Legislative carpetbagging: Oklahoma House District 69
This practice seems to be on the rise: When a seat in the state legislature is about to open up, potential candidates move into the district. They don't have any particular attachment to the area. They just have aspirations of serving in the legislature, and they will move wherever they need to move to have a shot at winning.
In Britain, there's no requirement for a Member of Parliament to live in the constituency he represents, but in America there is a strong tradition of geographical representation. We want our representatives to be "one of us" -- someone who has lived among us, shops where we shop, drives the same streets, and knows how the laws he considers affect our neighborhoods.
While Oklahoma law only requires six-month residency before filing for state legislature, most voters would prefer to see a longer commitment to the district before entrusting someone with representing them in Oklahoma City.
It's been clear since June 2004, when District 69 State Rep. Fred Perry drew no opposition for re-election, that District 69 would be an open seat in 2006. Perry would reach his term limit and would be ineligible to run for re-election.
Bobby at Tulsa Topics did some research at the Tulsa County Election Board and discovered that of the five declared candidates to succeed Perry, three of them have moved into the district since that time.
Going back through my voter registration CDs from the state election board, I was able to find a few more specifics.
Sydney Fred Jordan, Jr., first registered to vote in Tulsa County on June 17, 2004. His wife, Kyndra Brooke Jordan, registered to vote in Tulsa County on the same day. Prior to that he was registered to vote in Osage County, at the same address as his father. Records from March 2004 show him registered Republican, but "inactive", which means he had not voted in the previous four years.
Jordan had registered to vote in Osage County in February 1992, shortly after his 18th birthday. Some time between September 1999 and April 2000, he changed parties from Democrat to Republican. I have voter history records going back to May 1994, and he is not credited with having voted at all from that time through his move to Tulsa County. Since registering in Tulsa County, Jordan has been a fairly regular voter.
Darrell Lee Gwartney first registered to vote in Tulsa County on July 15, 2005. His wife, Deborah Lanelle Gwartney, registered to vote in Tulsa County on the same day. Prior to that they had been registered to vote in Rogers County, east of Owasso, since August 1994.
Jeff A. Applekamp has been registered to vote in Tulsa County since 2000, but he changed his registration to 7402 S. Lewis Ave. in November 2005. That address appears to be an apartment complex. Prior to that he was registered (as Jeffrey A. Applekamp) at 2712 W. 66th Pl., which is in House District 68. His wife, Laurie Renee Applekamp, was still registered at 2712 W. 66th Pl. as of May 8.
Bobby also checked land records and noticed that Applekamp closed on property in the Wind River subdivision near 121st and Riverside on January 27, 2006. He still owns the home at 2712 W. 66th Pl. Bobby didn't mention whether that home still has a homestead exemption.
It would appear that Applekamp rented an apartment in the District just in time to make the six-months deadline, but that he and his wife still live in District 68.
The other two candidates? The earliest registration records I have go back to May 1998. Christopher Scott Medlock was already resident and registered at his current address. Lisa Renee DeBolt was registered at 121st Street in Jenks at that time.
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Gwartney HQ is in Jenks, just south of Reasor's. What's up wit dat? Dang it. If I had even thought about workin' at da Sausage Factory, I might have have rented a shack in 69 by now. Hmmmm....maybe I'll just move into a cardboard box under an overpass and give an address like I-44 and Sheridan Overpass. Tap tap tap.....thinkin'. Whirrrrrrrrrrrrrl goes da thinkin' cap.
FYI- In a conversation with Fred Jordan some time ago, he related he was a graduate of the University of Iowa. So at least part of the time he was off to college. Doesn't change my mind though that Chris Medlock is far and away the most qualified and reliable to deliver Good government.
Fred Jordan is sending out A LOT of direct mail, and pretty sophisticated stuff too. I wonder where he is getting all his money. In his defense, I know that part of the time since 2001, he was defending our country. I just can't remember when it was. I'll have to get out the mailing tomorrow and look.
Fred Jordan represents Caprock Resources, LLC and
is definitely a candidate from the development community. See link
http://www.caprockresources.com/index.html.
Are your kidding me? How can you comment on Sydney Fred Jordan, Jr. and not mention the fact that he has been willing to die for our country as a US Marine.
I think you need to check your facts before you print them here. Fred Jordan, which is how he knows throughout District 69, can explain to everyone how an Absentee Ballet works. FYI... Those in the US Marines usually have to use an Absentee Ballet.
It seems I can not post a Link in here. So you can go and read this:
"Christopher Scott Medlock - No recent activity"
right here in regards to District 69
http://www.tulsatopics.com/tulsatopics/2006/05/state_house_district_68_or_69.html
Are your kidding me? How can you comment on Sydney Fred Jordan, Jr. and not mention the fact that he has been willing to die for our country as a US Marine.
I think you need to check your facts before you print them here. Fred Jordan, which is how he knows throughout District 69, can explain to everyone how an Absentee Ballet works. FYI... Those in the US Marines usually have to use an Absentee Ballet.
It seems I can not post a Link in here. So you can go and read this:
"Christopher Scott Medlock - No recent activity"
right here in regards to District 69
http://www.tulsatopics.com/tulsatopics/2006/05/state_house_district_68_or_69.html
jimwacker, perhaps Fred Jordan can explain how an absentee ballet works, but he seems to be unfamiliar with the concept of an absentee ballot. He has not voted by absentee ballot at any election since at least 1994, according to State Election Board records. The State Election Board doesn't show him as having voted at all from 1994 to June 2004, when he re-registered in Tulsa County. He has voted only six times since 1994, all six times since June 2004, each time in person at the polling place.
Medlock has voted 34 times since August 1998. (My older data isn't handy at the moment, or I could take you back as far as 1994.) The "no recent activity" you mention indicates activity on his registration record. It means that, unlike Jordan, Gwartney, and Applekamp, Medlock has not changed his address any time in the recent past. In fact, he's been in the district for about 16 years.
If Fred Jordan plans an absentee ballet performance, please let us all know. That would be something to see.