Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt’s campaign touts funding achievements, announces Donelle Harder’s return to management
Published: August 6th, 2021
Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt
As Oklahoma Campaign 2022 begins, Governor Kevin Stitt is well-positioned for a second term.
Oklahoma is faring well compared to many states, including in the energy sector -- both traditional sources like natural gas and oil, and wind power production. File Photo of a 'Pumper Jack'.
Oklahoma Flag Graphic: Governor Kevin Stitt, a member of the Cherokee Nation, has trod an independent conservative trail as Oklahoma's chief executive.
CapitolBeatOK.com is an independent, non-partisan and locally-managed news service based in Oklahoma City.
CapitolBeatOK Staff Report
Oklahoma City – Having raised $773,432.26 in the second quarter of this year, Governor Kevin Stitt is well-positioned for a strong reelection drive.
His campaign had $1.2 million in cash on hand at mid-year, giving him a powerful edge over all present and potential opponents in both parties.
According to a press release from his campaign staff, “During Governor Kevin Stitt’s time in office, he has fulfilled a number of campaign promises.” In addition to sharing the campaign’s cash data (https://www.city-sentinel.com/2021/08/news-commentary-bringing-in-the-sheaves-for-2022-the-governor-the-junior-senator-hizzoner-and-the-guy-from-tulsa/ ), the late July release touted positive advances based directly on his 2018 campaign promises.
These include steps that have:
• Reformed the structure of State government to hold more agency directors accountable to the will of the people.
• Raised teacher pay and invested in education at historic levels while enacting reforms to the funding formula to focus tax dollars on the students.
• Posted Oklahoma’s checkbook online, raising Oklahoma’s ranking of online budget transparency from #46 to #7 in one year.
• Enacted criminal justice reform, calling for and signing into law the nation’s largest communication of individuals in prison for non-violent offenses and quickly driving down Oklahoma’s incarceration ranking from #50 to #46.
• Signed every pro-life bill sent to his desk, to include legislation that immediately outlaws abortion should Roe v. Wade by overturned and bans abortion at the detection of a fetal heartbeat.
The press release sent to CapitolBeatOK.com and other news organizations announced the return of Donelle Harder in April, “as campaign manager for the re-election.”
Concerning Harder’s place in the effort, Governor Stitt said, “Donelle is a trusted strategic advisor who has been with us from the very beginning.”
For herself, Harder said in a statement, “Gov. Stitt has brought a business approach and outsider perspective to State government that has proven to be a resounding success in leading a turnaround for Oklahoma. It’s no wonder recent polling has identified Kevin Stitt as the most popular elected official in the State.”
She concluded: “We look forward to a strong re-elect effort as we build statewide momentum for another 4 years of conservative leadership focused on government accountability and economic growth.”
Note: Pat McGuigan contributed to this report.