Kristen Waldron
Staff writer
After some anticipation, President Barack Obama was re-elected by a majority of both electoral and by popular vote.
But in the state of Oklahoma, it was a different story. Gov. Mitt Romney collected 891,325 votes, and he won in every county in the state of Oklahoma.
When the official announcement came, Romney gave his concession speech to the American public.
Romney said, “The nation, as you know, is at a critical point. At a time like this, we can’t risk partisan bickering and political posturing.
“Our leaders have to reach across the aisle to do the people’s work.”
Then Obama gave his victory speech to the people, stressing both the importance of bipartisan cooperation and how he intends to help make it happen.
Obama said, “It moves forward because you reaffirmed the spirit that has triumphed over war and depression; the spirit that has lifted this country from the depths of despair to the great heights of hope — the belief that while each of us will pursue our own individual dreams, we are an American family, and we rise or fall together, as one nation, and as one people.”
On the state level this Election Day, there were several state issues up for vote. Among these were six state questions, all of which were approved by a majority of votes.
State Question 758 deals with real property taxes also called ad valorem taxes. These taxes are based on several factors, including the fair cash value of the property.
This measure changes the limits on increases in fair cash value, reducing the cap on increases from 5 percent to 3 percent for some properties. The 3 percent cap would apply to homestead exempted property as well as agricultural land, according to ballotpedia.com
SQ 759, which passed by 52.9 percent, bans affirmative action programs in the state and prohibits special treatment based on race or sex in public employment, education and contracts. The measure permits affirmative action in three instances: when gender is a bonafide qualification, .under existing court orders and consent decrees that require preferred treatment and when needed to keep or obtain federal funds.
SQ 762 cancels the power that the Oklahoma governor has over the parole process in the state for nonviolent crimes.
SQ 764 allows the Oklahoma Water Resources Board to issue bonds to provide a reserve fund for that board, mainly for water treatment and sewage plants in the state.
SQ 765 abolishes the Oklahoma Department of Human Services, the Oklahoma Commission of Human Services and the position of Director of the Oklahoma Department of Human Services. According to the measure, instead of having this department, commission and position be responsible for adopting rules and regulations regarding the state’s elderly. This legislation just gets rid of the head office of the department and replaces it with a board, but this does not close the county offices
Finally, SQ 766 abolishes property taxes on intangible personal property.
Professor Corie Delashaw of the Social Science Department at Southeastern said, “Large corporations were upset with the state Supreme Court opinion several years ago, which basically held that all assets should be valued for ad valorem tax purposes. Ad valorem are taxes, which support our schools. What this measure did was reduce future revenues to the schools of approximately $50 million dollars per year. So, corporate entities benefitted and school will suffer.”
In the race for United States Representative District 2, Republican Mark Wayne Mullin defeated Democrat Rob Wallace and Independent Michael G. Fulks. Mullin won by 2,006 votes in the election.
In Bryan County, there were three elected positions up for grabs.
In the race for State Representative District 21, Durant Mayor Jerry Tomlinson (Democrat) was defeated by Rep. Dustin Roberts (Republican). Roberts won the election 3,192 votes to continue his work in Oklahoma City.
The winner of the county sheriff’s race was Democrat Kenneth Golden who defeated Republican John D. Wyatt by 714 votes.
And in the County Clerk race, Democrat Tammy Reynolds beat Republican Glenn Russell by a margin of 3.034 votes.
November 15, 2012