him from that position because Flattem was providing necessary precinct information to individuals seeking to join their local precinct committee. That info has historically been readily accessable, until Ford took personal control and decided only to give that contact info to people he approves of having it.
Party participation has never been lower in the past 50 years. Ford also is attempting to grant delegate credentials to people of his personal choosing, for this Saturday's convention. He is rumored to be seeking the office of Vice Chairman. State Party rules mandate that precinct members must be chosen at a specific precinct meeting held last February 16th. It appears to be a blatant attempt to stake the election in his favor. Some precinct committees are vowing to remove such delegates not properly authorized by their precinct rank & file voters.
Terry Flattem said he volunteered regularly for the past 2 years at the headquarters. But he said recently Chairman Ford removed him from that position because Flattem was providing necessary precinct information to individuals seeking to join their local precinct committee. That info has historically been readily accessable, until Ford took personal control and decided only to give that contact info to people he approves of having it.
Party participation has never been lower in the past 50 years. Ford also is attempting to grant delegate credentials to people of his personal choosing, for this Saturday's convention. He is rumored to be seeking the office of Vice Chairman. State Party rules mandate that precinct members must be chosen at a specific precinct meeting held last February 16th. It appears to be a blatant attempt to stake the election in his favor. Some precinct committees are vowing to remove such delegates not properly authorized by their precinct rank & file voters.
