VanNorman Petitions for Recount

Following the extremely close results of the August 27th mayoral election, Brent VanNorman’s campaign team announced late Thursday plans to request a recount. In the historic and razor-thin race, Brent VanNorman finished just a few hundred votes behind Monroe Nichols and Karen Keith, who advanced to a runoff. In total votes, Monroe Nichols received 18,729, Karen Keith 18,457 and Brent VanNorman 18,019, of the 56,585 vote total reported to the State Election Board here.

Despite the close overall numbers, Brent VanNorman won the most precincts of the top three finishers—69 precincts, compared to Monroe Nichols’ 49 and Karen Keith’s 30. Given this strong showing and the unprecedented closeness of the results, there has been a strong groundswell of support from Tulsans encouraging the campaign to ask for a manual recount.

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Protecting Oklahoma’s Economy

A major focus of mine since taking office as Attorney General has been to fight back against a pattern of federal overreach by the Biden-Harris Administration. A frequent target of that overreach is Oklahoma’s oil and gas industry.

As you know, this industry is profoundly critical to our economic well-being. A 2023 study by the Oklahoma City-based economic research firm RegionTrack found that oil and natural gas contributed $55.7 billion to Oklahoma’s gross domestic product. That figure represents 22 percent of all economic activity in the state. Moreover, the industry contributed nearly $3 billion in taxes last year.

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School Guidelines on Patriotic Displays

After Edmond Public Schools disallowed students from displaying the American flag, State Superintendent Ryan Walters today issued new guidance to Oklahoma school districts.

“No school in Oklahoma should tell students they can’t wave an American flag,” said Walters. “Americans have fought and died for the right to carry our flag, and no student should ever be targeted for exercising that right. Our young people should never have to fear displaying their patriotism and I will fight every day so that when our students want to express their love for America, they can do so boldly and proudly.”

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Church Office Manager Bank Fraud

Today, U.S. District Judge Gregory K. Frizzell sentenced Katrenia Hartman, 55, of Sand Springs for Bank Fraud and Willfully Making and Subscribing a False Federal Income Tax Return. Judge Frizzell ordered Hartman to be imprisoned for 30 months, followed by five years of supervised release. Additionally, Hartman is ordered to pay the IRS more than $177k in restitution and more than $735k to the church she defrauded.

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Why I have Endorsed President Trump

Opinion: This is not subtle, nor the lesser of two evils.

The time of choosing is coming soon.

Now it comes down to this — a straightforward choice.

Trump/Vance or Harris/Walz.

I have wholeheartedly endorsed what I hope will be future President Trump. I have done this of my free will, in response to no request, being neither coerced nor enticed nor seeking favor or some future direct benefit.

I do this without reservation, knowing he is not perfect, has made mistakes, and will make more.

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