Oklahoma lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2014

Tourism is the third largest business in Oklahoma and it's barely paid attention to. Our government officials have sold off some of our state parks forgetting that our state parks are for the people of Oklahoma not just a profit center. What I would like to do when I’m Lt Gov is focus on tourism.

By focus I mean to help people understand the value of our three major arterial highways: I-35, I-44, and I-40.

Millions of people travel through Oklahoma on these highways and we have done nothing to capitalize on the fact that they are already here; a gift from the federal government. What we need to do is organize items like we have done on Route 66 but on these other highways; be they art projects, road rally’s, road races, or be they just weekend getaways where you can sit and relax. We are doing a terrible job capitalizing on the business opportunities given to us. I have traveled all across the state of Oklahoma for DAYTRIPOK.COM filming video series on every small town to big city.

What I have noticed is there is a lot of Oklahoma that people don’t know exist. Beautiful landscape, and challenging things to do; white water rafting, mountain climbing, cycling, horseback riding etc. We need to do a better job letting people know these exist. As a business person, I realize the actual opportunities that exist here. I have never been a government bureaucrat that just writes checks with other peoples’ money; so I know how to make money with tourism, not just bring people through. ^[4]

This is so important to me that I hosted a radio show on KTOK for several years called the Guerrilla Gourmet. It gave me the opportunity to promote other businesses and owners in the state, at no cost to them.I have consulted many Oklahoma companies as well as taught marketing skills to many Oklahoma Entrepreneurs.

The thing we hear most about from the people in charge right now is bringing business into Oklahoma. And it’s wonderful that they have been able to bring in large businesses here. The fact of the matter is 92% of Oklahomans are employed by small business and they have been left out of this search from the present administration. What I would like to do is focus on small business because that is where the growth is available and the easiest place to attain. Small businesses need to be able to open without 35 different licenses; that’s what I needed to open my restaurant. We have got to find out a simpler way for the state, the county, and the city to get a business open. Small businesses need to know that they are part of the economy also. Every tax break and every gift we give to major corporations we need to give to small business. Small business is where the growth in Oklahoma really exists.

Since I have been a small business owner that started from scratch; I actually know what they will go through when they start their small business. Instead of trying to woo one large company, we could woo 100 small companies in the mean time. Yes, maybe they start off as mom and pop businesses, but they will stay here in Oklahoma, they will pay taxes in Oklahoma, they’ll support our school system, they’ll support our infrastructure, they’ll l be a part of our community. They are the next community leaders of Oklahoma and it is our job to help develop them and I am in the perfect position to be able to make this happen. ^[4]

As Lieutenant Governor, the best way I can support our schools is to bring light to their problems. Schools make up half of our budget here in the state of Oklahoma and you rarely see a politician step inside of a building. No business would ever spend half its money in any field without proper management and proper involvement from the people in charge.

I would like to promise you that I will work one day of each week in a local school wherever I am on state business. I will work the lunch line, sit in classrooms, hold my meetings at the school so not only I, but also people who need to do business with the Lieutenant Governor, can see what is going on in our schools. As Lieutenant Governor when I tell a news station I’ll be at a certain school they will show up and will be news at 6 bringing attention to the school.

The other thing we can do for the schools is make them better neighborhood schools by teaching parents the importance of volunteering and engaging in the process of education. In my role as Lieutenant Governor, I promise not to be an enemy to the teachers. The most important people in my entire life were teachers and I am going to make sure they are supported.

Our politicians regularly say kids are the most important thing, but their actions have said otherwise. I am going to prove that children are the most important thing. ^[4]

Growing the Economy

As our Lt. Governor, Todd Lamb tirelessly pursues pro-business, pro-growth economic policies that create an environment conducive to private-sector job growth, income growth, and maximizing Oklahoma’s economic competitiveness. Creating this environment consists of three crucial principles.

First, economic development is healthiest when public policy removes impediments to growth. Todd knows that state government must limit itself and allow Oklahoma job-creators to do what they do best: provide Oklahomans the chance to work hard and raise a family. Lt. Governor Lamb continues to advocate for reducing burdensome regulations that have historically made creating jobs more difficult in our state. As Lt. Governor, Todd was a leading advocate for the vital tort and worker’s compensation reforms that have broken barriers to job creation and reduced Oklahoma’s cost of doing business to historic lows.

Working for Oklahoma

In his farewell address to the nation President Reagan said: “We the People tell the government what to do, it doesn’t tell us.”

Lt. Governor Todd Lamb agrees and proactively listens to the people of Oklahoma. Todd has traveled to each of Oklahoma’s 77 counties every year he has served as Lt. Governor and he intends to keep it that way during a second term.

From Miami to Mangum, Boise City to Broken Bow, Todd has hosted town hall meetings and small business forums across the state to better understand the challenges facing small business owners and Oklahoma families and he proactively ensures the voice of Oklahomans guides sound policymaking.

Promoting Our Values

Lt. Governor Todd Lamb not only shares our Oklahoma values, they guide the execution of his daily duties. Todd believes that all life is precious and should be protected, not in select stages, but every stage, because each life has been endowed with dignity.

Todd has received multiple perfect scores from Oklahomans for Life, serves as a Deacon at Quail Springs Baptist Church in Oklahoma City, and is active with the Christian Businessmen Connection who honored him with their prestigious Salt and Light award in 2012.

Public Safety

As a former Special Agent of the U.S. Secret Service, Lt. Governor Lamb knows that public service has no higher charge than keeping our families safe.

In the wake of the tragedy at Sandy Hook elementary, while Washington D.C. sought partisan gain, our Lt. Governor used his public safety experience to bring law enforcement officials, educators, and lawmakers from both parties together to create the Oklahoma Commission on School Security. Under Lt. Governor Lamb’s leadership, this bipartisan commission successfully passed comprehensive reforms to state law protect our most precious assets, our children, without sacrificing our most precious freedoms. Other states are now following the lead of our Lt. Governor by replicating this common sense law. ^[4]