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Gibson to run for county postBy Traci Chapman/Staff Writer Mustang City Councilman Scott Gibson said he hopes to change his life, his career and the county in a bid for District 2 Canadian County commissioner. “This is fundamentally a career change for me,” he said Tuesday. “I’ve been doing what I’ve been doing for 20-some odd years, and I’ve been a part of Mustang city government for about 19 years. Why not do something I do well and serve the county in the process?” Don Young has been District 2 commissioner for 17 years. Young was first elected to office in 1986 and served continuously until Mustang builder Monty Keely unseated him in 1996. Young took the seat back in 2000, beating Keely 1,443 to 1,114. Young has said the county commissioner job is a full-time position. Gibson said he took those comments to heart and talked to his employer of 21 years, P.B. Hoidale Co., about what an election would mean to his work schedule with the company. “My plan is to be a full-time commissioner and work only one account for my current employer,” he said. “In this day and age with a laptop and cell phones, this should be reasonably easy to handle. If I find this too difficult, then I’ll only work as the county commissioner.” Gibson is a salesman for Hoidale, which sells fuel storage tanks and pumping units, as well as other fuel equipment like air compressors and electronic tank monitoring and point of sale systems. He said he currently handles over 30 accounts for the company and works “over 40 hours a week.” Currently serving as both Ward 3 councilman and vice mayor of Mustang, Gibson also represents the Council on the Oklahoma Environmental Authority Board. “On this board, I’ve gained county-wide experience working with other city councilors from Union City, El Reno, Yukon, Okarche, Calumet and Piedmont,” he said. “The issues OEMA ad-dresses are very, very important. I think my experience on that board — where I’ve been elected to the executive board — can really benefit the county.” Gibson said he has enrolled in and passed half of the “ROADS Scholar” program classes conducted by Oklahoma State University in preparation for his county bid. The OSU program is a certification series offered to county employees, which is comprised of nine courses, totaling 120 hours, and that give instruction about the technicalities of maintaining rural bridges and roads. “Some of the classes I’ve passed so far have dealt with bridges, roads, equipment safety, trench safety and plan reading,” Gibson said. “I’ve also taken a county economic development class.” If elected, Gibson said he knows it means giving up his Mustang City Council seat. While he said he wishes he could remain on the Council and serve as county commissioner, he knows he can’t. Gibson said his vision for the county is increasing economic development, not just in Mustang, but also more rural areas such as Union City and Calumet. “I want to help cities like Mustang and Union City develop and head into the future,” he said. “That will benefit the entire county.” ReplyRecent IssuesSpecial Sections |
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