Please find the following updates and changes:

• The Platform Committee, chaired by Chris Corcoran, has completed their meetings and the Wagoner County Party Platform changes section has been updated as well as the Resolutions section.
• Also we got word today, that Congressman Josh Brecheen will not be able to attend in person due a scheduling conflict. We are working on having a video update from him. And we are working on having him at a future monthly meeting.

Matthew Vermillion, Chair
Wagoner County GOP

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Wagoner County Republican Party Newsletter

The 2023 Biennial County Convention is set for Saturday, February 25, 2023

9:00 am Registration Begins
10:00 am Convention Starts

Our Finest Hour Church, 11045 OK-51, Broken Arrow, 74014

Precinct Meetings took place on February 9, 2023. The meeting had a full house attendance and several new/first time attendees. However, a few precincts still have no precinct chair nor members attending meetings. We continue to strive to become more effective and to help energize the grass roots and encourage involvement.

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Our County Convention will be held Saturday, February 25th at 10:00 am. We will meet at Our Finest Hour Church (11045 OK-51, Broken Arrow, 74014). Registration will begin at 9:00 am and close at 9:55 am. Doors will close at 9:55 am and if you are not in the building by that time you will not be allowed to participate. Convention will start at 10:00 am. Please make sure to have your Voter ID Card with you. There will be a separate sign in for Republican Guest and Candidates.

If you were unable to attend your precinct meeting or did not contact your precinct chair or party chair in order to become a participating/voting delegate, you may still attend the Convention as a guest member.

The primary purpose of this year’s Convention is to elect our County Officers (County Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, State Committee Persons (2), 1st District Committee Persons (2) and 2nd District Committee Persons (2)) for the next 2 years and to also elect our county delegates to attend the Oklahoma Republican Party Biennial State Convention. These delegates will then elect our State Party Officers (Chair, Vice-Chair), vote on any state party rule changes as well as any new state party platform changes put forth at the state convention.

The Biennial State Convention will be a 2 day convention held Friday, May 5, 2023 and Saturday, May 6, 2023 at UMAC, 6836 S Mingo Rd, Tulsa, OK 74133 – more info to come.

Also, at the County Convention, we will vote on changes to the following that have been presented at the precinct meetings:

(We will have a packet for each delegate that will include all of the following printed out already)

Wagoner County Party Platform changes: (UPDATED 2/20/23)

The County Platform Committee has finalized their meetings and reviewed submitted platform changes proposed by precincts 101, 106, 109, 303, 304, and 307. The Platform Committee has submitted 8 individual platform changes. The Committee recommends that each of the 8 latform changes be voted upon individually to avoid the possibility of an “all or nothing” vote. You can see the full report by the County Platform Committee by clicking here.

The Proposed County Party Platform draft for the February 25, 2025 convention can be viewed by clicking here. The draft can also be viewed at our website wagonergop.com under the Party Information Tab. (This draft only conforms the format of the existing Platform to that of the OKGOP Platform with cross-references updated to the most recent State Platform. No other changes proposed for consideration at the Convention are included herein. Following the Convention a fully updated and revised Platform will be prepared and posted to the Party website.)

The current County Party Platform, that was adopted on March 6, 2021, can be viewed at our website wagonergop.com under the Party Information Tab or by clicking on this link here.

Resolutions: (UPDATED 2/20/23)

There was two resolution that was submitted by precinct 102. You can see the two proposed resolutions by clicking here. You can see the County Platform Committees recommendation at the top of their full report. You can see those recommendations by clicking here.

The proposed 2023 Convention Rules are posted at our web site wagonergop.com under the Party Information Tab or by clicking on this link here.

The County Rules committee met and had the following changes from 2021.

• IV. Election of County Officers
  added “per Congressional District”
  removed “Secretary, Treasurer” in order to match the State Party Rules
• V. Process of Selecting County Delegates to the District Convention
  added “In Presidential Election years.”
  removed “Secretary, Treasurer” in order to match the State Party Rule
• VI. Process of Selecting County Delegates to the District Convention
  removed “Secretary, Treasurer” in order to match the State Party Rule
• VI. Delegate/Alternate Delegation
  added “The same process applies for the County Convention.”
• VII. Adoption of Wagoner County Platform (Submitted by Precinct 202)
  added “The Platform Committee shall review and revise, as necessary, the last adopted platform, considering the planks approved and submitted by the precincts.”

There were NO State Rule changes submitted by the Wagoner County precincts.

Convention Guest Speakers:

U.S. Congressman Kevin Hern, Oklahoma District 1

As the son of a 22-year Air Force veteran, Kevin Hern gained an early appreciation for the sacrifices that military families make. In high school, Kevin earned an Architectural Drafting Certificate in a concurrent Vocational-Technical school, which he used to work and pay for his Mechanical Engineering degree. Later in life, he earned his MBA.

He went on to work as an Aerospace Engineer for Rockwell. Kevin started his first small business in 1985 specializing in computer and software applications. Then he started saving to purchase his first McDonald’s Restaurant, starting several small business ventures: writing computer programs to automate tasks for businesses, real estate, and even hog farming.

In 1997, Kevin sold the hog farm to buy his first McDonald’s restaurants in North Little Rock. He went on to build an organization that owned 18 McDonald’s restaurants and employs over 1,000 people in the Tulsa, Oklahoma area.

Kevin has worked across every aisle by serving in various leadership positions within the McDonald’s system - what is dubbed as the most grassroots business in the world. He served 13 years on the National Leadership Team that represented all of the 3,500+ U.S. Franchisees, serving for 8 years as the Ombudsman and 5 years as the chairman of the Systems Economic Team. As the Chairman of the Economics Team, he was responsible for the multi-billion dollar relationship between the franchisees and McDonald’s Corporation for the over 14,000 franchisee owned restaurants across the United States. He served on McDonald’s Tax Policy Team for 5 years and on the McDonald’s Insurance Corporation board for 8 years.

In addition, Kevin has part ownership in a manufacturing facility in Muskogee, real estate ventures, and three technology companies. He is co-founder of a community bank where he served for 17 years on the executive board. He uses his business acumen to help aspiring entrepreneurs create new businesses, so they can pursue their American Dream. He has been a small businessman and job creator for over 33 years.

Kevin Hern was first sworn into Congress on November 13th, 2018 serving the remainder of NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine’s term. Hern was re-elected in 2022. Kevin and his wife Tammy live in Tulsa and have three children. They are members of the Church at Battle Creek.

U.S. Congressman Josh Brecheen, Oklahoma District 2

(Due to a schedule conflict. Congressman Brecheen will not be able to attend in person. However we are working on a video update from him. And we are working to schedule him for a future monthly meeting. UPDATED 2/20/23)

Josh Brecheen (pronounced Bra-keen) is a committed Christian, husband, father, and is a fourth generation rancher in Coal County, Oklahoma. Prior to his time in Congress, he owned and operated a small excavation and trucking business, Rawhide Dirtworks L.L.C. He served as an Oklahoma State Senator from 2010 to 2018, obtaining an overall voting record as the third most conservative senator among those with whom he served. He was the original author of measures that included capping state debt, banning dismemberment abortions, and a true repeal and replace of the common core educational standards—the nation’s first. From 2004 to 2010, Brecheen worked for U.S. Senator Tom Coburn, M.D. as a field representative, working directly with Oklahoma constituents and evaluating federal programs for waste and inefficiencies.

Brecheen is a graduate of Oklahoma State University, where he earned a dual degree in agriculture. He served the Oklahoma FFA Association as State President in 1999 and later worked seasonally for the National FFA Organization as an ALD conference presenter. Until 2010, he brought inspirational messages into approximately 500 public schools, universities, and conferences through his motivational speaking business, Brecheen Keynotes and Seminars and also as a free service when employed by Tom Coburn.

Brecheen grew up in the professional cutting horse industry and in his youth was a two-time national qualifier for the National Cutting Horse Association Eastern Championship show. After college, Brecheen started training cutting horse futurity prospects as a “non pro” and has been raising quality cow horses for over 20 years.

As a member of Congress, he is focused on reining in our unsustainable debt and deficit spending, which he is convinced is undermining our national security.

Oklahoma State Sen. Blake "Cowboy" Stephens, District 3

Sen. Blake "Cowboy" Stephens was first elected to the state Senate in 2020 to represent District 3, including communities in Adair, Cherokee, Delaware, Mayes and Rogers counties. In 2022 Wagoner County was added during the redistricting.

The Tahlequah Republican is a graduate of Sapulpa High School, Northeastern A&M College, Oklahoma State University and Northeastern State University. He holds a bachelor’s degree in agricultural education and a master’s degree in both secondary school counseling and elementary school counseling. A passionate educator, Stephens spent 24 years as a counselor for Locust Grove Public Schools prior to joining the state Senate. He also owns and operates the family ranch in Moodys, Okla.

Blake is the middle child of John and Evelyn Stephens, he was raised with his two sisters on a working farm outside of Sapulpa, Oklahoma. His parents raised all three of their children to be hard-working, dedicated individuals. John worked on the farm, which was a show pig and breeding operation; he also worked in construction and spent many years on projects in and around the Tulsa area. The most notable was the Golden Driller at the Tulsa Fairgrounds, John served as the General Superintendent during construction and was asked to model by the designers. He is lovingly and proudly referred to as “the” Golden Driller by family and friends. Evelyn worked cleaning houses and keeping the house and farm running. Undoubtedly, her greatest job was the time spent with the three children who grew up modeling the work ethic seen in both of their parents.

Blake met his wife and best friend Kathy, whom he refers to as his gift from God, at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater. He claims that she is a saint for “putting up with my western way of life.” Prior to attending OSU Stillwater, Blake attended Northeastern Oklahoma A&M in Miami where he received an Associate’s Degree. Blake went on to graduate from OSU with a Bachelor’s Degree in Agriculture Education and later went on to attend Northeastern State University in Tahlequah earning both a Master’s of Education in Secondary School Counseling and Elementary School Counseling. Kathy is also an educator, she is a librarian at Locust Grove Upper Elementary School. Blake and Kathy have two grown children, Sarah who is married to Brandon Daniels and Joshua who is married to Jewely Stephens. They enjoy spending time with both their children and their spouses, but they really enjoy time spent with their two grandchildren, Kaitlyn and Annie on the ranch. Whether riding horses with Pa or picking blackberries or huckleberries with Granny, Blake and Kathy treasure the time they spend with KK and Annie.

Our Finest Hour Church, 11045 OK-51, Broken Arrow, 74014

The location for the County Convention is a different building than where we meet for our monthly meetings.



Our Finest Hour Church, 11045 OK-51, Broken Arrow, 74014

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Other important dates:

SPECIAL ELECTIONS AND PROPOSITIONS - State Question 820

Last day to register to vote: Friday, February 10, 2023
Deadline to request absentee ballot: 5 PM, Monday, February 20, 2023
Early Voting: Thursday, March 2, 8 AM - 6 PM
Friday, March 3, 8 AM - 6 PM
Election Day: Tuesday, March 7, 2023
Polls will be open from 7 am - 7 pm
REMEMBER TO GO VOTE

City Council/School Board Elections

Last day to register to vote: Friday, March 10
Deadline to request absentee ballot: 5 PM, Monday, March 20
Early Voting: Thursday, March 30, 8 AM - 6 PM
Friday, March 31, 8 AM - 6 PM
Election Day: Tuesday, April 4, 2023
Polls will be open from 7 am - 7 pm
REMEMBER TO GO VOTE

April Monthly Meeting

When: Thursday, April 6, 2023
6:30 pm - Fellowship Time - Appetizers
7:00 pm - Guest Speaker: TBA
Where: Northeastern State University Broken Arrow, Room 216,
3100 New Orleans St, Broken Arrow, OK 74014

Oklahoma Republican Party 2023 Biennial State Convention

When: Friday, May 5, 2023 and Saturday, May 6, 2023
Time TBA
Where: UMAC, 6836 S Mingo Rd, Tulsa, OK 74133
* More info to come.
* To be a delegate at the Biennial State Convention, you must first start by attending your precinct meeting and then be elected as a Delegate from the County Convention TO the State Convention. If you MUST be absent from the precinct meeting, you must contact your Precinct Chair before the close of the week of the precinct meeting. If you cannot reach your Precinct Chair, contact your County Chair.

Your donations help get the message out to get Republicans elected - #LeadRight

Matthew Vermillion, Chair
Wagoner County GOP