Bellmon’s body at Capitol today
Oklahomans will have the chance today to pay their respects to Henry Bellmon at the state Capitol, where the Billings farmer and former U.S. senator served two terms as governor and one term as a legislator.
The body of Bellmon, who died Tuesday, will lie in repose on the 4th-floor rotunda from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. His casket will be by the Will Rogers portrait. Family members and former staff members will be on hand to greet visitors.
Flags at the Capitol and on other state property are being flown at half-staff, as ordered by Gov. Brad Henry.
The last governor to lie in repose at the Capitol occurred in 1993. The body of Raymond Gary was on the second floor of the Capitol. Gary was elected in 1954 and served from 1955 to 1959.
Visitors may enter the Capitol from any of the entrances and may either take elevators or walk up to the 4th-floor Rotunda. All visitors will have to go through metal detectors at the entrances.
Two funeral services are set for Saturday.
Services are scheduled for 10 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church in Edmond and at 3 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church in Perry. Burial will at the Union Cemetery in his hometown of Billings.
The family has asked that memorials be made to the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, 825 NE 13, Oklahoma City, OK 73104 or to the Henry Bellmon Endowment, Oklahoma State University Foundation, P.O. Box 1749, Stillwater, OK 74076-1749.
Bellmon was elected in November 1946 to the state House of Representatives, but was not re-elected. He focused on his family and building up his farm, and in the mid-1950s became active in Noble County politics. In 1960 he was elected chairman of the Oklahoma Republican Party; he developed a strong statewide base with chapters in each county. He couldn’t persuade anyone to run for governor in 1962 so he ran and was elected, becoming Oklahoma’s first Republican governor and the first GOP governor of a southern state since Reconstruction. Back then, governors in Oklahoma couldn’t seek re-election so he got involved in national politics and eventually ran for the U.S. Senate.
He was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1968 and 1974. He didn’t seek a third term in 1980 and returned to Oklahoma. He successfully again ran for governor in 1986.
Bellmon’s accomplishments as governor included establishing Oklahoma’s CareerTech system and a state employees’ retirement program as well as backing legislation to exempt seed and fertilizer from sales tax during his first term. During his second term, he led efforts to pass a public education reform bill, House Bill 1017, which increased teacher salaries and reduced class sizes.
- Michael McNutt, Capitol Bureau
Candidate actually running
State Sen. Kenneth Corn, running for lieutenant governor in 2010, will actually be running tomorrow.
Corn, D-Poteau, is taking part in the Oklahoma Caring Foundation’s 10-kilometer Capitol Challenge. It starts at 8 a.m. Saturday and takes place around the state Capitol.
The event is intended to help raise money to provide free immunizations and health care for eligible Oklahoma children, Corn said.
Corn, 32, is a runner. He works out at least three times a week at the gym and runs as often as his schedule allows, according to his campaign.
He participated in a half marathon earlier this year in the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon.
Corn said he uses his workouts and running to improve his own health and to shed a few pounds.
“A lot of us are so busy with our every-day lives it’s difficult to get out for a few minutes each week to exercise,” he said. “When we don’t make time for ourselves, we put on weight and develop health problems. I struggled with my weight a few years ago. I finally made the healthy choice to exercise on a regular basis. Since then my weight’s dropped and I have more energy.”
Corn, who cannot seek re-election next year because of 12-year legislative term limits, is the only Democrat to announce for the lieutenant governor post. Lt. Gov. Jari Askins, elected in 2006, is not seeking re-election to run for governor.
Republican contenders for the state’s No. 2 executive post are state Rep. John Wright of Broken Arrow and state Sen. Todd Lamb of Edmond.
For more information about tomorrow’s Capitol Challenge, visit www.capitolchallenge.org.
- Michael McNutt, Capitol Bureau
State treasurer heads to fair
State Treasurer Scott Meacham will be helping fairgoers today at the Oklahoma State Fair search for unclaimed property that may be held by the state.
The treasurer’s office is holding about $300 million that belongs to approximately 500,000 Oklahomans. His staff is operating a booth in the Cox Pavilion during the fair, which runs through Sunday.
Meacham will be at the treasurer’s booth at 2 this afternoon.
During the first four days of the fair, workers from the treasurer’s unclaimed property division found more than $100,000 for more than 180 people who visited the treasurer’s booth.
This is the ninth consecutive year the office has operated a “Pot of Gold” booth at the Oklahoma State Fair. Since first setting up booths at the state fairs in Oklahoma City and Tulsa, more than $3.2 million has been found for more than 8,200 fair patrons.
Last year, more than $400,000 was found for almost 500 people attending the Oklahoma City fair. A similar amount was found last year for attendees of the Tulsa fair.
Since becoming state treasurer four years ago, Meacham has returned almost $62 million to more than 67,000 Oklahomans.
Examples of unclaimed property include bank accounts, security deposits, old paychecks, royalties, rebates, stock and bonds. The contents of abandoned safe deposit boxes are also included.
The cash and property are turned over to the state treasurer’s office when the businesses holding them lose track of the owners. The unclaimed property division operates a searchable database at
www.treasurer.ok.gov.
- Michael McNutt, Capitol Bureau
Rainy rallies in Oklahoma
With the president wanting Congress to approve his health care reform proposals by the end of the year, thousands of Oklahomans rallied on both sides of the issue in a steady rain Sunday outside the state Capitol.
Opponents, who attended a so-called tea party made up of people also opposed to higher taxes and what they say is out-of-control government spending, clearly outnumbered supporters in two separate rallies.
A crowd estimated at 5,500 gathered Sunday afternoon on the north steps of the Capitol for an event sponsored by the Oklahoma City Tea Party. About 300 gathered about four hours earlier on the Capitol’s south steps organized by Change Oklahoma, a group made up of many who supported the president’s campaign.
Both sides wanted to show their congressional delegation how they felt on the health care reforms that are of President Barack Obama’s key campaign promises to provide health care to an estimated 47 million Americans who have no medical coverage.
Amber Harrington of Oklahoma City attended the tea party rally and carried a sign reading, “Obama’s real achievements – deceiving the people, mocking the Lord’s word, disgracing our veterans, washing tax dollars.”
She said she’s also unhappy with plans by Obama and mostly Democrats in Congress to change the health care system.
“They are now trying to control what kind of treatment we get,” Harrington said.
Harrington said she doesn’t have health care insurance, but can get treated at a nearby clinic often for $25.
“I want to have the freedom of being able to choose what’s right for me,” she said.
David Perry of Norman was at the rally supporting health care reforms, including a public option.
An owner of a computer business, Perry said he can’t afford health insurance.
“I’ve tried to buy it for two years, I finally threw my hands in and said, ‘Too expensive,’” he said.
Even if he could afford insurance, he said several self-employed friends have told him it’s difficult to get insurance companies to pay claims.
“When it comes time to need the coverage, it’s not there,” Perry said. “We need some sort of public option to keep them (insurance companies) honest.”
- Michael McNutt, Capitol Bureau
Schwartz ponders re-election
Rep. Colby Schwartz, who last week dropped out of the lieutenant governor’s race, will make a decision this fall whether to seek a third term in the House of Representatives.
“I want to take some time,” said Schwartz, R-Yukon.
Right now his political plans are undecided, he said.
Schwartz, elected in 2006 to the House District 43 seat, which includes parts of Oklahoma and Canadian counties, cited economic pressures and challenges in raising money for his first statewide race. He could serve eight more years in the Legislature until legislative term limits kicked in.
He said in a statement last week that it has been difficult raising money over the past 90 days.
According to his most recent campaign report, which covered fundraising activities through June 30, Schwartz had $26,432 on hand. He had carried over $16,603 from his House campaign account and reported raising $9,830 and spending $1.12.
Rep. John Wright, R-Broken Arrow, reported having $23,620 on hand, with most of that money carried over from his House campaign account.
Sen. Todd Lamb, R-Edmond, who formally announced his bid last month, reported raising $195,285 between June 12, when he opened his campaign account, and June 30, the end of the reporting period. He transferred $57,761 from his Senate campaign account, giving him a total of $253,046. He reported $413 in expenses, giving him $252,633 on hand as of June 30.
The lone Democrat so far in the race, Sen. Kenneth Corn, D-Poteau, reported having $155,957 on hand as of June 30. Corn reported raising $56,485 during the reporting period and spending $24,342.
Lt. Gov. Jari Askins is not seeking re-election to run for governor. Gov. Brad Henry, elected to his first term in 2002, cannot run again in 2010.
When he announced his intentions to run for lieutenant governor in June, Schwartz said he expected the race would require anywhere between $500,000 and $1 million.
He has been working on campaigns since 1996, including Bob Dole for president, Ed Apple for Oklahoma Corporation Commission and the campaign for U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe, R-Tulsa. Schwartz also worked for U.S. Rep. Mary Fallin, R-Oklahoma City, as her legislative and constituent liaison when Fallin served as lieutenant governor. Fallin, elected to the 5th Congressional District in 2006, is running for governor in 2010.
- Michael McNutt, Capitol Bureau
Mobile device restrictions ahead?
What do you think?
A Texas woman whose mother was killed nearly a year ago in an Oklahoma City traffic accident in which the other driver was talking on a cell phone says she will urge a House committee to ban all types of activity with a mobile device while driving.
Legislation should be passed to outlaw text messaging and conversations on cell phones, including those with hands-free devices, Jennifer Smith of Grapevine, Texas, said.
An interim study on the issue is scheduled for Oct. 8 at the Capitol.
House Democratic leader Danny Morgan, who has tried the past couple years to get legislation passed that would address the dangers of cell phone use and texting while driving, said other legislators have argued police officers already can ticket drivers for inattentive or dangerous driving.
Smith’s mother, Linda Doyle, 61, was killed Sept. 3 when her sport utility vehicle was struck by a pickup at Northwest Expressway and Harvest Hills Road. The driver of the pickup was talking on a cell phone and pleaded guilty earlier this year to negligent homicide, a misdemeanor.
The Governors Highway Safety Association, which represents state highway safety officials, came out Sunday in support of efforts to ban text messaging by drivers, reversing its previous stand.
“Texting is a no-brainer,” Smith said. “I’m glad everyone’s trying to get a ban on it and stop it, but I don’t want the attention to come off of the fact that the cell phone conversations are also a pretty big problem.”
Texting and talking on cell phones are a large part of America’s culture today, and it will take several approaches to send a message that conversations with mobile devices require one’s full attention, she said.
“Our kids grew up with us on cell phones, watching us talk on the cell phones while we drove,” she said. “But back then, if you spoke on the phone while you were driving it was a phone call you had to make. It was something real important and it was quick, to the point. But now people just use these phones to talk and babble about nothing.”
- Michael McNutt, Capitol Bureau
Calvey reports more than 1,000 donors
Kevin Calvey said today he is the first among the four announced candidates for the 5th Congressional District to have more than 1,000 donors contribute to his campaign.
Calvey, who ran for the post in 2006, said the contributions come from people from all walks of life “because they are tired of business as usual in Washington, and they want a true conservative who will help get our country back on track.”
Calvey, a former Republican state representative from Del City, finished fourth among six Republicans in the 2006 GOP primary.
Calvey was among the first to announce he was in the race to succeed U.S. Rep. Mary Fallin, R-Oklahoma City, who won the 2006 election. Calvey announced his bid in February at the Oklahoma County Republican Convention within an hour after Fallin told the crowd she was not seeking re-election in order to run for the open spot of governor in 2010.
As of Friday, Calvey’s campaign reported it had 1,039 donors. Calvey said his donations do not come from lobbyists or powerful special interest groups with business before state legislative committees.
Others in the race are state Rep. Mike Thompson of Oklahoma City, Dr. Johnny Roy of Edmond, who finished last in the 2006 GOP primary, and Rick Flanigan of Bethany. All are Republicans. No Democrat has yet announced.
The filing period is in June.
- Michael McNutt, Capitol Bureau
Thompson shows early momentum
With the early favorite in the 5th Congressional District race deciding to skip the 2010 contest, state Rep. Mike Thompson continues to pick up momentum in putting together a strong fundraising team.
Fundraising is just one element in putting together a successful campaign, but a steering committee assembled by Thompson, R-Oklahoma City, certainly has a lot of clout. The final say, of course, is up to the voters and the primary is still 11 months away.
More candidates still could announce, but this week’s announcement by Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett that he will seek re-election instead of running for Congress also helps Thompson. Some of those who backed Cornett in the 2006 5th District race are supporting Thompson. Cornett did well in 2006, taking then-Lt. Gov. Mary Fallin to a runoff before Fallin won the GOP nomination and went on to victory in November.
With Fallin now running for governor in 2010, it was expected several candidates would join in the scramble to succeed her. Six Republicans and two Democrats were in the 2006 race.
So far two 2006 GOP contenders, Kevin Calvey, a former state representative, and Dr. Johnny Roy, have announced they are back in the 2010 fray. Calvey finished fourth and Roy finished last.
A political newcomer, Rick Flanigan, a Republican, says he also is running.
No Democrat has announced.
Thompson, elected to the state House in 2004, has fared well raising money so far. He earlier named Larry Nichols, David Rainbolt and Tim Duit his campaign co-chairmen.
Thursday, Thompson named former Oklahoma City Mayor Ron Norick and Clay Bennett, team chairman of the Oklahoma City Thunder, to his steering committee. Others are Dave Lopez, Mike McDonald, Kory Warr, James A. Pickel, Steve Edwards, Phil Parduhn, Kim McLendon, Brian Timberlake, Steve Young, Scott Fischer, Jim Duit, Pete Brown and Joe Warren.
Michael McNutt, Capitol Bureau
Edmond physician catches political bug
Dr. Johnny Roy, a political newcomer in 2006 when he ran for Congress, is back on the campaign trail.
Roy has scheduled a news conference today to announce he is running for the 5th Congressional District seat. Roy finished last in a six-way Republican primary in 2006 when Republican Ernest Istook opted to run for governor instead of seeking re-election. U.S. Rep. Mary Fallin, R-Oklahoma City, who won the seat in 2006, is not seeking re-election in 2010 to run for governor.
Roy, the former chief of surgery at Edmond Medical Center, said he is qualified to tackle one of the top issues facing the country – health care.
As Congress and the president wrestle with reforming the health care system with discussions including government-run health care, “the people of Oklahoma deserve a doctor representing them in the U.S. House of Representatives,” Roy said.
“Having spent the majority of my adult life as a physician, I know how we can fix our health care system,” Roy said. “We don’t need another lawyer or career bureaucrat dealing with issues as important as your health.”
Roy is the second GOP candidate from the 2006 race to seek the 5th Congressional District seat next year. Former state Rep. Kevin Calvey announced shortly after Fallin made her decision earlier this year to run for governor.
State Rep. Mike Thompson, R-Oklahoma City, also has said he will seek the post.
No Democrat has yet announced.
In 2006 six Republicans and two Democrats filed to succeed Istook.
As part of his campaign effort, Roy said he will head up a series of free health screenings. There will be a doctor for youth exams for schools, a general physician for general needs and Roy will be giving screenings as well. Screenings are planned next week in Edmond, Oklahoma City, Shawnee and Seminole.
- Michael McNutt, Capitol Bureau
Miller forms exploratory committee
State Rep. Ken Miller today announced the formation of a steering committee to help him prepare for a statewide campaign for treasurer.
Miller, R-Edmond, made the announcement while House Speaker Chris Benge, R-Tulsa, and state Treasurer Scott Meacham still are undecided about seeking the post. Owen Laughlin, a former state Republican senator from Woodward, said earlier he was looking at the race and would make a decision in late summer whether to seek the treasurer’s post.
Meacham, a Democrat, is looking at seeking a second four-year term or returning to the private sector. He’s also looking at the open attorney general and governor races.
Miller, chairman of the House Appropriations and Budget Committee, developed close working relationships with both Benge, who appointed him committee chairman, and Meacham in preparing the state budget the past two years.
Miller, elected to the House in 2004, has taught economics at Oklahoma Christian University since 1998. He has a bachelor’s degree in finance and economics, a master’s degree in business administration and a doctorate in political economics.
“After a great deal of discussion with state leaders, I have determined that my background in economics, finance and budgeting have provided me the preparation needed to successfully serve as state treasurer,” Miller said in a news release. “In the coming months, our steering committee will be organizing a statewide effort.”
Those serving on Miller’s steering committee include Larry Nichols, chairman and chief executive officer of Devon Energy Corp., Howard Barnett, a Tulsa businessman, former chief of staff to former Gov. Frank Keating and the Republican nominee for state treasurer in 2006, and Edmond Mayor Patrice Douglas, who is executive vice president of First Fidelity Bank.
Nichols called Miller a fiscal conservative “who will demand efficiency from state government and work to maximize the return on every tax dollar.”
Douglas said Miller has earned the public’s trust “with his integrity and understanding of the economy, budget and fiscal management.”
Others on the committee are Mark Funke, president of the Bank of Oklahoma – Oklahoma City, Harold Hamm, chairman and CEO of Continental Resources, Don Millican, chief financial officer of Kaiser-Francis Oil Co., Tom Price Jr., senior vice president of corporate development at Chesapeake Corp., David Rainbolt, CEO of BancFirst Corp. and Lew Ward, chairman of Ward Petroleum.
- Michael McNutt, Capitol Bureau
