The Enid News and Eagle, Enid, OK

Opinion

Discussion

October 27, 2010

We recommend Fallin, Lamb in Okla. governor, lieutenant governor races

ENID — Oklahoma voters are making history this election year at the top of the ticket when the first female governor of the state will be elected.

Voters have two strong candidates in Jari Askins, Democrat, and Mary Fallin, Republican.

The two candidates have conducted mostly a constructive campaign. Some campaign issues have taken a sidestep or two to what the real issues of the state are, but so far it hasn’t been too combative.

Voters have good candidates as well in the lieutenant governor’s race, which pits Democrat Kenneth Corn and Republican Todd Lamb, an Enid native, who has been a state senator from Edmond.

Both are fine candidates and have served Oklahoma well in their past positions.

There also is an independent on the ballot for lieutenant governor.

When looking at the priorities the state has to deal with — the overall budget shortfall, education funding, road and bridge priorities and the need to keep Oklahoma on solid footing in economic development, we give the nod to both Republicans to lead the top of the ticket and join the Republican-led Legislature in seeing what they can really do to move Oklahoma ahead.

As governor, Mary Fallin would provide the kind of aggression needed in addressing some top issues that our state has to get a handle on.

Lamb would be the best candidate to work with Fallin in achieving the aggressive goals we have to have to keep the state moving in the right direction.

It also would help to have someone from northwest Oklahoma in the lieutenant governor’s position.

This includes dealing with major economic development issues, such as tort reform and worker’s compensation.

It means coming up with good solutions to getting more education funding into the classrooms.

It also means making some hard choices and setting some priorities.

However the election comes out, Oklahoma voters know the economy, job growth and education improvement have to top the list for next year’s Legislature.

Fallin and Lamb, working with a Republican-led Legislature, will have that mandate if they are elected.

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