Leaving the district in good hands as term winds down

Senate District 31 will be in good hands when I step down from elected office in November. I want to congratulate Spencer Kern, of Duncan, on being elected the next senator for District 31.

A rancher and small business owner who owns R & S Drugstores, Spencer will be a great addition to the state Senate. I’m confident he will serve as a strong voice for this district because of his wealth of knowledge on agricultural issues and the unique challenges facing rural Oklahoma.

Running for public office takes courage and conviction, and I want to commend all the candidates who entered the race. I also applaud all the residents who participated in the democratic process by voting in the election. I look forward to getting to know Spencer better before he is sworn in to ensure continuity in this office.

In the meantime, my work as a senator isn’t complete yet. About a week after this year’s four-month legislative session concluded, the governor called the Senate into a special session that began June 12. The governor asked the Senate to confirm his new appointment to the Oklahoma State University Board of Regents. This came after the Senate failed to confirm the governor’s previous appointee to the board. As an OSU alumnus, I felt it was important to return to the Capitol for the start of the special session. However, the proceedings were brief. Senators typically meet with the governor’s executive branch appointees before voting on their appointments.

The Senate plans to resume the special session on July 15, which will give many senators time to get to know Jennifer Callahan, the governor’s latest pick to serve on OSU’s Board of Regents. When the special session resumes, Callahan will be invited to appear before the Senate Education Committee to answer questions from the panel’s members. Typically, members ask about an appointee’s qualifications, their desire to serve and their vision for being a leader in state government. If the committee advances Callahan’s appointment, then the full Senate will vote on her confirmation.

I’ll also be at the Capitol in the coming months for a series of interim studies hosted by my colleagues. Every year in the late summer and fall, lawmakers hold interim studies to do deep dives on various policy topics to inform them as they’re writing legislation. I know the Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee, which I lead, will hear at least one interim study. Other committees that I serve on will also start scheduling hearings soon.

Thank you again for the privilege of serving our district and the state of Oklahoma in the Senate. If I can be of any assistance, you can reach me at (405) 521-5563 or Chris.Kidd@oksenate.gov.