Meacham not running for re-election

Just like I said a few weeks a go, Oklahoma State Treasurer Scott Meacham not running for re-election in 2010

SCOTT MEACHAM
OKLAHOMA STATE TREASURER


For Immediate Release: October 30, 2009


Treasurer Meacham Announces Future Intentions

OKLAHOMA CITY – State Treasurer Scott Meacham today announced he will not seek another term as State Treasurer following the expiration of his current term in January of 2011. He also announced that he will not seek any other elective office.

Meacham is DOA for re-elect as Treasurer or run for AG

Thinking Oklahoma State Treasurer Scott Meacham (D) will NOT be running for re-elect as Treasurer or make a run for Attorney General.

Jari sets sights on Gov Brad Boy job

In a letter dated Friday, Jari Askins tells supporters she will "soon become a candidate for Governor of Oklahoma."

Lt. Gov Askins in the letter, "What I believe I offer that others may not is unique experience and an ability to work with members of both parties to solve problems."

Jari plans a formal announcement this month.

Oklahoma Attorney General Drew Edmondson (D), has said he intends to run for governor and will not seek re-election as attorney general.

Gov. Brad "Sleep a Lot" Henry, a Democrat, is serving his second term and cannot seek re-election.

The Lt. Governor said her decision to run was not based on other possible candidates but rather on her beliefs that she can handle the job and can win the election.

Jari is a former special district judge, House Democratic leader and Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board chairwoman.

"I believe this experience in all three branches of government will serve Oklahoma well in the governor's office," she says in the letter.

Askins was elected the lieutenant governor in 2006, defeating former Oklahoma House Speaker Todd Hiett, R-Kellyville.

Others mentioned for a possible bid for governor include State Treasurer Scott Meacham (D), and U.S. Reps. Mary Fallin (R) and Tom Cole (R).

Lt. Gov Askins said she would need to raise several million dollars for the race.

"One advantage of announcing this early is the additional time for fundraising," she said.

"I certainly have a plan in place and am prepared to raise the amount of money necessary for this campaign."

Jari lent $880,000 to her campaign for lieutenant governor. She said she was satisfied with the amount that has been repaid and that she has not contemplated a loan for the governor's race.

In her letter, the Lt. Gov says the state can be proud of what it has accomplished, but more is needed.

"We need better schools and more college graduates," she writes. "We need to make college more affordable, not less.

"Far too many Oklahoma children are without health care and going to bed hungry. There are tens of thousands while even one is too many."

2006 Dem Lt. Governor
Primary Results

CAL HOBSON 46,768 18.17%
JARI ASKINS 103,515 40.22%
PETE REGAN 74,784 29.05%
JIM ROGERS 32,336 12.56%

Eight Southern governorships up in 2010

Hat Tip Southern Political Report

Eight Southern governorships
up in 2010

By Hastings Wyman
Southern Political Report

November 24, 2008 — Here's a look at the eight Southern governorships that will be decided in 2010.

Alabama: Gov. Bob Riley (R) is term-limited. The Democrats could face a hotly contested primary between Lt. Gov. Jim Folsom Jr., son of a former governor, and US Rep. Artur Davis, an African American who, like Barack Obama, is Harvard-educated, but is more moderate (his voting record rates 65% from the Chamber of Commerce). Another possible contender is state Agriculture Commissioner Ron Sparks (D). On the Republican side, businessman Tim James, son of former Gov. Fob James, has announced that he will run. Tim James ran in 2002, finishing third in a three-way race with 9%. US Rep. Jo Bonner (R) is being widely discussed as a potential candidate, though he has made no public declaration. Bonner, 49, is from Mobile and is not well known across the state. US Sen. Richard Shelby (R) has made it clear that, contrary to rumor, he plans to seek re-election and will not be in the gubernatorial race.

Arkansas: Gov. Mike Beebe (D) is expected to seek a second term and, given his own popularity and the GOP’s failure to contest Democratic incumbents here in 2008, he’s is a strong bet for re-election.

Florida: Gov. Charlie Crist (R) is expected to run again and, with consistently high ratings in polls -- his latest approval rating was 68% -- is the early favorite. Several Democrats are getting touted for the race, including Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink, who is being promoted by a group of Hillary Clinton’s backers. Sink, however, may run for the US Senate instead. Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio, and US Reps. Allen Body and Kendrick Meek also get mentioned.

Georgia: Gov. Sonny Perdue (R) is term-limited and the race to succeed him began earlier in the year. Three candidates have formed exploratory committees: Secretary of State John Oxendine and Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle, both Republicans, and former Adjutant General David Poythress, a Democrat. In addition, a number of candidates from both parties are getting mentioned in the Peach State media, including, on the Republican side, US Reps. Jack Kingston and Lynn Westmoreland, Secretary of State Karen Handel, and House Majority Leader Jerry Keen. For the Democrats, Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond, an African American, who has held his elective post for ten years, and House Minority Leader DuBose Porter are possibilities.

Oklahoma: Gov. Brad Henry (D) is term-limited and a spirited contest for the open seat is likely. The leading Democratic contender for now is Attorney General Drew Edmondson, scion of a family prominent in Oklahoma politics. Edmondson has been touring the state and is expected to announce in late 2009. But he may not have a clear field in his own party. Lt. Gov. Jari Askins and state Treasurer Scott Meacham are also getting mentioned for the job. On the GOP side, two members of Congress are possible gubernatorial contenders. Congresswoman Mary Fallin, a former lieutenant governor, is getting mentioned; she was recently elected president of the sophomore class of House Republicans. Congressman Tom Cole, who earlier this month lost his position as chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee, is being talked about for governor. And Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett, who lost a runoff for Congress to Fallin in 2006, is also getting some attention for the job.

South Carolina: Gov. Mark Sanford (R) is term-limited. The Republican field of potential candidates is large. Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer (R); Attorney General Henry McMaster (R); Carroll Campbell, son of the late Gov. Campbell; US Rep. Gresham Barrett and state House Majority Leader Jim Merrill have all either expressed interest or are getting mentioned in the media. On the Democratic side, there is also a list of possible contenders, including former state Democratic Chairman Joe Erwin; state Sen. Joel Lourie; state Superintendent of Education Jim Rex; state Sen. Vincent Sheheen; and former Superintendent of Education -- and 2004 US Senate candidate -- Inez Tenenbaum.

Tennessee: Gov. Phil Bredesen (D) is term-limited and there are a lot of politicos in the Volunteer State who are possible candidates to succeed him. The biggest name is that of former US Sen. -- and Senate Majority Leader -- Bill Frist (R), who is expected to say yea or nay in early 2009. If Frist runs, he immediately becomes the heavy favorite and would probably clear the field, especially on the GOP side. If Frist stays out of the race, eight-term US Rep. Zach Wamp (R) has expressed interest in the governorship. Other possible Republican contenders include US Rep. Marsha Blackburn, Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey and Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam. For the Democrats, former House Majority Leader Kim McMillan formed an exploratory committee last spring. Other Democratic hats potentially in the ring include US Rep. Lincoln Davis, former US Rep. -- and US Senate candidate -- Harold Ford, Jr., former Nashville Mayor Bill Purcell, and former Democratic state Chairman Doug Horne.

Texas: Gov Rick Perry (R) has announced that he will seek a third term, but that has not discouraged US Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, a fellow Republican, from dropping hints that she expects to enter the primary against him. Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst (R) is another possibility. Other names that have been dropped include state Sen. Dan Patrick (R), owner of a conservative radio station, and former Secretary of State Roger Williams. If both Perry and Hutchison run for governor, however, it may discourage other GOP aspirants. On the Democratic side, Houston Mayor Bill White has expressed interest in the gubernatorial race, but if Hutchison steps down to run for governor, White might prefer to run for her Senate seat.

Lawmakers: Odds for bond issue are 50-50

Lawmakers:
Odds for bond issue are 50-50

By MICK HINTON World Capitol Bureau

OKLAHOMA CITY — By week's end, House and Senate leaders made sure they kept their stories straight regarding the likelihood of a bond issue emerging before the session's expected final gavel Friday.

Both Republican House Speaker Chris Benge and Senate Democratic leader Mike Morgan said the bond issue has a "50-50 chance."

The leaders were planning to regroup Monday to see if a plan can emerge. It would probably have to be shored up by midweek for a vote.

The House has been adamant that any bond issue must include roads and bridges or there would be no deal.

House Republicans could float a bill calling for bonds to fund only transportation needs, but the likelihood of the Senate and governor going along with that idea is slim. A compromise is the most likely solution.

Three other needs in play are bonds:

To fund endowed chairs, so the state would pay the universities money to match gifts from the private sector for special professorships,

To complete a Native American Cultural Center at the crossroad of Interstates 40 and 35 in Oklahoma City, something that the governor wants, and

To provide upstream flood control needs that have become evident in parts of the state after last year's severe flooding.

A bond issue in the range of $500 million to $800 million has been suggested, although agencies have bombarded leaders with requests that would total about $1.7 billion.

If a bond issue were limited to roads, it could be closer to $300 million.

Whether a bond issue emerges appears to be incumbent on how much the top leaders will compromise in drawing up a package. If they are too insistent on what they must have included, a Christmas tree bond issue could topple under its own weight.

This year, there is a four-legged stool of leadership that has to be balanced. There's the House controlled by Republicans, then the Senate evenly split between Republicans and Democrats, and Democratic Gov. Brad Henry.

State Treasurer Scott Meacham has been doing much of the negotiating for the governor.

Sen. Glenn Coffee, head of Senate Republicans, said he thinks there will be an announcement, "hopefully early next week," as to what the leaders decide.

Consideration of a bond issue appears to be the last major item that lawmakers have to decide before adjournment. Due to a standstill budget already approved for state agencies, no more money is on the table to spend.


Mick Hinton (405) 528-2465
mick.hinton@tulsaworld.com