Two Midwest City legislative candidates have promised “to support legislation to strengthen” the state’s open government laws if elected to the Senate and House, respectively.

In signing FOI Oklahoma’s Open Government Pledge for legislative candidates, Linda Wade and Rashard Bickham each also promised “to support at every opportunity” the state’s public policy that “the people are vested with the inherent right to know and be fully informed about their government so that they can efficiently and intelligently exercise their inherent political power.”

Wade, an information systems engineer, is the Democratic nominee for state Senate District 42. She faces Republican Brenda Stanley and independent Matt Campbell in the Nov. 6 general election.

Incumbent Jack Fry, R-Midwest City, chose not to seek re-election so he could spend more time with his ill wife after missing most of his votes last session, The Oklahoman reported. The district includes parts of Midwest City, Del City and Oklahoma City north of Lake Stanley Draper.

In state House District 95, Bickham is running as an independent for the seat. He faces Democrat Kelly Albright, Republican Jack Beal Jr. and Libertarian Paul Brewbaker in the general election.

Incumbent Roger Ford, R-Oklahoma City, is not seeking re-election after one term in office. The district covers western Midwest City, Tinker AFB and the area north of Lake Stanley Draper. 

FOI Oklahoma invites all candidates for state, local and legislative seats to sign the pledge on FOI Oklahoma’s website, where a list of signers also can be found.

Since FOI Oklahoma began the pledge in 2008, 186 candidates have signed — with 95, or 51 percent —being elected at least once. FOI Oklahoma began the Open Government Pledge as part of a national effort to spur public commitments to government transparency from candidates for president down to city council contests.

Joey Senat, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
OSU School of Media & Strategic Communications
Mass Communication Law in Oklahoma 

The opinions expressed in this blog are those of the commentators and do not necessarily represent the position of FOI Oklahoma Inc., its staff, its board of directors or the commentator’s employer. Differing interpretations of open government law and policy are welcome.