Bob Williams, Chairman Howard
Co. Republican Committee
CENTER POINT – The
Howard County Republican
Committee sponsored a
free “Area-Wide Patriotic
Event” on the eve of Columbus
Day, hence part of
the theme, “Rediscovering
America; The Resurgence of
Conservatism”. Chairman
Williams reported the event
was well received having
over 100 in attendance. The
evening began with an attractive
selection of desserts
featuring a decadent collection
of cakes, pies, cookies
and candies prepared by a
number of Howard County’s
most skilled bakers under
the leadership of the renowned
Mrs. Jo Howard.
Prior to the introduction of
guests, an invocation was
given by Pastor Bruce Short
followed by the Pledge of
Allegiance to the American
Flag. The array of speakers
began with Oklahoma’s Lt.
Governor, Todd Lamb. He
began by sharing some of his
background which included
his tenure as a U.S. Secret
Service Agent under the
Clinton and Bush administrations
and humorously
related to his understanding
of “bipartisanism” by being
willing to take a bullet for
both a Democrat and Republican.
He emphasized a
state’s sovereignty under the
10th Amendment of the U.S.
Constitution and he clarified
it by sharing a story of his
experience in Washington
D.C. He related in his observation
of each monument, in
all their magnificence, they
only exist because of the
individual states. The states
created our nation’s capital,
in all of its glory; the capital
did not create the states.
Not everyone in Congress
is from Arkansas, therefore,
only Arkansans know what
is good for Arkansas, not
some Congressman from
another state, thus, state
sovereignty is not a suggestion
it is empowerment
of the people to decide for
themselves. Arkansas Auditor
of the State, Andrea Lea
spoke next challenging citizens
to become involved in
their local, county and state
government. She shared that
by her observing things in
her community that didn’t
make sense, it motivated her
to run for a local office so she
could use the gifts she had
towards a desire to give back
to her community and make
a difference.
Howard County
native and Dierks’ own, State
Senator, Marty Quinn of Oklahoma
took the floor reflecting
on his rearing in a small
community by Christian
conservative parents and
how it shaped his values and
has impacted the decisions
he faces in serving as a senator
in Oklahoma’s legislature.
Senator Quinn stated, “The
goal here is to hopefully
indicate to you in some way
that we need to start standing
up for the values that
made this country strong”.
He emphasized that you and
I, as citizens, set the rules for
this country but the reason
that is failing is because of
our lack of involvement in
our governmental process.
“We don’t like to discuss
the social issues, therefore
we shy away from them”,
Quinn related, in drawing
attention to such governmental
issues ranging from
the removal of prayer from
our schools, the uncovering
of Planned Parenthood’s
disregard for human life and
the re-definition of marriage.
Quinn stated, “Moral things
that were in stone years
ago are no longer in stone”,
warning that more issues will
rise up and will be subject to
similar changes unless we
begin to get involved and
base that involvement on
steadfast moral values and
principles. Also addressing
the group was Oklahoma
State Representative Dennis
Casey. His experience as a
public school educator for
30 years and head football
coach who is acclaimed with
ten state championships
drew the crowd’s attention.
Casey stated, “What’s astonishing
is, out of thirtyseven
thousand people in his
district only five thousand
are voters”, relating that
statistic as a trend in most
every state.
Arkansas State
Representative (district-19),
Justin Gonzales emphasized
that his 2014 campaign and
election to the legislature
was based on his values and
principles as a conservative
Christian Constitutionalist
and that he hopes he represents
that in all he does
in serving his district . He
briefly discussed some of
the positive legislation that
he was proud to be involved
in passing concerning Pro-
Life and Religious Freedom
in Arkansas. He reminded
everyone that he hopes to
represent the values of every
person in his district and
welcomes every phone call
or text. The final speaker for
the event was Arkansas State
Representative (district-4),
DeAnn Vaught who shared
a familiar story in tune with
most of the previous speakers.
She related that she
had no inkling of political
aspirations in her future and
that she is a wife, mom and a
life-long farmer, but strongly
believes her conservative
Christian values, accompanied
by divine intervention
guided her into public service.
“I knew that by running
for public office I would have
to make sacrifices” stated
Vaught, and that she would
miss out on events with her
children in order to serve the
public, but she had always
stressed to her daughters to
stand up for what is right and
now her teaching had come
full circle. The evening ended
with Chairman Williams
reminding everyone of the
two foundational documents
establishing this nation, the
Declaration of Independence
and the U.S. Constitution. He
reflected on the thirty-nine
signers of the Declaration
of Independence, and how
they literally signed their
own death warrant and if
they, as a struggling group
of colonist, were to fail in
their impending fight for freedom
from English tyranny; it
would cost them their very
lives. Williams stated, “I am
a military veteran and served
my country for twenty-two
years, traveling all over the
world and I assure you there
is no place like the United
States of America and we
must work hard to preserve
it, if not for ourselves, for our
children, our grandchildren
and future generations”.
