District 28 State Senator Candidate Q&A

The Oklahoma State Senator in District 28 represents Lincoln and Seminole county, as well as parts of Logan, Oklahoma and Pottawatomie County.

Members of those counties will determine who their representative will be.

Six people are running for the seat. The District 28 position is up for grabs after Zack Taylor, who served from 2020 to the end of his term in 2022, announced he would not seek reelection.

Jeff McCommas, Jamey Mullin, Grant Green and Robert W. Trimble are representing the Republican Party in the race. Tony Boodie Wilson and Karen Rackley represent the Democratic Party.

Oklahoma allows State Senators to serve three four-year terms. The Guthrie News Leader conducted a Q&A with five of the six candidates. Green did not respond to the request.

Jeff McCommas, 56

Why are you running for office?

I feel we need to put the control of our government back to the people.

What is the first thing you will do if elected?

Work on lowering the inflation of goods and services we are all experiencing.

With inflation and gas prices on the rise, how much relief can come from a state level and how will you combat the increases?

With 2.6 billion in our state savings, I feel we could give Oklahomans more help than what has been proposed.

As a state we need to push back on the Federal policies that have been put into place and let our oil and gas producers go back to work.

At what point do you believe life begins, and what is your stance on abortion?

Life begins when God says, not when man says! I am 100% pro life.

With tragic shootings in the news both nationally and in Oklahoma, gun control is a hot topic. How will you approach gun rights in Oklahoma?

100% pro second amendment.

Tony Boodie Wilson, 50

Why are you running for office?

I am running for senate because I want to try and bring the voice to the constituents of Senate District 28 back to the capitol. Special interest has taken over the capitol and now it is time to give the capitol back to the people. We can’t do that in our current state.

What is the first thing you will do if elected?

My first order of business if elected to the senate would be to try and figure out a way to increase teacher pay. I’m not sure if we have to figure out a way to incentivize college students who want to be teachers or what? We have a record number of emergency certifications for teachers and that number is only growing. This has been an ongoing problem for decades. Why can’t this be fixed? That’s what I intend to focus on.

With inflation and gas prices on the rise, how much relief can come from a state level and how will you combat the increases?

It’s hard to combat the oil/gas prices in Oklahoma. We, as a state, for so long have been dependent on this business that it’s hard to change it now. We prosper when oil is high as we have a record surplus of savings on the books. When oil is down, we are down. Kind of a Catch-22 for Oklahoma. Pricing is dependent on a number of things and to my knowledge, the legislature can’t control it.

At what point do you believe life begins, and what is your stance on abortion?

Conception is when life begins. I believe that abortions should only be in the case of rape, incest or detriment to the mother or the child.

With tragic shootings in the news both nationally and in Oklahoma, gun control is a hot topic. How will you approach gun rights in Oklahoma?

Living in a pro-NRA, pro-Second Amendment state, gun laws will never change. I do believe that we should have a 72-hour waiting period for semiautomatic rifles. Same day purchases should not be allowed. I am in favor of not only the Second Amendment but all amendments. Unfortunately, we can not and will not prevent all mass killings. People with evil in their heart and mind will find some way to carry out their evil. Mental health is a component we will need to address to deal with mass shootings. The state has had too many funding cuts to mental health in the last few years. Remember the oil question, oil was down and so were state revenues, cuts had to be made and mental health was one of many state services that met the chopping block.

Karen Rackley, 52

Why are you running for office?

I am running for office because I feel that the communities in District 28 are underserved in many ways. Health care access in rural areas is limited and becoming more so. Mental health access is lacking. Ambulance services are stretched thin, even in communities with an ambulance service available there is often a long wait time. Teachers are leaving this state, not just for better pay, but because they do not feel supported or respected. Poor conditions of county roads and bridges and the lack of high speed internet in rural areas demonstrates a need for broad infrastructure improvements.

What is the first thing you will do if elected?

I plan to have an open door policy for my constituents. I want to know what District 28 ‘s needs are. I want to have a relationship with my constituents. I feel I have a duty to represent my constituents, and not cater to special interests groups and lobbyists. I will not vote on a bill I have not read.

With inflation and gas prices on the rise, how much relief can come from a state level and how will you combat the increases?

Gas prices are rising, putting a strain on working families. If there is a way to decrease the Oklahoma taxes on gas sales, or other relief resources, the senate needs to put their heads together and work on it together. I also would like to develop a relationship with Oklahoma’s representatives at the federal level to make sure they are considering what is in the best interest of Oklahoma.

At what point do you believe life begins, and what is your stance on abortion?

I believe life begins with a heart beat. I am not against Oklahoma’s new abortion laws, but feel more work needs to be done to improve infant and child services, healthcare access, nutritional access, and childcare services as well as other services that will result as a rippling effect of the changes. I am pro-life.

With tragic shootings in the news both nationally and in Oklahoma, gun control is a hot topic. How will you approach gun rights in Oklahoma?

Schools should be protected, whether that is by armed resource officers, emergency locks/blocks on classroom doors, or restricted access to buildings. I support finding ways to develop these programs in our school districts. I do not believe taking guns away from law-abiding citizens is the answer. I do support the Second Amendment. Policies that ban cartridge sizes for guns is not something I would support either, as it would put restrictions not only on certain rifles, but a large majority of semi-automatic pistols as well. Families have a right to protect themselves.

Robert

Why are you running for office?

Freedom, freedom, freedom. I believe the very fabric that has made Oklahoma a great state is under threat. Our families are hurting and our small businesses need our help. Mental health in rural areas must be a priority along with funding our police, helping our mom and pop businesses, getting government out of our schools and returning it to the parents and communities.

What is the first thing you will do if elected?

I will introduce a bill that prohibits foreigners from buying our land to grow substances that can hurt Oklahomans and funneling the money back to foreign countries that do not have our best interest. I will meet with city leaders, county officials, educators, healthcare providers, police chiefs, sheriffs, business owners, and citizens who want to get involved and be a part of a round table that will meet frequently to address local issues and develop plans to help our communities prosper..

With inflation and gas prices on the rise, how much relief can come from a state level and how will you combat the increases?

Eliminate State income tax, grocery tax and help reduce tax burdens on businesses. Oppose any new legislation with wasteful spending or misuse of taxpayer dollars. Welfare reform, such as EBT card holders should only be used to buy healthy food items not sodas and Snickers bars.

At what point do you believe life begins, and what is your stance on abortion?

At conception. PERIOD. Life is a gift from God and we need to protect that life.

With tragic shootings in the news both nationally and in Oklahoma, gun control is a hot topic. How will you approach gun rights in Oklahoma?

Our Second Amendment gives us the right to bear arms, and I am willing to bring up legislation necessary to defend that right. To support that right, I also want to focus on the mental health side of the issue. People are hurting from dysfunctional families, social isolation, unmet needs and single moms and grandparents are raising kids; I want to help communities get needed resources to support their citizens.

Jamey Mullin, 50

Why are you running for office?

The seat is an open seat, after the incumbent Zack Taylor announced he was not seeking another term. We live in NE Oklahoma County. Like the SE corner of Logan County, we were moved into senate district 28 as well, joining all of Lincoln, Seminole and part of Pottawatomie counties. As we prayed for the right direction, my family and I felt the strong call to serve and trust in the Lord to lead us on this journey. The Biden administration is forcing us to accept their liberal agenda on the state level, with strings attached to federal funding. Our family values are under attack, as well as our investments and life savings. As a business owner, the overreach of government makes it difficult to operate. To just put it bluntly, you can gripe about the way things are heading, or you can give all you have to fight to change it. I could not find peace any other way but to join the fight and stand up for the voice of the people.

What is the first thing you will do if elected?

There is so much more than just a “first thing.” We need help now to ensure we put a stop to this inflation getting out of control. Also important, the safety of the children that attend our schools is a top priority. We need minimum standards of safety across our school districts, that ensure we have done our best to protect the children our families place in the care of our schools.

With inflation and gas prices on the rise, how much relief can come from a state level and how will you combat the increases?

Under President Trump, we were on a path to energy independence. We must get the Keystone Pipeline open to supply our energy needs, and not depend on foreign oil. Our energy sector has experienced over a decade of labor cuts and downsizing of assets. This just can’t be rebuilt over a few months. We need to cut the government overreach that extends beyond health and safety and get Oklahoma energy assets back into the market. We need to ensure our vehicles are being filled with fuel from Oklahoma oil, not foreign oil. A cut or pause in the state fuel tax, exclusive to residents of Oklahoma would be the fastest relief. Income tax reductions as well as removing the corporate franchise tax would create even more relief. We must also consider the benefit of those dollars currently in other areas, and will need those funds offset by other means, but we must work together to get this done.

At what point do you believe life begins, and what is your stance on abortion?

I am pro-life and believe life begins at conception. We need to show love and support for women and young ladies facing the challenges that come with supporting life, and plan ahead for an increased need in support programs, as the likelihood of Roe v. Wade being reversed is more possible now than at any time in the last 50 years.

With tragic shootings in the news both nationally and in Oklahoma, gun control is a hot topic. How will you approach gun rights in Oklahoma?

I am a 100% supporter of the constitution, and our Second Amendment rights that allow us to keep and bear arms, and those rights shall not be infringed. The evil intentions of a few people harm other people… not the guns themselves. In 2015 amid several acts of violence on school grounds, as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Oklahoma Christian Schools, my first act was to assign a safety evaluation that included law enforcement, university presidents, and the department of homeland security. This led to the hiring of an SRO (school resource officer) through the county sheriff’s office, along with other security upgrades.

House District 31 Candidate Forum set for Thursday

Voters in the House District 31 race have an opportunity to see the candidates up close and personal.

The Guthrie Chamber of Commerce is hosting a forum on Thursday for the three candidates to share the stage, answer questions and talk policy.

Logan Trainer and Collin Duel, two of the candidates, will be there. Karmin Griner, who attended the previous forum, will not attend due to a prior commitment.

The event will be held at 6 p.m. at Guthrie City Hall, Council Chambers. It will also be live-streamed on the Guthrie News Page website and the Guthrie Chamber of Commerce Facebook page.

If you have questions you would like the candidates to answer, you can message the Guthrie Chamber of Commerce on Facebook or email them at info@guthriechamber.com