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The Countywide & Sun
Enthusiastic Democratic Candidates Visit Shawnee
By GLORIA TROTTER
An enthusiastic
group of Democratic
candidates and party
loyals gathered last
Thursday night, March
15, at Shawnee’s The
Gathering Place, to kick
off the 2018 campaign
season.
County chairman
Lauren McElfrresh, em-
phasizing the party’s
“Flip That Seat” slogan,
introduced a series of
candidates who made
brief remarks. Linda
Edmondson, standing in
for her husband Drew, a
candidate for Governor,
led off.
“I bet you’re here be-
cause you’re fed up,”
she began, speaking of
the recent problems in
state government. She
said her husband “has
an alibi — he hasn’t been
in office” for several
years.
She praised Oklaho-
ma teachers for “step-
ping up and stepping
out,” as well as state em-
ployees and students.
She said Oklahoma’s
problems are not the
weather but are “man-
made — or in some cases
woman made.” She said
Edmondson wants to
“Take Oklahoma Back”
from poor leadership,
and that “Grassroots
efforts will lift all can-
didates.”
Connie Johnson, the
other announced Dem-
y
ocratic candidate for the TV and yelling at
Governor, was unable the newspaper” before
to attend. deciding to run. She
Steve Barnes, a We- said she has a “special
woka attorney and can- interest” in education,
didate for House Dist. and hopes to focus on
28, was next. He said he cyber security, increas-
is proud of support from ing the minimum wage
the Creek Nation and and background checks.
his work with the Semi- N e x t w a s re t i re d
nole Tribe. Noting that college professor Tom
tribal gaming compacts Guild, who has sought
are up in 2020, he said the seat before. “You
accountability is impor- know who I am and
tant. “We rely heavily on where I stand,” he said. Steve Barnes for House Dist. 28 Linda Edmondson standing in for her hus-
the tribes,” he said. He favors increasing band Drew Edmondson for Governor
He added that he Social Security bene-
is opposed to school fits and the minimum
consolidation, charter wage, and said he will
schools and “anything ÀJKWIRU´ZKDW·VOHIWµRI
that takes money away the Affordable Health
from schools.” He also Care Act. He is also con-
favors removing some cerned about the “cor-
tax incentives, which UXSWFDPSDLJQÀQDQFLQJ
he said would free system” and the student
up enough money for loan mess.
teacher raises. Lindsey Bodman
Barnes previously ran spoke on behalf of
for the seat in a special Kendra Horn, saying
election, losing to Zach +RUQZLOOÀJKWIRUUXUDO
Taylor by 56 votes. Dis- schools, economic de-
Tom Guild for Congressional Dist. 5 Eddie Porter for Congressional Dist. 5
trict 28 includes Semi- velopment and hospi-
nole and a large portion tals. She noted that Horn
of northern Pottawato- raised more money than
mie County north of I-40 5XVVHOO GXULQJ WKH ÀUVW
and a bit of Bethel Acres. reporting period and
The remaining speak- said he “is scared.”
ers were all candidates 7KHÀQDOVSHDNHUZDV
for the Democratic Ed Porter, who said he
nomination for the 5th has helped create jobs in
District seat in the U.S. Pottawatomie County.
Congress, currently held “I will represent my con-
by Republican Steve stituents, even if I dis-
Russell. agree,” he said. “I’m not
First up was Elysa- going to make friends.”
beth Britt, a former Ma- The Democratic Pri-
rine who said she found mary is June 26. Elysabeth Britt for Congressional Dist. 5 Tom Guild and Linda Edmondson visit with
herself “screaming at local residents.
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