With strong pledges for accountability and openness in government Jeff Applekamp announced his candidacy for the Oklahoma State Senate District 35 election in 2008. It is clear he learned from the 2006 effort to capture the State Representative District 69 seat and is building on that momentum.
Applekamp said, “I learned the value of getting out early which is what I am doing today. I have more people to meet in a district twice the size.”
“I am a Conservative on fiscal and social issues. I believe this is the people’s government and the people’s money that government spends. I will fight to make sure the senate keeps a tight reign on expenditures. I do not believe there is such a thing as government funds – every penny of Oklahoma’s $7 billion dollar annual budget came from the pocket of the people,” Applekamp said.
At 19, Applekamp started a career with Public Service Company of Oklahoma as a meter reader. Over the years he advanced through several customer service and management positions with the company and in 1985, at the age of 23, Applekamp became the youngest Area Manager in company history. He has served in many volunteer and leadership roles with various Chambers of Commerce, Jaycees, Rotary, Lions, and other groups throughout the state.
Applekamp advanced his studies at Connors State College and completed his Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration and Masters Degree in Administrative Studies at Southeastern Oklahoma State University in Durant.
With his wife Laurie, two sons Josh and Tyler, and daughter Jennifer, the Applekamps have lived in the South Tulsa and Jenks area for over ten years. Jennifer just graduated from the University of Oklahoma and plans to teach elementary education in Oklahoma. Josh is a senior and Tyler is a sophomore in high school.
Laurie Applekamp is the area division director with the March of Dimes. She has been active in the Jenks Public Schools (JTA) and was the President of the Jenks Public School Foundation Association, 2002 to 2004. The family is Presbyterian.
Applekamp said, “As a state, we must set priorities. For too long Oklahoma has tried to be everything to everybody, but we can not afford that type of governmental largess. We must set priorities and stick to them – we must be good stewards of the peoples’ money.”
Tulsa Today: “What are your priorities?”
“Infrastructure, public safety and education,” Applekamp said.
Tulsa Today: “Gene Stipe, Steve Phipps, Mike Mass and other scum sucking soulless organisms stole taxpayer money in order to betray democracy and advance the political careers of Governor Brad Henry, US Representative Dan Boren, Oklahoma Auditor and Inspector Jeff McMahan, and others. Will you fight the practice of unidentified legislative earmarks that made those crimes possible?”
Applekamp said, “There is a practice of logrolling where you put many different items in one bill so that much of the components are not identifiable. My goal is to break apart and simplify each and every bill so the people can see exactly what is going on. I strongly support Senate Bill #1 by Senator Randy Brogdon, District 31, to establish a state web site every Oklahoman may view to find where their dollars are going and how those dollars are being spent. I want that information as open and as detailed as possible.”
More information may be found on Jeff Applekamp at his campaign website (click here) or at his blog (click here).