Interested citizens filled the Charles Smith Room in the Ardmore Public Library Tuesday to hear how the two Republican candidates for the District 48 House of Representatives seat stand on various issues affecting the state.
Ardmore residents Pat Ownbey, 54, and Matt Cunningham, 31, are campaigning to replace Republican Greg Piatt in the legislature. The winner of Tuesday’s primary election will face Democrat John Moore in the November general election. Both Cunningham and Ownbey have small business backgrounds.
Ownbey said his legislative program is based on “heart,” which includes quality, affordable health care; education, as in a four-year higher education center; individual action; improving the state’s roads and bridges and reforming the tort system; and keeping taxes low. Cunningham said if elected, he would follow the will of the people in the district when making legislative decisions in Oklahoma City.
The forum, which was organized by Carter County Republicans, basically used a question-and-anwer format to present the candidates’ positions. The format was designed to make it easy for the audience to identify candidates’ similarities and differences.
Both men support expanding the Ardmore Higher Education Center into a four-year institution and pledge to work with Democratic Sen. Johnnie Crutchfield to pass enabling legislation. Ownbey said he would keep the law that requires a “super-majority” of voters to approve a school bond issue. Cunningham wouldn’t change the law unless a majority of his constituents supported it, he said.
Both candidates support eliminating the sales tax on groceries.
“I know at least three families that drive to Texas to buy groceries and other items,” Cunningham said.
Both candidates support improving local roads and bridges, including finishing the expansion of U.S. Highway 70 as a four-lane all the way through southern Oklahoma. Neither candidate supports allowing private businesses to become part of the state’s casino industry.
Ownbey said he supports the state’s stance on illegal immigration through HB1804 to stand as is.
“Oklahomans strongly support the law as it is now,” he said.
Cunningham would leave the legislation as is to gauge the measure’s impact before making changes. Both men favor tort reform. Neither candidate expressed strong objections to year-round public school sessions. And neither man wants the trucking industry to pay increased costs to improve the state’s system of roads and bridges.
Dennis Lopez, who is running against U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe, spoke briefly and said he is running on the “biblical” platform. Ron Massey, an aide to Inhofe, also addressed the attendees.
Steve Biehn, 221-6546
steve.biehn@ardmoreite.com
