Following BP’s Lead

I asked the sheriff of St. Bernard Parish, Jack Stephens, if he was at all optimistic about BP stopping the gusher of oil that is fouling the Gulf of Mexico...[Read full story]

Challenging Health Care Reform
Conservatives Persist in Their Demagoguery

The number of states jointly suing to overturn the new health care reform law on constitutional grounds swelled to 20 last week. [Read full story

Crist’s Change
Putting GOP on Defensive

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.--Charlie Crist returned to his hometown to launch a political campaign [Read full story]

Arizona’s Witch Hunt
State Challenges Federal Authority

WASHINGTON--Though it has been settled law since the Civil War ended that a state cannot secede from the union, Arizona’s extreme action suggests it imagines it can. [Read full story]

Wayne C. Chandler Sr.

Getting a Lot Done and Not Caring About Being Credited [Read full story]

News Worth Noting
For GOP, United Stands Might Net Drawbacks, Too

Passage of the health care legislation challenges the heart of the Republicans’ strategy this year [Read full story]

Civil Rights in Education
Education Secretary Should Follow Through With Promises

In a little over a year in office, Education Secretary Arne Duncan has used his bully pulpit and a burgeoning discretionary budget to focus state governments on school reform as never before. [Read full story]

Turning Our Backs on Heroes
Little Attention Paid to Wounded of Two Wars

While growing up just outside of Chicago, Dennet Oregon dreamed of being an artist. [Read full story]

They Must Be Doing Their Job

The good news from the U.S. House of Representatives is that its new independent Office of Congressional Ethics is doing a strong enough job to prompt outcries from members whose behavior has come under scrutiny. [Read full story

Editorials

Voters, Here’s an Imperative!
Let’s Reelect Commissioner Johnson

Oklahoma County Commissioner Willa Johnson (Dem., District I), who has gotten more done for the good of her constituents in the three years she has held the post than most commissioners accomplish in three four-year terms, should be reelected on Tuesday, July 27.
We strongly and with great enthusiasm endorse her candidacy today, and we encourage all of District I to turn out in large numbers and reelect her.
It is imperative that Commissioner Johnson be returned to office, particularly when we consider the prospects of returning to the negativity and controversy that were characteristic of previous eras of county commission operations.
Commissioner Johnson has brought a certain level of stability and cooperativeness to the commission, and has proven to be someone who can work with the other two commissioners to get things done with integrity and common-sense.
Now, she is being challenged for reelection by someone who represents just the opposite perspective; someone who has been the veritable source of controversy; someone who spawned the chaos that has always surrounded her every move, both in and out of public office.  We, simply, cannot afford to allow county government to be returned to the scandalous, indictment-ridden, corrupt era for which that opponent to Commissioner Johnson is infamous.  It is imperative that we don’t go back.  It is imperative that Willa Johnson be reelected.
Aside from those considerations, Commissioner Johnson deserves to be reelected BECAUSE of what she has accomplished:

1. She and her staff has overseen the construction of more than 150 road miles in her district, including work in Choctaw, Edmond, Forest Park, Jones, Luther, Midwest City, Oklahoma City, Nicoma City and Spencer.
2. She supported the passage of the bond issue creating the Tinker Aerospace Complex, which has contributed at least $172 million to the economy of District I and helped retain 850 jobs, as well as create another 100 REAL jobs of consequence….all for her constituents.
3. The District I county commissioner has worked to replace nine bridges in her district, including those on Britton Road east of Jones and on Anderson Road north of 178th Street, and two in Spencer at NE 36th Street and Douglas Boulevard.
4. Because of her ability to get things done and because of her spirit of cooperativeness, Commissioner Johnson has successfully led the county government in partnering with Oklahoma City (where she served for an extended period as a tremendously effective city councilwoman), with the Federal Highway Administration and with the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority to construct the Eastern Oklahoma County Gate on the Turner Turnpike.

Commissioner Johnson is someone we need in county government.  She can get along with others.  She can work with others.  She gets things done.
Clearly, this is not the time to make changes in our District I county commissioners.  Let us not return to the past.  Let’s keep moving toward the future.  Let’s reelect Commissioner Johnson on Tuesday, July 27!