Candidates for Oklahoma State Senate

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• State Senate District 2:  Jennifer Esau

• State Senate District 22:  Blake Aguirre

• State Senate Distric 28: Karen Rackley

• State Senate District 30:  Julia Kirt  (incumbent)

• State Senate District 40:  Carri Hicks   (incumbent)

• State Senate District 48: George E. Young, Sr.

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More responses will be posted as they are received from candidates.

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Jennifer Esau

Candidate for State Senate District 2

https://www.jenniferesau.com/

https://www.facebook.com/EsauforOKSenate

1. Are you a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces? If so, what were your branches, rank, years of service? Mention any details of your service which you might want voters to know. 

I am not a member of the US Armed Forces.

2. Do you have connections with veterans active duty service members, including but not limited to family ties?

My connections to the US Armed Forces would be my dad, Jim Farr. He was in the Navy during Vietnam. He passed away due to agent orange on April 18, 2014. My dad taught my sister and I to be respectful of our service members and our country. He was very proud of his service and it is something I have always valued. As a public school teacher, I teach respect for our country and our flag every single day with my students. My maternal grandfather (Cleon Faught) served in the Merchant Marines. My paternal grandfather (Flovin Wendall Farr) served in the army during WW 2 and fought in Sicily. My uncle, John Farr served in the Air Force for 8 years.

My father-in-law, Clinton D. Esau served in the US Navy

3. What do you consider the most important issues facing veterans and military families?

The most important issues I see facing veterans and military families would be mental healthcare, healthcare, suicide prevention, and homelessness. As a legislator, I would be in contact with different veterans’ groups so that I would understand their issues and needs so I could best advocate for them.

4. In what ways can you be helpful to veterans and military families if elected to office? This may of course include policies not specifically directed to those communities. If you are an incumbent, include relevant measures you have supported in the past

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Being an advocate for veterans is an important way I can serve our country and pay respect to my dad and family members. I would make sure to have an open line of communication with my constituents so they can share their struggles and needs with me. I would not pretend to know what they need. I would rely on their input to help me craft legislation that would best honor their sacrifices to our country.

Blake Aguirre

Candidate for State Senate District 22

Email: blake_aguirre@yahoo.com

1. Are you a veteran of the US Armed Forces?

No

2. Do you have connections with veterans or active-duty service members, including but not limited to family ties?

Yes

3. What do you consider the most important issues facing veterans and military families?

Mental Health, Substance abuse, and homelessness. I would like to also assist the Oklahoma Veterans hospital and facilities.

4. In what way can you be helpful to veterans and military families if elected to office?

As a State Senator, I want to create legislation to address the crisis of suicide and substance abuse of our veterans due to PTSD. I also see it as a viable necessity to address the overwhelming number of homeless veterans in our state.

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Karen Rackley
Candidate for State Senate District 28

1. Are you a veteran of the US Armed Forces?

No I am not a veteran; Did apply for service but due to health condition never made it past MEPS. I am a registered lifetime member of the VFW ladies auxiliary. My husband belongs to the local VFW in Chandler.

2. Do you have connections with veterans or active-duty service members, including but not limited to family ties?

Yes have family ties with military service. We have a rich military history in my family. My husband has been awarded an order of St. Barbara (Artillery) and I have received a Molly Pitcher.

I was a "Military brat". My father, Jerry Daniels, is a retired Major with the US Army. He was a Huey Helicopter pilot in Vietnam and later worked with the MLRS systems .

My husband, Mark Rackley, is a retired CSM with the Oklahoma National Guard and US Army with over 40 years of combined service. He served in both Iraq and Afghanistan

My son served in Afghanistan with the Oklahoma National Guard

My Nephew served in Afghanistan with the Oklahoma National Guard

My other Nephew was a Load Master with the US AIR Force

3. What do you consider the most important issues facing veterans and military families?

Lack of mental health services in this state impacts veterans suffering from PTSD, anxiety, insomnia, and other conditions. From personal experience my family was left to deal with my husbands "War trauma" on our own as the only "Treatment" he received was a bottle of muscle relaxers to help him sleep.

Homelessness is an issue across the state not just in the cities but in rural areas as well. Unfortunately limited resources are even more limited in the rural areas.

Family support during deployment is an area that needs improvement. While the Oklahoma National Guard tries hard to provide these services, if you live outside the local drill armory, the assistance is limited;

4. In what way can you be helpful to veterans and military families if elected to office?

I would like to see more resources devoted to mental health services and resources ear tagged to help with the homelessness problem.  If inflation continues at its present rate homelessness rates may increase. I would like to see community involvement in some of these issues as it may well take new ideas and creative solutions to tackle some of these problems.

I believe a strong military presence in Oklahoma is warranted and may become more essential if the conditions on the Southern US border continue as is. I support the efforts of the Oklahoma National Guard (ONG) and will work to support the ONG cause.

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Julia Kirt

Candidate for State Senate District 30 (Incumbent)

www.juliakirt.com    405-226-8514

1. Are you a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces? If so, what were your branches, rank, years of service? 

I am not a veteran. 

2. Do you have connections with veterans active duty service members, including but not limited to family ties?

My father served in the Air Force for his entire career and was a Veteran of Vietnam. 

3. What do you consider the most important issues facing veterans and military families?

Our veteran and military families face challenges with getting good, well-paying stable jobs after serving. They also need access to strong mental health services. 

4. In what ways can you be helpful to veterans and military families if elected to office? This may of course include policies not specifically directed to those communities. If you are an incumbent, include relevant measures you have supported in the past. 

I am proud to serve on the Veterans and Military Affairs Committee in the State Senate. For active duty military families, we've made great progress to make sure that military spouses can quickly participate in their careers when they are stationed here. We also have made sure incoming students of military families have options for continuing their education. In the past few years, we have improved disabled veteran tax breaks. Also we have worked to improve the OK Dept of Veterans Affairs long term care facilities. I directly help constituents access state services and benefits. I always am glad to listen to our military and veteran residents to hear their concerns!

Carri Hicks

Candidate for State Senate District 40 (Incumbent)

Carrihicks.com

https://www.facebook.com/hicksforsenate

1. Are you a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces? If so, what were your branches, rank, years of service? 

N/A

2. Do you have connections with veterans active duty service members, including but not limited to family ties?

My father-in-law served in the Navy. Both grandfathers served in WWII - one in the Army, one in the Navy.

3. What do you consider the most important issues facing veterans and military families?

It’s incredibly important to consider benefits and keeping promises to our military families. Taxes, healthcare, and ensuring support services have to be of top priority.

4. In what ways can you be helpful to veterans and military families if elected to office? This may of course include policies not specifically directed to those communities. If you are an incumbent, include relevant measures you have supported in the past. 

I have supported reducing the tax burden for veterans and families, expanding support for our military to continue their education and increased investment in Veterans Affairs hospitals. I continue to be available to help in any specific situations regarding constituent services. 

George E. Young, Sr.

Candidate for Senate District 48 (Incumbent)

george-young.net

facebook.com/george.e.sr

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1. Are you a veteran of the US Armed Forces?

I am not a veteran.

2. Do you have connections with veterans or active-duty service members, including but not limited to family ties?

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My father served in WWII, my oldest brother retired as a Colonel, with 2 tours in  Vietnam, another brother retired as a Colonel, Green Beret, Special Forces, another brother served 3-years and a sister in Nurses Corp-All of them Army.

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4. In what ways can you be helpful to veterans and military families if elected to office? This may of course include policies not specifically directed to those communities. If you are an incumbent, include relevant measures you have supported in the past.

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I work closely with the NABVETS, the African American group that works with veterans and their families on issues in the community. I served on the Veterans group to help bring Veteran issues to the legislature under Governor Fallin, and I speak annually for Veterans Day in my community at several veterans’ programs.

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