Janelle Stecklein

Oklahoma Voice released its Aug. 25 primary runoff voter guide Monday to help Oklahomans learn more about two nonpartisan state questions and the partisan candidates who will appear on the ballot.In addition to highlighting the five partisan statewide races, the guide contains information about two legislatively-proposed state questions — 844 and 846 — that would alter the state’s Constitution.

“Be afraid. Be very afraid” seems like a fitting slogan for Oklahoma elections this year.While the tagline first originated in 1986 horror movie “The Fly”, it’s a relevant warning for all Oklahomans watching their election system be hijacked by wealthy candidates who loan their campaigns copious amounts of money.

President Donald Trump’s dream of opening a massive, foreign-owned aluminum smelter in Oklahoma is in jeopardy.Ironically, the Republican leader’s plan to erect an enormous, superheated, pollution-producing, industrial complex in a rural area isn’t imploding because of his usual perceived enemies: the liberal, radical left. His plan is on the brink of failure, this time, because of fellow Republicans.

The top Republican in the Oklahoma House is disingenuously trying to insult our intelligence by insisting that last week’s election sent a clear message that voters support the “conservative” work that the House Republicans have been doing.It does nothing of the sort.

OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma’s crowded Republican race for insurance commissioner is headed to a runoff after no candidate received the majority of the votes.Bob Sullivan will face Marty Quinn during the Aug. 25 primary runoff ballot. Sullivan won about 37% of the vote while Quinn received about 27%. Greta Shuler and Chris Merideth split the remaining votes, receiving about 17% each.

Editor’s note: Janelle Stecklein’s weekly political column will not publish the week of June 15.One thing that’s really irritated me about the Republican frontrunners in the Oklahoma governor’s race is they seem hellbent on proving they are just like the rest of us.But other than having the privilege of living here, they’re really not like us at all.

Normally I’d write about who was the big winner during Oklahoma’s annual legislative session, but this year all I can think about is who emerged as the big loser.Because, unfortunately, my kids and the state’s nearly 700,000 other public school children took home the booby prize.

As Oklahoma House lawmakers blathered on in their ridiculous discussion justifying why children should be allowed to marry, the Garth Brooks’ hit “Unanswered Prayers” flashed through my head.

If any Oklahoman decided to play hooky from work for three weeks, they’d be fired.

OKLAHOMA CITY — A bank with ties to Oklahoma’s governor is not involved in a state employee debit card program, the state treasurer and the financial institution’s leaders said.Treasurer Todd Russ said in a statement that the state maintains a contract with Conduent, a corporation providing business services, and its banking partner, Fifth Third Bank, which recently acquired Comerica.