The Duncan Banner

Local News

October 18, 2012

Government funding a key issue during forum

Mike Smith The Duncan Banner

DUNCAN — Whether it’s money for schools, roads or the sheriff’s department, government funding, or the lack of it, is a top issue for several candidates seeking votes in Stephens County heading into the Nov. 6 election.

Several candidates for offices covering all or parts of Stephens County spoke about taxes and government spending Tuesday night at the second of three forums sponsored by the Committee for Balanced Government.

The first forum was held in Velma on Oct. 9 and a third is set for 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Empire School cafeteria.

Here are some highlights:

- Stephens County Commissioner

Republican Lonnie Estes of Empire has claimed that the county commissioners, including incumbent District 2 Democrat Todd Churchman, cut the base county budget of Republican Sheriff Wayne McKinney by 37 percent without warning.

Estes alluded to the claim again Tuesday night and said he would have an open dialogue with other county officials if elected.

“You can’t just throw things at them,” Estes said.

Churchman has said that county officials, including McKinney, were given ample time to weigh in on the county budget and that other cash accounts the sheriff has grown justified a cut in his base budget.

Churchman said Tuesday night that the commission has “just been thrashed over this budget,” but it lived within its means.

“You cannot allocate more money than comes in,” he said.

- Stephens County Sheriff

McKinney said when he took office four years ago, his general county budget was about $525,000 and that is money that pays for the salaries of his deputies and staff. (The commission cut that to $350,000 in the current budget).

McKinney said he has made major changes in how the Stephens County Jail is operated that have cut costs. As examples, he said inmates are given meals that are nutritious but not overboard and they are charged for medications such as Tylenol.

“We have saved hundreds of thousands of dollars for the taxpayers,” he said.

Marlow Police Chief Jimmy Williams, a Democrat challenging McKinney, steered clear of the budget debate, giving only his understanding of how revenues are generated for the sheriff’s department.

He said if elected, he would emphasize closer relations between the department and the public.

“We deal with so many people in the community every day,” he said. “I consider myself a public servant first and foremost.”

- State Senate District 31

Democrat Tony Terrill, a teacher from Lawton, said incumbent Republican Sen. Don Barrington of Lawton, along with other Republicans in the Legislature, have cut funding for education by $322 million over the past eight years.

He said education and funding schools adequately was his top priority and it was the key to creating good jobs in Oklahoma.

“They have voted time and time again to cut education over the last eight years,” Terrill said. “This is not a priority.”

Barrington said education was very important, but lawmakers must address many other issues, including assistance to the disabled, public safety and soil conservation.

“These all have to mesh together,” he said.

- Senate District 43

Republican Corey Brooks of Washington, Okla., and Democrat Mike Fullerton of Newcastle were asked what they might do as legislators for cities such as Duncan and Marlow.

Fullerton said infrastructure, including roads and water supply, was one of his top priorities. He said Highway 29 heading out of Marlow was one of the worst roads in the district and lives are being lost because of it.

“I’m about building roads and I’m also about building infrastructure,” he said.

Brooks said as a legislator, he would help facilitate a successful, independent spirit already evident in places such as Duncan and Marlow, in part by keeping regulations on small businesses in check.

“There is a lot of economic development going on here in Duncan,” he said. “They (businesses) see it as a city on the grow, a city on the move.”

- House District 51

Democrat Stewart Meyer of Chickasha cautioned against major cuts in the state income tax, saying they could lead to increases in other taxes and leave education and other services underfunded.

“We already have areas in core services that are not being taken care of in Oklahoma,” he said.

Republican Scott Biggs of Chickasha had a prior commitment and did not attend.

- Congress, 4th District

Democrat Donna Bebo of Fletcher and independent RJ Harris of Norman agreed that combat disability pay for soldiers should not be deducted from military pensions.

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