SQ744

I sat through a presentation on State Question 744. You know what this does - it forces the state legislatures to delegate the public school budget before it delegates any other money to any other project and it provides a mechanism that brings our spending to the average of very state that touches our state. In other words - your public schools will be funded before prisons and before highways. If you have never had kids, don't like kids, don't want anyone's kids to have an education - please vote against it.

Personally my education K-12 was from the state funded public systems in many, many states too - because I was an Air Force brat. I also believe firmly that children deserve the very best we adults can offer - afterall, they have no vote, they have no say and they can't make us do anything we don't wish to do. I hope you wish your kids had it better than you did. Statistics say they won't live as long as you will - because more suffer from diseases caused by our bad eating habits. Maybe we can educate them to do better than we were taught.

This bill won't fix things overnight - sorry but reality TV shows seem to have everyone thinking that instant fixes are out there - but they are not. We need to put our children first for the first time in a damn long time. Moms and Dads- choose your kids - vote yes on this state question. Grandsparents - let's put our grandchildren ahead of our self-interest. This is a long haul issue. Politians have been mouthing the words that they care about education - but in all reality - it is in bad shape and will get much worse for a while - the economy that has hit the coasts is just waving itself over our part of the USA - bite the bullet - put the kids first - all else will take care of itself.

My Platform - Are you Kidding???

A couple of friends have asked what my platform is - I sat and wondered myself. I am not sure I have what one might call a platform - that means I have a solid ground to stand on. As wet as it has been this year there is little solid ground for anyone to stand on in Oklahoma.

The seed/farm exemption issue with seeds not being listed as a Farm Exempt product and therefore leaving me with having to pay taxes on seeds is in itself a issue of complete nonsense in the area of what the Oklahoma Tax Commission considers to be exempt of taxes. I mean, how does one farm without seeds? Now I don't mean to denigrate anyone who raises animals - that's another aspect of farming but really - I can buy a bungie cord or dog food with farm exemption but I can't buy seeds.

So do I have a platform - no. I have a desire - to do good - to do good for the most people that I can. It's one reason I started two farmers markets. It's why I spent so much time working on a Buy Fresh/Buy Local database back in November - because it was needed by a all the farmers in Green Country. It's why I agreed to tie one market to a school district - it was mutually beneficial. It's why I grow orga. . . dammit - I can't say that word because it belongs to the government - it's why I grow chemical free, pesticide free. It makes my veggies safe for you. It makes my land safe for me to be out on. This is why I recycle taking all my cans, pop bottles and milk containers to SHOW. Recycling is harder to do than just trashing my garbage but it is good for the planet. This is why I bought a car that I plan to drive one million miles. I have always thought about others and tried to be a good citizen of the planet, not just look out for me.

I have planned on doing some videos - I want them to be funny - and informative - and I am finding it very difficult to plan to get it done because I am doing already good for others. Just understand that I do what I can and if I get a chance to look into the way this state is run, and make it better for as many as possible, I will - it is who I am.

Cloning - with a smile

I believe it would be wonderful if I could clone myself fully formed and with all the same thoughts and feelings - man I could do so much. I clone all the time - its called propagation in the plant world - we cut off a stem, stick them down in perlite, water and soon roots follow creating a plant that looks exactly like the parent. Again, I tell you I wish I could clone myself with one caveat - I only want one SSN. Maybe if I could just have myself created as a robot that would be more acceptable to the rest of the world - smiles.

No one wants to pay taxes - no one wants to pay for insurance. The world has gotten so complex that we neeeeeed both. I don't know everything there is to know about taxes - I prepare my taxes and send them off - for two years the IRS sends me more than I expect - they don't tell me where I am missing my deduction they are adding to my tax forms. There then is sales taxes and property taxes and toll roads and taxes on buying cars and boats and fees for licenses to collect sales taxes. Still we pay less taxes than other countries who have naturally included more services because they collect more taxes.

Insurance is another necessary evil in our minds - necessary because we drive vehicles that don't stay on roads, live in houses that can burn down, do business where someone can get hurt and work at jobs so we can have benefits that pay if we get ill.

http://www.healthcare.gov/law/timeline/index.html#event9-pane

The site above is where you need to look regarding healthcare changes - don't listen to the TV stations and those talking heads - go read up about it. I used to assume I knew the answers because I heard it from someone who heard it from someone else. Insurance for everyone isn't the end of the USA - it might prevent the end of the USA. Here's what I was told - but look at it yourself. You children will stay on your insurance until they are 26, you cannot be dropped by any insurance company for any reason, your maximum payout will be removed - catastrophic illness will not take your home, people living at 133% of poverty level will be insured at no cost, people living between 133% and 400% will have coverage on a sliding scale with help from the government and those who have insurance will keep what they have. I am not crazy how much the insurance companies got to control - I am not crazy about corporate America. But surely you all agree that no child should lie at home with a severe fever and not get to a regular doctor until an emergency room visit and an out of control fever takes a kid because mom and dad can't afford insurance. Sometimes we need to change - maybe this will be a hell of a lot better than the talking heads are telling us.

End of a Long Day

I got up before 6 am knowing it was daylight. Put clothes on and ran to put signs on each corner - for campaign you're thinking - no, I sell blackberries. I have flags, hand-painted (my work), and a banner at the corner of 117 and Heywood Hill Road - and one flag at each corner that you need to turn to place. I dropped down at Whataburger in Sapulpa and pick up David's breakfast - he's addicted to coffee.

I set up two pickers with baskets a few minutes before 7 am and before they could get started - too busy taking pictures - three more show up with baskets and off they start picking. Five pickers wipe out berries and then I am picking more tomatoes and getting ready for Farmers Market in Downtown Tulsa, 3rd and Boston. I leave the house a few minutes before 9, get to market about 25 minutes later and start unloading. The place is full - not packed but there's about 10 vendors, two more show up late. We sit out in the heat, at 2 pm we begin to reload back into our cars. I manage the market - no pay, strictly volunteer. It gives everyone a chance to sell their wares.

Carissa Pankey is selling shaved ice with her own recipe of syrups - homemade. She uses Sapulpa Cafe to make them - I talked Jane and JoAnn into letting someone rent their kitchen after hours. More income for a restaurant - we could use a Certified Kitchen in Sapulpa. One that is used as an Incubator Business - that helps people get involved in the food services. I wrote a complete business plan some years back - Margie was selling the Custard place next to Rib Crib. The Broker fell thru, she needed to sell and I let the restaurant go but I have regretted not having started this Certified Kitchen for the public to use.

I spoke to a customer yesterday who would like to use a Certified Kitchen - I literally passed this idea past the Mayor who never looked at the plans - men!

I don't even know what party the Mayor may be and not sure I care. I just know that when it comes to new ideas a lot of men tend to think we should stick to what they have been doing and frankly I am ready for a new point of view. I've created a place for very small businesses to thrive at the farmers markets. My attempt to build a Certified Kitchen wasn't to make me rich - it had potential if kept busy - but my real reason was that every week or so I get a phone call from someone wanting to know if they can sell something at the market that is edible and needs to be prepared - food, mustard, cookies, barbeque sauce, breads and other assorted goodies. I am tired of telling them they must be legal and knowing they will not have an easy time finding a kitchen to cook in.

People can be enterprising - if you give them a means. A lot of women tend to want to be independent but we have a male bird house builder, a farmer and plant grower as well but the rest of the group is mostly women - some are daughters of the farms they represent.

Can I make a difference in representing District 30 at the Capitol? I'd be one voice - but I am willing to be a squeeky wheel. Do I listen or think outside the box (rolls eyes - I don't really like some cliches) and all you have to do is ask one of the vendors at one of my markets. Da Yang attends many markets for her family. She told me today she really loved my market - said I do a good job. One of the things I do is make everyone help everyone - putting up tents, taking down and leaving, no woman (or man) left behind. It is my unwritten rule - I don't enforce it - it simply happens and it makes me very proud to see someone just get to market late and have two/three vendors simply walk over and grab a corner of a tent. It's an old fashioned value - neighbor helping neighbor. If you all vote for me, I promise I will pitch in - it's my style.

Keeping it Simple

I left formal religion some time back - I had lots of good reasons - Jim Bakker, Jimmy Swaggart, smiles - preachers and parishioners who believed God was a wish book and gave out his goodness based on words uttered. Just not my cup of tea - sorry.

I took a test about 10 years ago - said I believe 100% like a liberal Quaker - then came liberal Christion or Unitarian and I choose to look up Quakerism and its tenets - Quakers are very tolerant. When this country was founded, the only place a Catholic could immigrate to this nation was Pennsylvania. When the slaves were escaping and heading north - it was the Quaker's underground railroad that helped them get there. One of their tenets is to keep things simple - clothing, speech, life. Chuckles - my life simple - no. But would I like it to be - oh, my yes.

I maintain a checking account for the Jenks and Downtown Tulsa Farmers' Markets - I have a farm diversification grant and I have blackberries here that I track separately from the other income because I rely on U-Pick access from customers. Jenks Market donates 5% of its net to the Jenks Public School for location/educational purposes.

That's way too much of an accounting nightmare. I won't take donations to run this campaign for office as your State Rep. The legalistic rules of accounting - the forms you must get back based on certain amounts in donation -just too much for this time of year and for my life in general.

I am planning on keeping it simple - I will spend about $200 for my campaign - it is the filing fee money I got back because I am not going to have to run a primary against another democrat. I thought that money was gone to pay for the election process but no, it is already back in my hands and being spent on redoing an old banner. I am getting two teeshirts - one for David and one for myself.

Everyone speaks of there being a need for Election Reform - but no one does one thing about it - they hold out their hands, donations are given by PACs who want favors and you and I get nothing out of this huge money pit.

So don't send me funds - I am keeping it simple. If you believe in what I do, then get a shirt that says - Donna - State Rep, Dist 30. Pay for it yourself - enjoy it - make it a green shirt too - something tie dyed - Shine On Design is making the two I ordered - get yourself one while your at it. She's in Sapulpa - buy local.

Answers to the Questions

Where do I see my top priorites?

Education – must be funded and we must listen to the educators. We need to teach kids to think not just take tests.
Healthcare – morally bound to vote for providing healthcare to our citizens. I would move we improve doctor’s nutrition and prevention knowledge and make sure insurance even pays for alternative medicines.
Environment – must move toward sustainability in all areas. Encourage college and private research. More recycling.
Alternative Agriculture –We need to end hunger, open doors to more farmers, encourage our youth to learn more about feeding ourselves, end food deserts and eliminate taxes on food – too regressive.

Why should voters elect me?

I volunteer as farmer’s market manager that has given 20+ vendors outlets; one market now donates to the Jenks schools. I accomplish tasks and believe in doing things ethically and for the most good. I have a business degree from Oklahoma Wesleyan can multitask and volunteer in areas that help others. My experience in transportation, education, energy, healthcare administration and agriculture will serve Oklahomans well. I want government to be for, by and of the people and I will return Oklahoma to values that allow farmers to set out produce and change and not find the change and produce gone.

What would you do to improve Oklahoma's economic growth?

I would like to see Oklahoma move into manufacturing alternative energy systems, open incubator programs that help innovation in sustainability and self reliance. Would help small mom/pop businesses not only open but maintain any business that contributes to improvements in education, the environment, healthcare and agricultural issues. We need to rebuild our economy from the bottom up, not depend on trickle down economics.

How I Ended Up in DC Back in the 70s

I graduated from high school in 1970 and I am the oldest and mom and dad didn't think much of college even though I wanted to be an art teacher. I was far to shy to date so I worked in a small restaurant until one day when the phone range and a Special Agent Peroda with the FBI asked if I might be interested in going to work for the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Would I?? Absolutely, I was ready to get out on my own.


During the time the employment investigation was going on for my employment, there had been a murder in Bristow. If you are old enough to remember, and I don't remember the names but there was a man who was going to testify in a huge scandelous case - it was bad. His wife traded vehicles with him, the truck that he usually drove had dynamite under the seat and when she started it, it blew up. The FBI was not only investigating me for a job, but this case back in 1971. I received a letter with a stamped signature from J. Edgar Hoover telling me when to report to work and I flew out to Dulles Airport to begin working back in March, 2001 and stayed until the following summer.


I was a file clerk - working in files that contained mail fraud, car theft, kidnapping cases. I matured there - less shy, learned to drive and date and finally met my current husband who had the only last name I ever made fun of. I had worked with a Teresa Vogelpohl from Bristow and teased her about her last name - met and married David two years later. They are no kin - David was in the Navy going to school and asked me to marry him 4 weeks after we met. We were engaged for 14 months and married three days after his enlistment ended.


It was a wonderful time in my life. I was able to spend lots of time at the Smithsonian and traveled to see Jefferson and Washington's homes, the site where Jamestown stands. I soaked up the history and I met the love of my life.


Hoover died in office during my employment and I walked past his closed casket in the Capitol Building. I've seen both Sequoyah and Will Roger's statues there and knew enough of my history to know some their contributions. I was 19-20 during my employment - seems almost a lifetime ago.