Brogdon takes leading role arguing for State Questions 750 and 747

By Patrick B. McGuigan

Published: 27-Oct-2010

Today (Wednesday, October 27), Citizens in Charge, a national voter rights group focused on protecting the ballot initiative and referendum process, began running a radio ad in Oklahoma urging citizens to vote ‘YES’ on State Question 750. 

The Citizens group is working closely with state Sen. Randy Brogdon of Owasso in making its case in favor of initiative reform and terms limits on statewide elected officials.

Paul Jacob, president of Citizens in Charge, told CapitolBeatOK, “Oklahoma is currently the most difficult state in the country for voters to place a initiative on the ballot. State Question 750 is an opportunity to make Oklahoma’s initiative and referendum process more open and accessible to citizens.”

Under current Oklahoma law, the initiative petition threshold varies from cycle to cycle, based on the most recent election. When the threshold is a presidential year, the challenge for initiative petitioners is so high that citizen initiatives rarely succeed.

According to Citizens in Charge, “If passed, SQ 750 would standardize the number of signatures required to put an initiative or referendum on the ballot, and at a lower threshold, by basing the requirement on the vote for governor every four years.”

Jacob believes, “Voters will have a better chance to check state government during every election cycle if State Question 750 passes.” 

Sen. Brogdon, now chairman of “Freedom’s Roll,” makes the case for both S.Q. 750 and S.Q. 747 in the radio spots that began airing today. The latter measure places an eight-year term limit on statewide offices except governors (a position already limited to two terms) and Corporation Commissioners (who serve six-year terms).

Brogdon wrote both of the ballot measures.

In the radio spot, Sen. Brogdon says he is asking listeners “to join me in supporting two common sense reforms on the ballot next Tuesday.”

He continues, “State Question 747 will set term limits for statewide officeholders — just like we already have for legislators. State Question 750 will protect our right to petition and change government when politicians fail to listen.  It makes reforms like term limits possible.”

Brogdon concludes: “Let’s put Oklahoma voters in charge.  Vote YES on State Questions 747 and 750.”

Brogdon sought the Republican nomination for governor in this year’s primary. He lost to U.S. Rep. Mary Fallin, but ran a credible race and is widely regarded to have performed well against a widely popular opponent. When Brogdon endorsed her after the tougher-than-expected primary, Fallin praised him for “tenacious campaigning” and for his advocacy of a conservative brand of constitutional analysis.