Aragon to address county Republicans and other politics

Aragon to address county Republicans

Major General Rita Aragon will address the Republican Luncheon Club meeting 11:30 a.m. Tuesday at Coach's restaurant.?

Aragon is a former Oklahoma public school teacher, a member of the Choctaw tribe, and is the first female commander of the Oklahoma Air National Guard. She and was the first female base commander in Oklahoma, as well as being the first female general in Oklahoma.?

She also serves as director of the University of Oklahoma's Advanced Program that delivers master's and Ph.D. programs around the world at 31 different sites to predominantly military members.

The public is invited to hear her speak. The $12 admission price includes lunch. For details, call Jim Helm at 229-4807.

Collins speaks at mental health legislative panel

The Oklahoma Mental Health Consumer Council sponsored its 17th annual Legislative Leadership Panel recently. Partially funded by the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, the panel hosted several state officers including Lt. Gov. Jari Askins; State Treasurer Scott Meacham; Sen. Connie Johnson, D-Oklahoma City; Rep. Wallace Collins, D-Norman; Rep. Al Lindley, D-Oklahoma City; and Rep. Richard Morrissette, D-Oklahoma City.?

The panelists were chosen for their interest in, and dedication to, mental health issues.

Collins, who was named Outstanding Legislator by the National Association for the Mentally Ill (NAMI), told the crowd that "there is still a social stigma?associated?with a mental illness, but we all need to continue to discuss the issue and educate society."? He went on to say mental health funding was cut by 3 percent this past session, even though the needs are always expanding.?

"Mental health has never received the funding it needs, and in the long run, Oklahoma pays more because of it. It costs the state more money through lost productivity, costs of incarceration, not to mention the societal loss because of potential that is not fulfilled," Collins said.?

Collins promised to again next year, author a bill seeking to increase pay for state employees. He is also conducting a study into the conditions at Griffin Memorial Hospital.

OCU law dchool to host debate

Oklahoma City University's School of Law will host a candidates' forum between Corporation Commission candidates Jim Roth and Dana Murphy 5 p.m. Oct. 16 in the Homsley Family Moot Courtroom at the school's Sarkeys Law Center.

Both Roth and Murphy are graduates of OCU's law school.

The event will be moderated by Dean Lawrence K. Hellman and is co-sponsored by the Center of the Study of State Constitutional Law and Government and the OCU Energy Law Association.

Stiles endorsed by OCPAC

Aaron Stiles, a candidate for State House District No. 45 has been endorsed by the Oklahoma Conservative Political Action Committee.

Members said Stiles "demonstrated that he is a fiscal and moral conservative by opposing abortion and giving handouts to business and yet supporting tax cuts to businesses and reducing their regulations."

Stiles, the group said, also showed his understanding of the problem solving capabilities of local government by stating that one solution for difficulties in education is to put control at the county level instead of the state level.

Voter registration deadline Friday

Friday is the last day to apply for voter registration and still vote in the November general election, officials with the Cleveland County Election Board said.

Election Board Secretary Paula Roberts said persons who are U.S. citizens, residents of Oklahoma, and at least 18 years old may apply to become a registered voter.

Persons who have never been registered to vote before, are not registered in the county of their residence, or need to change their registration information, may apply by filing out and mailing an Oklahoma Voter Registration Application form in time for it to be postmarked not later than midnight Friday, Oct. 10.

For more information, call the election board at 366-0210.

-- Transcript Staff