Drew Edmondson for Governor of Oklahoma

365 Days ... To the Starting Line!

One year from today, Oklahomans will go to the polls to elect our state's next Governor. Between now and Nov. 2, 2010, policies will be discussed, differences debated and promises made. That's modern politics, for better or worse.

Oklahomans deserve a leader who will focus, not on the next election, but on the next generation.

That's what I will do as Governor.

I have a plan to create good, high-paying jobs and get our economy moving again. I will do this by protecting our traditional energy industry and encouraging growth in new technology including wind energy and biofuels. Oklahoma has been a national leader in the energy industry, and if we take advantage of our state's assets, we can lead the nation into the next energy frontier.

I will also promote and incentivize the research being done at our medical facilities and universities. Oklahoma can be a center for medical breakthroughs and technological improvements; we already have the infrastructure in place and every breakthrough will mean new jobs for our citizens.

These ideas will create jobs and grow our economy, and that must be our priority.

At the same time, we should talk with employers about the things they need to locate in Oklahoma. Things like safer streets, better schools and an improved transportation infrastructure will make Oklahoma more attractive to employers and employees, and we should invest in these areas.

Our challenges are many, but if we tackle them, one at a time, we can improve our state for future generations.

That's been my record as Attorney General.

When I learned that Oklahoma ranked near the bottom in terms of students' access to technology in our public schools, I created the Oklahoma Educational Technology Trust. Today, that Trust has placed computers and Smartboards in the classrooms of more than 46,000 Oklahoma students.

When the tobacco industry began blatantly marketing their products to our kids, I helped negotiate a national settlement and advocated for the creation of the Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust - a fund like no other in the nation, the proceeds of which are solely dedicated to improving the health of our citizens.

And when big, out-of-state companies refused to stop polluting the Illinois River Watershed, I filed suit against more than a dozen poultry companies in an effort to stop this environmentally and economically devastating practice.

I did these things because I believe we shouldn't just talk about preserving and improving our state's viability. We have to act.

Our next leader must look past Nov. 2, 2010, to a time that he, or she, will see only through the eyes of our children and grandchildren; we must work for the brighter future we all want.

When you think of it that way, the road to election day seems very short, indeed. It's what follows election day that really matters.

Today, I humbly ask for your help getting there. In just 365 days, we will elect our next Governor. The person we choose will set a course for our state that will impact generations of Oklahomans. That's why it's important to get involved now. If you share my ideals for our state, I'm asking you to show your support by making a contribution of $25, $100 or whatever your budget will allow. Your contribution will allow us to take our message to the masses over the coming year, and if we do that, we will win this race.

In the meantime, I thank you for your friendship. I look forward to serving you over the next twelve months and beyond.