EL RENO, Okla. – Obama for America State Director Miguel Medrano will be the guest speaker at the Canadian County Democrats’ monthly meeting at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 14. Seating is available for Democrats and friends on a first come, first served basis for the free meeting at Canadian Valley Technology Center, located at 6506 E. Highway 66 between Yukon and El Reno.

Medrano returned recently from national campaign training, which focused on grassroots strategies, such as registering voters and involving young people in the political process.

 

 EL RENO, Okla. – Oklahoma Democratic Party Veterans Committee President Isaac O'Bannon from Norman will speak to the Canadian County Democrats on Tues., Nov. 08.

Seating is available on a first come, first served basis for the free event, which starts at 7 p.m. at Canadian Valley Technology Center, located at 6506 E. Highway 66 between Yukon and El Reno.

“Isaac O’Bannon delivered an outstanding patriotic speech on Labor Day in Cleveland County," Canadian County Democratic Party Vice Chair Rodney Boegel said. “He does a great job for the Democratic Party veterans and the state party, and we’re proud to have Isaac here in Canadian County to bring us up to date on veteran’s programs and issues.”

According to an Oklahoma Democratic Party Veterans Committee publication, the group “promotes and  elects Democratic candidates who support veterans and active military personnel by ensuring that health care, training, education and other benefits are available to honor sacrifices made by veterans in service to their country.”

O’Bannon is a member of the state Democratic Party’s central committee.

He was a non-commissioned Petty Officer 3rd Class in the U.S. NAVY from 1990 to 1995 and served as a Seabee construction equipment operator. During that time, he was deployed to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba and Okinawa, Japan and served in stateside support roles during the initial Gulf War and the conflicts in Somalia and Croatia.
 
After completing his enlistment and receiving an honorable discharge, O'Bannon re-entered the University of Oklahoma, earning a bachelors of arts degree in journalism and public relations with a minor in history.

He pursued graduate studies before joining technology-focused public relations firms in California, Denver and Tulsa.

Since 2002, he has been the technology editor for a national trade publication focused on accounting.

O'Bannon was born in Porterville, Calif. and moved with his family to Norman at age 12. He attended Norman schools, graduating from Norman High School in 1988.

The Canadian County Democrats regularly meet at 7 p.m. on the second Tues. of each month, except December, at Canadian Valley Technology Center.

Rather than a December meeting, the Democrats will celebrate with a Holiday Tailgate Party starting at 6 p.m. on Sat., Dec. 3, which is the date of the OU vs. OSU Bedlam Game. In addition to a large screen TV, the Yukon Event Center at 949 S. Cornwell will accommodate a covered dish dinner, Bean Supper Band performance, a silent auction and cash bar. Guests are encouraged to wear team colors and contribute a $10-$15 donation at the door. For more information, call 354-3189.

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OKLAHOMA CITY -- Long-time union leader Judy Calhoun will speak to the Canadian County Democrats and friends at 7 p.m. on Tues., Oct. 11, at the Canadian County Technology Center, located at 6505 E. Highway 66 between Yukon and El Reno.

Calhoun currently serves as Oklahoma Democratic Party secretary in the Fourth Congressional District.

She was the first woman elected state lobbyist and chair of the State Political Action Committee for the United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW).

UAW has more than 750 local unions with 390,000 active members and 600,000 retired members in the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico. The UAW currently has 2,500 contracts with some 1,700 employers.

Calhoun was hired by General Motors in 1979. She became a member of the UAW Local 1999 and then became active on the Women's Committee.

“The feeling of family and empowerment given by these women was incredible,” Calhoun said. “After working with the union, I realized how important organized labor was to the workers and their well-being.”

She was elected as a trustee in 1989, recording secretary in 1992 and financial secretary in 1998.

Calhoun was born in Carlsbad, New Mexico and raised in a working class family. Her father worked in the mines and was active in the United Mine Workers Union.

“My father fought for justice, safety and dignity along with his fellow workers,” Calhoun explained. “That's how I first learned about the strength in numbers and how important it is to stick together and take care of each other.”

She was bitten by the political bug in high school while serving as a delegate to Girl's State. She graduated from New Mexico State University with a bachelor’s of science degree in education and health science.

After graduation in 1976, Calhoun moved to Oklahoma and worked for Western Electric where she was a member of IBEW Local 2021 union.

To protect her ability to get a job in case of a lay-off which ultimately happened at GM, she returned to college in 1984, earning a license as a registered nurse from Oklahoma City Community College.

“I have always loved working and holding various offices in the Democratic Party,” Calhoun said. ” It is the party that cares about people and their quality of life. These principles are the same as a labor union's. Fairness and dignity for everyone is something I feel strongly about and will always fight for until the day I die.

“We heard Judy Calhoun give a rousing patriotic speech on Labor Day in Cleveland County," Canadian County Democratic Party Vice Chair Rodney Boegel said. “We are pleased to have her bring this message about the contributions of labor unions and the importance of working people to Canadian County.”

OKLAHOMA CITY -- New Okla. Democratic Party Executive Director Trav Robertson, Jr., has made Canadian County one of his first stops since arriving in Okla. only one month ago. Robertson will speak at 7 p.m. on Tues., Sept 13, at Canadian County Technology Center.

Seating is available on a first come, first served basis for the free event at the facility, which is located at 6505 E. Highway 66 between Yukon and El Reno.

Robertson has been a successful campaign manager and advisor since 1997, most recently with the Sheheen for Governor campaign in Camden, South Carolina.

He also directed 30 staff as state director for the Obama campaign and served as deputy state treasurer, both in Columbia, South Carolina.

Robertson’s campaign management efforts earned nearly 65 percent of the vote in the Spratt for Congress campaign in a district carried by George Bush

He earned a bachelor’s of arts degree in philosophy from the University of South Carolina in Columbia.

"We hope to have a full house when Trav Robertson speaks to the Canadian County Democrats about the future of the Democratic Party in Oklahoma," said Canadian County Secretary Shirley Burton from Yukon.

The Canadian County Democrats meet at 7 p.m. on the second Tues. of each month (except Dec.) at Canadian Valley Technology Center. For more information, call 405-354-3189.

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EL RENO, Okla. – Democrats from all over the state were in El Reno on Aug 27 to congratulate Jerry Edwards, from Yukon, who earned 2011 Canadian County Democrat of the Year honors at the sixth annual BBQ Supper at Redlands Community College Conference Center in El Reno.

Canadian County Democratic Party Chair Jody Harlan recognized Edwards for a lifetime of service, calling her, "A person who won’t give up – won’t give out – and won’t stop fighting for everything we believe in."

Terry Thompson from Logan Country and her daughter Jenny Thompson from Oklahoma County earned 2011 Honorary Canadian County Democrats of the Year awards for being "the kind of leaders who help us before we even ask for help."

A popular musical group from Kingfisher, the Lost in Sin Singers, joined the Canadian County Democrats’ Bean Supper Band to entertain guests while they ate the BBQ supper and bid on silent auction items.

After dinner, four speakers shared the platform: Democratic Leader Rep. Scott Inman from Del City, Oklahoma Democratic Party Chair Wallace Collins from Norman, Candidate for U.S. Congress in the 5District Tom Guild from Edmond and Jenny Thompson from Edmond. 

BBQ Supper sponsors were Rodn

ey Boegel, Susan McCann and Miguel Medrano from Change Oklahoma, Dean Rinehart and the UAW.

Other key supporters included: Tim Wagner from Cocina De Mino Mexican RestaurantJs, the printed program designer Sarah Fraker, Worth and Paul Lambert, and Carolyn Dalbow from the Kingfisher County Democrats, and the officers for the Third District Democrats, Chair Mack Miller, Vice Chair Debi Thompson and Secretary Juanita King.

 

 EL RENO, Okla. -- The Bean Supper Band will perform at 6 p.m. on Sat., Aug. 27, at the Canadian County Democrats’ annual BBQ Dinner at Redlands Community College Conference Center in El Reno. The conference center　is located on the west side of Redlands Community Center one mile north of I-40 at 1300 S. Country Club.

Bean Supper Band members are Rodney Boegel from El Reno, Worth Lambert from Kingfisher, Joey Larsen from Oklahoma City, Ron Marlett from Bethany, and Rene Sims, Tim Wagner and Tim O’Connor, all from Yukon,

"We played last weekend for 400 people at the Harn Homestead in Oklahoma City – that was the biggest show so far," band leader and Canadian County Democrats Vice Chair Rodney Boegel said, "but we love to play the BBQ Supper in Canadian County because it’s the first place we ever played together."

Boegel will perform a humorous, original song, "The Ballad of Sally Kern," which is getting airplay on independent radio stations. Autographed copies of the lyrics will be available for a $5 donation to the Oklahoma Democratic Party.

Oklahoma Democratic Party Chair Wallace Collins will lead Democratic elected officials and candidates, who begin speaking around 7 p.m. following the Bean Supper Band performance and a silent auction.

"This is the sixth year that we’ve had the BBQ Supper," Boegel said. "It gets bigger each year because word of mouth has spread about how relaxed and fun this event really is."

All Democrats are welcome. Tickets are $30. Advance registration is requested to allow Redlands’ caterers to get an accurate headcount for food preparation. Event sponsorships and program ads are available. Dress is country or casual.

For more information about the Candidate County Democrats’ BBQ Supper, phone (405) 354-3189

EL RENO, Okla -- State Senator Jim Wilson (D-Tahequah) will discuss proposed constitutional challenges to the new Senate redistricting plan at the next Canadian County Democrats’ meeting at 7 p.m. on Tues., July 12.

Sen. Wilson and colleagues recently filed a petition asking the Oklahoma Supreme Court to set aside the Republican-passed redistricting plan on grounds that it splits political subdivisions in violation of the state Constitution, making it more difficult for some communities, including Yukon, to elect a representative from that city or town.

Seating is available for all Democrats on a first come, first served basis for the free meeting at Canadian Valley Technology Center, located at 6506 E. Highway 66 between Yukon and El Reno.

The state House redistricting plan proceeded smoothly; however, the state Senate was criticized for paying a GOP political consultant $127,500 for redistricting advice since May 2009.

Sen Wilson is a leader in a organization known as OK Fair Play, which opposes the redistricting plan is OK Fair Play.

"If we are successful, the Supreme Court will direct the redistricting commission to draw a new plan, which keeps political subdivision whole and gives citizens a better opportunity for fair representation," Sen. Wilson said.

"Whether, we win or lose with the Supreme Court petition, we are circulating a statutory initiative petition requiring 83,000 signatures to repeal the Senate redistricting law and set forth guidelines for future redistricting."

"When we have the signatures needed to secure a place on the ballot, we will enter the last phase, which is to promote the people’s right to fair representation all the way through the election in Nov. 2012," Sen. Wilson explained.

 

Sen. Wilson was born in Lake Mills, Wis. He attended school in Wis. and Okla and graduated from Pauls Valley High School before serving in the U.S. Marine Corps. After completing a combat tour in Vietnam, he completed a bachelor’s of science degree in mathematics at Oklahoma State University.

Before starting his own computer business, Sen. Wilson worked for the Oklahoma Crime Commission in Oklahoma City, where he implemented a statewide computer system that assisted state and local law enforcement.

He currently serves on the state Senate Appropriations, Finance, Health and Human Services and Retirement and Insurance committees and the Appropriations Subcommittee for Health and Human Services.

Sen. Wilson is a member of the Democratic Party, Tahlequah Area Chamber of Commerce, the American Legion, the Kiwanis Club of Tahlequah and Board of Directors for Thompson House.

He and his wife, Connie, reside in Tahlequah. They have three children, David, Kim and Jamie.

Donations to fund the initiative to repeal the redistricting law may sent to OKFAIRPLAY, Unified Strategies Associates, 3017 N Stiles, Suite 103, Oklahoma City, OK, 73105.

The Canadian County Democrats meet at 7 p.m. on the second Tues. of each month (except Dec.) at Canadian Valley Technology Center, 6505 E. Highway 66 between Yukon and El Reno.

 

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The scholarship is named in honor of the deceased former county Vice Chair Robert "Bob" Burton, who encouraged his children and other young Democrats to become active in the political party.

Baker is pursuing a bachelor’s of fine arts degree with a double major in graphic design and studio art at the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond.

She and her parents, Kenneth and Debbie, joined Canadian County Democrats and guests at the celebration in her honor, which featured a covered dish dinner and entertainment by the Bean Supper Band.

Baker, who is on the UCO President’s Honor roll with 4.0 grade point average, has also earned two College of Fine Arts and Design scholarships, the UCO Presidential Partners John and Eleanor Kirkpatrick Student Leadership and Public Service Gold Medal Award and more than 20 other scholarships and scholastic awards.

Canadian County Democrats Vice Chair Rodney Boegel from El Reno and Carol Ruth, Jerri Edwards and Stephanie Fraker, all from Yukon, reviewed all the applications and strongly recommended Baker as the top scholarship applicant.

"We were particularly impressed with Kenna’s leadership in the Hugs project, which she organized to make and send over 6,000 cooling bandanas to U.S. soldiers serving in Iraq," Vice Chair Rodney Boegel said. "She taught over 300 workshops to over 4,000 people on how to make the Hugs, raised more than $4,000 for the project and volunteered over 2,300 hours to make this dream a reality."

In her scholarship application, Baker wrote, "I am an American and a Democrat. I choose to make a difference and help others think of their own way to make a difference in someone else’s life.

"By encouraging volunteering, Democrats will make a positive difference in our communities across the state and as the word spreads that Democrats truly want to make a positive difference, more people will join in our efforts, resulting in a positive effect on our Oklahoma economy," she added. "Working together, Democrats do and will continue to have a positive effect, resulting in a stronger America."

The Canadian County Democrats meet at 7 p.m. on the second Tuesday of each month (except Dec.) at Canadian Valley Technology Center, located at 6505 E. Highway 66 between Yukon and El Reno. The group is actively recruiting Young Democrats. For more information, call 354-3189 or visit http://www.canadiancodems.org/

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EL RENO – All Democrats are encouraged to attend the Canadian County Democrats’ free Summer FUNraiser on Sat., June 26. The covered dish dinner and picnic is scheduled from 3-6 p.m. at the Lake El Reno Picnic Shelter, located at Babcock and W. Elm Street on the east side of the lake.

The Canadian County Democrats will recognize announce the winner of their $500 Robert "Bob" Burton Scholarship at the event, which will also feature the Bean Supper Band.

The county organization will provide hot dogs and soft drinks. Participants are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and side dishes and desserts to share.