Oklahoma Democratic Party Elects New Officers

Oklahoma City -- The Oklahoma Democratic Party held its convention Saturday, May 16, in the Centennial Building on the Oklahoma State Fairgrounds to elect new officers and approve proposed party resolutions. After hearing from leading Democratic state officers, including 2010 gubernatorial candidate Lt. Governor Jari Askins, Attorney General Drew Edmondson, State Auditor Steve Burrage, and Insurance Commissioner Kim Holland, a long list of state representatives and several state senators spoke to the more than 600 party delegates present.

Following recognition of Democratic elected officials, current Chair Ivan Holmes discussed several conversations he had held with President Obama during and after his presidential campaign. Mr. Holmes stated Presidential Candidate Barack Obama told him that he was not going to campaign in Oklahoma because the polls indicated he could not win. Instead of using valuable resources to fight a non-winnable battle, he asked Mr. Holmes to send party activist to work in the battleground state of Missouri. After the election, President Obama expressed his gratitude and informed Chair Ivan Holmes that after he had taken care of some of the most pressing issues in Washington, he would make a trip to Oklahoma. Of course, this announcement stirred the crowd.

The delegates received the Treasurer's report from Treasurer Linda Gray Murphy and subsequent reports from the Credentials and Rules committee chairs. Next, the election of new state party officers got underway. Interim Executive Director Todd Goodman handily beat party activist Christine Byrd and a last-minute candidate and former Cleveland County chair, David Perry. Edmond fundraiser Lauren Guhl won the vice-chair position in what was originally a three-person race, but became a head-up race with grassroots organizer Susan McCann after Christine Byrd pulled from the race and threw her support behind McCann. Oklahoma City resident James Baggett beat Walter Jenny for Democratic state secretary and Treasurer Linda Gray Murphy was re-affirmed for another term by acclamation after the floor received no other nominees.

During the Activists Awards Hall of Fame Luncheon, six activists were recognized for selection into the Activist Hall of Fame. Those elected were District 1 - party activist Sally Frasier, District 2 - former State Representative Barbara Staggs, District 3 - animal rights and environmental activist Jody Harlan, District 4 - Cameron County Chair Betty Simmons, District 5 - founder of the Oklahoma Women's Political Caucus, former State Representative Wanda Jo Stapleton, and co-winner Internet grassroots organizer Calvin Rees.

After the luncheon, delegates heard from the Resolutions Committee Chair, State Senator Cal Hobson, before commencing the consideration of proposed resolutions. Among other resolutions passed were: supporting the right of individuals to choose their own medical provider, supporting the creation of a state cancer registry to track environmental causes of cancer while maintaining privacy, supporting the production of organic foods and locally grown foods and animal products, increasing the number of children shelters statewide, restoring a democratic, free and fair media and public communications network and supporting (PBS) Public Broadcasting System, promoting tax reform and reduction of the national debt, public funding for elections to remove the influence of lobbyist and supporting the Fair Elections Now Act currently before Congress, opposing every element of the proposed Tort Reform legislation that would threaten the rights of Americans to recover for physical and economic damages, supporting a public transportation system, supporting family farms, protecting our water resources, requiring insurance companies to cover medical treatment for autistic children, supporting women's reproductive freedom, supporting legislation to prevent and punish hate crimes, endorsing increased pay for school teachers, and opposing required voters' photo identification.

New Democratic Party Chair Todd Goodman plans to focus on organizing a statewide grassroots effort to support Democratic candidates and increased fundraising. Party delegates were enthusiastic as they left the convention to return home to begin energizing their local precincts in preparation for next year's elections.