Not as an endorsement, but as a witness, here are some good words for a good man. Reynolds is being heavily outspent as he seeks to continue serving voters in south Oklahoma City. This essay is no brief against his opponent, but a closing argument, in the court of public opinion, for Mike Reynolds.
Reynolds is a consistent conservative, but he is not best known for activism. Many liberals respect him because he speaks truth to power.
He is not a self-promoter, so his good deeds are sometimes under-appreciated and under-reported, including by conservatives who would prefer that he remain silent about ethical lapses among Republicans, or that he concentrate his sharp wits and discerning eye exclusively on Democrats.
A beacon of consistency and integrity at a place that does not have enough of either, he is honest, forthright and fearless. Mike Reynolds tells the truth, and works hard for constituents. The state Capitol would be a lesser place without him.
About the Author: Patrick McGuigan is an editor at The City Sentinel, a weekly newspaper in Oklahoma City, where this essay will also appear. He is the author of two books and the editor of seven, including “Law, Economics & Civil Justice: A Reform Agenda” (1994) and “Crime & Punishment in Modern America” (1986). He is a regular contributor to Tulsa Today since 2002 and once served as our Capital Editor – a position we hope McGuigan will fill again some day soon. He is currently a research fellow at OCPA. A state-certified teacher, for two years he taught middle-school and high-school students at a public charter alternative school.