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Tom Newell just announced his resignation from the Oklahoma Legislature. This comes just weeks after the general election and his campaign effort to secure a new term. In apress release, Rep Newell said;
“It has been an honor and a privilege to serve the people of House District 28,” said Newell, R-Seminole. “I will be pursuing an opportunity in the private sector that will allow me to spend more time with my family, while allowing me to serve families nationwide.
“I appreciate the trust people in District 28 placed in me. I’m thankful for the friendships I’ve made with all of my colleagues in the Legislature. I know the state is capable hands with the new House members and Speaker-elect Charles McCall.” |
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Pastor Newell has represented the Seminole area and has been a client of Fount Holland's AH Strategies and the sister-service of Majority Designs.
Newell's campaign team and the Seminole County Republicans raised tens of thousands of dollars in this campaign. They will now have to start over in a special election which the governor will soon call for. Until then, the people of his district will not be represented in the legislature. This can be devastating for farmers & ranchers whose agri-businesses are being destroyed by the feral hog infestations. The petroleum producers of central Oklahoma are also needing desparate reforms to save the oil patch from a market decline. The devastating mental healthcare void caused by a previous legislature's decision to close the massive Vinita institution without keeping their promise to replace it with a community treatment center in each region has had a massive impact on county public safety services. |
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Explanation?
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Newell's friend and colleague, Josh Cockroft; has emphasized a different twist on this announcement. Whereas Newell focused on the oft-quoted reason of "to spend more time with my family"; Cockroft hints that a career opportunity has been presented to Newell.
Newell's campaign documents reveal a long history of advocacy for business interests. He has collected tens of thousands of dollars from all sorts of business lobby groups, including chamber of commerce organizations. Newell has also voted for socially conservative legislation. His district is more Democrat than much of the Sooner state. The OKGOP has invested a lot of effort to move the seat (from David Boren's home town), into a Republican-held seat. |
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