Published: January 25, 2008 12:00 am            

Cargill tells GOP state must be 'more ambitious'

Mina Hibdon receives GOP's Pioneer Award

By M. Scott Carter

Transcript Staff Writer

Saying Oklahomans need to be more ambitious and "set their sights higher," House Speaker Lance Cargill praised the "historic reforms" passed by the GOP-controlled House of Representatives. Those reforms, Cargill said, have brought "hope, growth and opportunity" to the Sooner State.

Cargill made the remarks Thursday evening at the Cleveland County Republican Club's Helen Cole Awards Banquet. More than 150 people attended the event at the J.D. McCarty Center, which also featured a presidential campaign announcement by retired Major General Jerry Curry.

"Maybe it was our dustbowl mentality," Cargill said. "But Oklahomans have not always set their sights high enough. I want the 21st century to be Oklahoma's. I think this can be our century."

And Republicans, he said, are leading the way.

"The historic reforms passed by Republicans have brought hope, growth and opportunity. We are experiencing a renaissance time."

Cargill said those reforms include lowering the state's income tax, adopting a pro-life agenda and investing in state infrastructure.

"There is probably no area of which I am more proud, than our pro-life agenda," he said. "Until there was a Republican majority, Oklahoma didn't have some of the most basic protections for life that other states had passed."

In addition, Cargill said Democrats are misleading voters about the state's revenue picture.

"The liberals are misleading you about the amount of revenue," he said. "Did you know that the taxes paid into government this year are going to go up, this year by $200 million, maybe $300 million?"

Speaking to the GOP's faithful, Cargill said elections in Oklahoma "have consequences" and the consequences have been "good for Oklahoma."

Following his review, Cargill introduced Mina Hibdon who received the club's Pioneer Award. Hibdon, the first Cleveland County woman elected to the Oklahoma House of Representatives, thanked all those who supported her 1973 campaign.

"I have a lot of memories," she said. "At that time we were in trouble with Watergate, that was a big problem nationally for our party. But here in Norman, I very quietly filed in a district that never had a Republican."

Word got out quickly, she said.

"Well, everything begin to happen then, and the rest of my campaign is history."

Following Hibdon's award, state Rep. Paul Wesselhoft and Sen. Jonathan Nichols thanked the group for their efforts.

Wesselhoft, serving his second term in the House of Representatives, said he was excited by the upcoming legislative session.

"I have a full plate of bills that I'm going to be working on," he said.

Nichols predicted the GOP would take control of the state Senate. "We can take over the Senate this year and I look forward to working toward that goal."

A former staffer for Congressman Tom Cole, state Rep. T.W. Shannon, a Lawton Republican, introduced a video by Cole. Cole praised the group and said his late mother, Helen, would be pleased by their work.

"My mother would be honored," he said. "She was a selfless, strong woman."

The group also honored Don and Pat Allen for with a Lifetime Achievement Award and named former House member Thad Balkman as the Republican of the Year.

M. Scott Carter 366-3545 scarter@normantranscript.com

        

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