ELECTION RECAP: from the desk of Fred Morgan, President/CEO, The State Chamber of Oklahoma

Tuesday brought a victory for the business community and the One Oklahoma Coalition as a whole with the defeat of SQ 744. The State Chamber along with many of you (local chambers, economic development organization and trade association) fought against the initiative-which would have tied Oklahoma's education spending to that of other regional states.  We fought against it largely because there was no mechanism to pay for the increase required in education spending and there were no reforms attached to the question. 

A number of pro-business candidates were also elected Tuesday, including all five candidates The State Chamber supported with independent expenditures this year, a new and powerful endeavor for us.  The Republicans pulled off a statewide officeholder sweep, bringing with it a new governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, insurance and labor commissioners, state treasurer, state auditor, state superintendent of public instruction, and new state House and Senate leadership on both sides of the aisle and more than 29 new house and senate members. This will mean, though many of the faces will be familiar yet many will be new faces next legislative session and that Oklahoma's state government will undergo a complete make-over come January, 2011.

We are relying on our strong partnership with local chambers, economic development and trade organizations to walk the halls with us sharing the local community voice when necessary.  I trust our grassroots partners (YOU) are up for this challenge and I enjoy strengthening our already strong relationship.  I support your efforts and continue to be amazed at what an effective tool, TOGETHER, we can be.  Thanks for being a great TEAM player.  Now, let's move Oklahoma forward...TOGETHER.