By Traci Chapman
Published on May 29, 2008

Eleven candidates who have announced their intention to run in county races “sat on the hot seat” Tuesday in a Republican Party forum held at Mustang Town Center.

The candidates, who included five contenders for the District 2 County Commissioner seat and two each vying for the offices of sheriff, county clerk and court clerk, appeared in front of a crowd of about 130 voters and supporters. Each was posed three questions selected by party members, Pete Katzdorn, GOP county chairman, said.

“We wanted to give each of the candidates a chance to be heard before the primary,” Katzdorn said. “We expected a good turnout, but this is even better than expected.”

Two candidates, Democrats Anna Hrdy and Sherry Murray, both running for court clerk, did not participate in the GOP-only forum.

District 2 Commissioner Don Young has not said whether he will run for re-election. The filing period for offices opens Monday. Young attended the forum but did not participate.

Canadian County Sheriff

Incumbent Lewis Hawkins and former sheriff’s deputy Randall Edwards disagreed on programs discontinued under Hawkins’ leadership as sheriff and a proposed county jail rejected by voters May 13. While both said a new jail is needed to ease overcrowding, which county officials have said has plagued the current facility, the candidates debated size and price tag of a new complex.

Edwards said he would like the county to consider a smaller facility — such as the Logan County jail, recently constructed for about $7.5 million — rather than the $24.8 jail proposed in the recent bond election.

“I know it might not have all of the amenities, but it would be a big step up from what we have now, and we can add on from there as funds become available,” he said.
Edwards said several programs “discontinued” by Hawkins, such as a county drug task force, interstate drug program and K-9 division, could be resumed, generating funds that could be used to fund a new facility.

“Those programs brought a lot of money into the county,” he said. “If I’m elected, I’ll reinstate those programs.”

Hawkins said a jail like the one built by Logan County would not meet Canadian County’s needs because that facility is only 166 beds and is a “half-cell, half-dormitory” facility.

“It wouldn’t give us the room we need, and cells are more secure,” he said.

Hawkins disagreed with Edwards’ plan to fund a new jail with “drug” money, saying, “Canadian County never had a drug task force — that was an El Reno city venture, and the El Reno Police Department dropped it. The only thing that made some money for the county was the K-9 unit, and the officers who participated left or retired,” he said.

Both said they have plans to handle the rising crime associated with the county’s rapid growth. Hawkins said the way to address the issue is to hire more deputies. He also called on residents to “have a hand” in their own protection.

“We need more citizens who are our eyes and ears and who are concerned,” he said.

Edwards cited a problem Hawkins has said plagues the county because of the current jail facility’s limitations — “over 11,000 warrants that can’t be served.” Edwards said until individuals who commit crimes can be detained, the county will be “challenged” by rising crime.

“Until you hold people accountable for the crimes they commit, you are going to see a rise in crime,” he said.

Canadian County Court Clerk

All four candidates vying for the Court Clerk position work for current Clerk Dee Ray. Marie Ramsey, who has worked in the office for 13 years and who was appointed chief deputy by Ray two years ago, said she started in the filing room and “worked my way up.” Ramsey said her experience in every department of the office gives her “full knowledge” of what is needed to fill Ray’s shoes.

Allen Arnold said he has worked with probate, guardianship and mental health cases, as well as serving as support staff at the Gary E. Miller Juvenile Justice Center. Arnold said he is also in charge of the inventory at the judicial building.

Both candidates said the court clerk’s office affects all Canadian County residents, and both have plans to “move forward” during the next four years if elected.
Ramsey said Ray’s practice of cross-training should be continued, and scanning of documents needs to be expanded.

“We need to get to the point where all of our documents — as feasible — are on the computer, to make accessibility better for our customers,” she said.

Arnold said his “No. 1 goal” would be to expand the cross-training started by Ray and to have everyone in the civil and criminal divisions trained in each other’s position.

“We need to make sure everyone knows every position and that we protect the integrity of the records,” he said.

Canadian County Clerk

Current employee Shelley Dickerson and legal assistant Barbara Haley are working to take over from retiring County Clerk Phyllis Blair.

Dickerson said her plans during the next four years include getting the county’s land records online “for preservation and accessibility to the public.” She also said she wanted to use technology to look at what the office will need 5 to 10 years down the road.

“I think we need to look at electronic filing of documents and payments — look at the younger generation who will be the customers of the clerk’s office then,” she said.

Haley said cross-training in the department — which is responsible for land records, accounting and purchasing, payroll and benefits for all county employees — is key to making the office run smoothly. She said she would also like to make getting documents online a priority, “as the budget allows — we need to check the cost of doing that.”

District 2 County Commissioner

The five announced candidates for the District 2 spot — David Anderson, Scott Gibson, Teresa Ramsey, Monty Keely and Richard Engle — all said something “needs to be done” about the current county jail. Keely said he believed the location Commissioners picked was “poorly selected,” and he would like to take a more detailed look at location options. Keely suggested several ways to fund a new facility, including recovering money from drug arrests, looking at sales tax or property tax increases.

Gibson said after failed bond issues in Mustang and for a new jail facility, it is obvious that “times are really tough. We may have to just buckle up and repair what we have.”

Engle said public safety should be a top priority, but he “absolutely will not favor tax increases” to fund jail repairs or expansion.

Ramsey said she is in favor of a new jail but “we’ll have to check into it later on down the road.”

Anderson said he believed a new jail is necessary.

“It’s like getting older — nobody wants to face it or think about it, but it’s something we have to face,” he said.

When asked for one thing they would do to save the district a “substantial amount” of money, Gibson said he would save money on fuel by moving the District 2 shop.

“The shop is currently not in the district,” he said. “I would move the shop to the district on land already owned by the county.”

Keely agreed with Gibson — in fact, he said, moving the shop was an idea he had eight years ago.

“That could save about $150,000 to $250, 000,” he said. “It is the No. 1 way to save money for the district.”

Anderson and Ramsey said they would work with the other commissioners to pool resources to save the district money.

“I would work together to get a team, rather than subcontracting so much work out,” Anderson said.

Engle said he would change the District 2 work week to save money.

“I plan on moving the district crew to a 4-day, 10-hour work week. That would save substantial money for the district,” he said.

Keely, Ramsey, Gibson and Anderson all said they favor “some kind” of rezoning in the county’s unincorporated areas. All cited the county’s rapid growth; Gibson said it is important for commissioners to act “proactively” now, rather than to wait and have problems later.