Muskogee Phoenix - Dorman Visits City, Confident He'll Win

News Article

By D.E. Smoot

Democratic gubernatorial nominee Joe Dorman campaigned Wednesday in Muskogee, making several stops in town during the final days leading up to Tuesday's election.

The Rush Springs lawmaker expressed confidence about his ability to unseat the incumbent, citing recent endorsements from some of his Republican colleagues in the Legislature and others. He said residents are tired of politicians unwilling to work across party lines and promised to be a governor for all Oklahomans.

Muskogee County Sheriff Charles Pearson was one of several people who met with Dorman during a campaign stop at the Muskogee County Courthouse. Pearson shared concerns about the pension system for county law enforcers and a lack of financial support for juvenile justice initiatives and corrections under Gov. Mary Fallin's watch.

"This isn't about Republicans or Democrats, this is about Oklahoma," Pearson said during his visit with Dorman. "Right now, the way our state is, we need more than lip service -- a government in action is what we need to see."

Pearson said he is frustrated with the failure of Fallin and her staff to respond to requests he has made during the past four years. He said former Govs. Frank Keating and Brad Henry always responded to requests, but that has not been the case with Fallin's administration.

"When we send a request to the governor's office, we just want to hear something back -- it might take a month, but that's all right," Pearson said, urging Dorman to be more like Fallin's predecessors should he be elected. "With this governor, we never hear anything, we just don't get anything from that office."

Dorman said he recognizes a need for all people to have a voice in the executive branch of state government, particularly in the governor's office. He said state government must be "responsive to the needs of all people across the state."

"We've got to remember those folks out there who are struggling, those ... who deserve every opportunity to achieve their highest potential," Dorman said. "If we are providing more opportunities for the kids, it reduces his (Pearson's) work because they are probably not going to be out there getting arrested."

Dorman said in order to move Oklahoma forward, state leaders must focus on public education improvements. He said elementary and secondary students must be given the tools and resources they need to succeed, such as "textbooks that aren't held together by duct tape" and in quantities that will allow students to take "them home ... at night" to study.

The Democrat discounted recent polls that show Fallin has been able to maintain a solid lead against him. He said a closer look at those polls reveals the results may be skewed in the incumbent's favor.

"Thanks to the efforts of Mary Fallin and Janet Barresi to destroy our public education system, we are seeing educators becoming more active than they have been since the days of House Bill 1017," Dorman said, noting those teachers and others backing his campaign typically are not the "likely voters" typically tapped by pollsters. "We have visited with undecided voters, and we have the numbers to show it's a dead heat -- this is going to be one of the most exciting elections in state history ... because every vote will count in this race for governor."

Dorman faces Fallin and two independent candidates -- Kimberly Willis and Richard Prawdzienski -- in this year's general election. In-person absentee voting begins today at county election boards across the state and will continue through Saturday.

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