Banking on energy in southern Oklahoma – Working Across Oklahoma update

Today I traveled to the Arbuckle Mountain region of our state for the Working Across Oklahoma tour. We started off with a meet and greet reception this morning at the 77 Grill in Davis with my good friends Skip Healey and Bob Drake. The restaurant is one of those great “highway diners” that serves up delicious home-style food. The turnout was good and we had a pleasant time visiting with folks in Davis.

Our first work stop of the day was in Ardmore, where I worked at the First National Bank. The bank put me to work in the customer service department. We fielded several phone calls from customers and assisted them with any questions they had.

We left the bank and traveled to the Dornick Hills Country Club where the Ardmore Rotary Club meets. I talked with club members about our campaign and shared with them my intent to focus on the economy as governor. I talked about the Working Across Oklahoma tour and told club members I was out there doing the jobs of Oklahomans because I think it’s important our governor has an understanding of the concerns on the minds of “everyday” Oklahomans.

Next, it was on to Duncan – lots of beautiful scenery on the drive there. The folks at Mack Energy were kind enough to let me work on an oil field pumper. Though it was windy (my hard hat kept blowing off), it was a beautiful day to be working outside! A reporter from the local paper tagged along as we checked gauges to measure volume in the storage tanks then entered them into a handheld computer. Mack has done a great job utilizing new technologies to help drill and explore for energy more efficiently.

Like agriculture, the oil and gas industry has played a critical role in our state’s history – and will continue to do so in the future. Our nation needs an energy policy that protects our national interests while helping us end our reliance on foreign sources of energy. Oklahoma’s oil and gas companies, including independent producers like Mack, can and will play a big part in cultivating domestic energy sources. As governor, I will support our oil and gas industry and work to ensure they are able to help us secure our energy independence!

Finally, we ended the day with a meet and greet reception at the Simmons Center, a local recreation and events center. The turnout was great and it was good to meet a lot of new friends and supporters in Duncan!

Tomorrow, I’ll be working at a nursing home in the Oklahoma City area. Our schedule has been packed lately because of the tour and we’ve put a lot of miles on the odometer in a short amount of time. But the long days are worth it to spend time talking one-on-one with Oklahomans about how we can get our economy growing again to create more prosperity for our families.

On the Air in Western OK – Working Across Oklahoma tour update

Today, we took the Working Across Oklahoma tour to Western Oklahoma for stops in Weatherford, Cordell, Clinton and Arapaho. As we rolled along Interstate 40, I noticed the trip odometer passed 2,500 miles! We’ve traveled a lot of miles and burned a lot of gasoline on this tour, but it’s been terrific to get out there and work with Oklahomans and talk about what they’d like the next governor to focus on.

In Weatherford, I worked as an on-air DJ for KWEY radio! Vanessa, the morning host, showed me the reins and helped make sure I made all my commercial breaks. One of the songs I spun was “American Honey” by Lady Antebellum. While the songs were playing, Vanessa and I had the chance to talk and she told me about how she worked to balance her job with her parenting responsibilities. Even more tough for Vanessa is that her day starts at 5 a.m.! I certainly appreciate her and all the hard-working parents out there who provide for their families and perform well at their jobs. As governor, I will support policies that strengthen Oklahoma families and ensure they have the opportunity to pursue greater prosperity.

Next, it was on to Cordell where I got the chance to speak to a joint meeting of the Kiwanis, Rotary and Lions clubs. I speak to a lot of civic clubs and it’s always encouraging to see so many people dedicated to helping improve their own community. The willingness to serve others and help a friend in need is one of the great attributes of our people.

In Clinton, I toured the Bar-S Foods facilities and talked with employees during the afternoon shift change. The factory produces hot links, hot dogs and processes chickens and other meat products. After visiting with workers, I had the opportunity to talk with the management there and they told me they wanted to continue expanding their operations in Oklahoma. However, two things may keep them – and a lot of other Oklahoma companies – from doing so: our workers’ compensation system and the Obama/Pelosi health care system.

As governor, I’ll work with the Legislature to reform our workers’ comp system so that we can lower costs for businesses but still provide a way to compensate injured workers. I’ll also continue to fight the type of job-killing, excessive-spending programs like “ObamaCare” that keep coming from Washington.

Finally, we ended the day with a campaign reception at the barn of the Day family of Arapaho. My good friend Congressman Frank Lucas was the special guest and he gave me a very gracious introduction before I spoke to the crowd! We had a great time and it was good to see so many friends and supporters in western Oklahoma.

Tomorrow, I’m off to southern Oklahoma where I’ll work on an oil field pumper crew for Mack Energy in Duncan!

Working Across Oklahoma - Working with green in Green Country!

Hello again! Today, I traveled to eastern Oklahoma for the Working Across Oklahoma tour. I always enjoy trips into Green Country and the area is earning its nickname now that we’re into spring!

For the first work stop of the day, I worked as a sales clerk and at the sandwich counter in the Love’s Country Store along Interstate 40 in Webbers Falls. The staff was great and welcomed me into their crew! While we rang up gasoline purchases and made sandwiches for the hungry travelers, I got the chance to talk with my co-workers about what kinds of issues concerned them.

Like many Oklahomans, they were concerned with the state of our economy as well as balancing work with family obligations. My main focus as governor will be to focus on creating a pro-business environment so that we can have more and better jobs in Oklahoma.

Another part of making our state business friendly, and friendly to families, will be to work toward lowering the tax burden on Oklahoma families so they can keep more of their hard-earned money.

For lunch, we then drove to Stilwell for a meet and greet reception at the Charlie’s Chicken. A couple of the Adair County Commissioners joined me for the meet and greet and we had a good talk with the diners at Charlie’s.

In Tahlequah, I had a meeting with the Cherokee Nation before heading off to Hulbert to work at the Tri-B Nurseries for our second work stop. At Tri-B, I worked in “production planting” which means I helped fill and arrange several potted plants including some habanero peppers! The folks at Tri-B told me they were concerned about the penalties and taxes included in the recently passed Obama/Pelosi health care bill. Those tax increases and penalties on businesses were a couple of the many reasons I voted against “ObamaCare” as many times as I could. As governor, I will the charge in our state to fight against the big-government takeover of our health care system.

We ended the day with back-to-back receptions in Tahlequah. At the Chamber of Commerce, the folks there shared with me about the great things going on in Tahlequah. And our friends at the Cherokee County GOP were fired up about this year’s election. It definitely will be a great election year for fellow conservatives across the state and our nation!

Tomorrow, we’ll be on the opposite side of the state, working as an on-air DJ in Weatherford and visiting Clinton and Cordell for campaign stops!

Farming cattle and wind in the Panhandle – Day Five of Working Across Oklahoma

Today marks the end of Week One (a long, but enjoyable week) of the Working Across Oklahoma tour. I’ve had the honor of working alongside some great Oklahomans and so far it’s been an incredible trip.

This morning, a round of spring thunderstorms kept us from flying to Boise City as planned. Instead, we hopped in the car and drove to our meetings in Guymon. I know a lot of statewide elected officials can neglect the Panhandle because it’s isolated; but it’s an important part of our state and I promise I’ll visit plenty when I’m governor of Oklahoma!

After speaking to the local Rotary Club, I headed out to the Mayer Ranch to work as a ranch hand. As you’d expect, the pastures were littered with cow chips, but we pulled on our boots and waded into the mess. Joe Mayer rode along as I drove his feed truck through the pastures to feed some of his herd and check on the cattle.

Agriculture has played a huge role in our past and will be an important part of our future. There’s a lot of technology and strategy that goes on in today’s ag industry and Oklahoma can be proud of the work our farmers are doing. They represent the best of our state with our common values of self-reliance, community and integrity. As governor, I will be committed to supporting our agriculture industry and ensuring the long-term survival of our farms.

Next, I visited with the folks at Novus Windpower, which is a wind energy company based in Guymon. They took me on a tour of one of their wind farms on the other side of the Oklahoma/Texas border. Novus is doing great work in trying to harness the wind that comes sweeping down the plains. We just need to get more wind farms on our side of the border!

Our nation must develop a comprehensive, long-term strategy for ending our dependence on foreign sources of energy. Part of that plan will be unleashing our oil and gas companies so they can develop our domestic energy sources. But another key component will be alternative energy sources like wind farms. In my administration, I will work to ensure Oklahoma becomes a leader in the alternative energy industry.

We ended the day with a lovely reception at the Draper barn outside of Guymon. They have some really neat memorabilia there including a collection of canes, a collection of old cars, license plates, umbrellas, books, scales, dolls, cassette tapes and old record players.

Finally, today is Good Friday and I want to wish all of you a very Happy Easter. I’m looking forward to spending time with my family on Easter Sunday and I hope you are able to do the same.

The Working Across Oklahoma tour gets going again on Monday. I’m headed to eastern Oklahoma to work in a Love’s Country Store in Webbers Falls and to work at a nursery in Hulbert.

Okie from Muskogee! Day Four of Working Across Oklahoma tour

I spent the whole day as an “Okie in Muskogee” for day four of our Working Across Oklahoma tour.

Our day started off at the Muskogee Regional Medical Center where I worked as a nurse’s aide. I helped administer a health check up to one of the women who worked at the hospital. Turns out, we knew each other. I had hired her to work for me in Tulsa years ago when I was district manager for a national hotel chain. What a small world!

For the second day, I got the chance to speak with a group of doctors and medical staff. Obviously the hot topic was the Obama/Pelosi health care bill and its impact on Oklahoma. The so-called “ObamaCare” will cut $523 billion from Medicare, which will affect the health and well being of our seniors, and burdens our state with millions of dollars of unfunded mandates.

From Day One, I have opposed a big-government takeover of our health care system and as governor I will continue to fight policies like “ObamaCare” that will eliminate jobs and pass along mountains of debt to future generations of Americans.

After leaving the hospital, I was able to speak to the Muskogee Rotary Club. The club meets in the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame building which is very cool! I also had the chance to drop in on a few businesses downtown and visit with folks.

Finally, I wrapped up the day working as a hostess at Mayhlon’s BBQ restaurant. In between taking orders and serving food, I got the chance to visit with a few customers and one of the main concerns on their minds right now is the economy.

It’s a concern of many Oklahomans and will have to be the main focus of our next governor. And that’s why I’m out on the road for this jobs tour: I’m gaining valuable insight into our state while getting the chance to talk one-on-one with employers, employees and everyday working Oklahomans.

As governor, my main focus will be to create a business friendly environment that will bring more and better jobs to our state and lead to greater economic prosperity for our families!

Tomorrow, I’m headed to the opposite side of the state: the Oklahoma Panhandle. I’ll be making a few stops and working as a ranch hand in Guymon!