— 08 June, 2011 —
Yesterday afternoon Rep. Dan Boren announced he would not seek re-election to the U.S. House of Representatives for Oklahoma’s 2nd. Congressional District. Rep. Boren had been elected to four consecutive terms to serve the interests of the good, hard-working citizens of Eastern Oklahoma and, I believe, in his mind he truly believed he worked toward this end and each election victory he secured served to reinforce that belief. Rep. Boren served the citizens of Eastern Oklahoma, but, I do not believe he served them well.
I actually like Dan Boren…you can’t help but like him. I disliked Rep. Dan Boren as a representative of We, the people in Oklahoma’s 2nd. Congressional district as his actions (votes), more often than not, did not represent the values and principles of OUR nations founding which mirror the values and principles of the citizens of Eastern Oklahoma. With that being said, and from Rep. Boren’s perspective, he did SERVE in a very trying position during very contentious times…for that I offer my appreciation and wish Dan Boren and his family nothing but the best in the days ahead.
In the hours leading up to Rep. Boren’s official announcement, and persisting up to the writing of this statement, I have received over a hundred communications inquiring about the road ahead. I truly believe OKD2 will become a Republican pick-up come Nov. 2012. Several potential Republican candidates have already begun to appear in the public domain. Former State Representative Tad Jones, Freshman State Senator Josh Brecheen, and current State House Representative George Faught (who has formed an Exploratory Committee) are among them.
This upcoming election season will bring a national political spotlight to OKD2, and deservedly so, the likes of which we have never seen. After a total absence of National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) involvement in OKD2 during the past decade-plus, the NRCC began, two months ago, with robocalls targeting Boren’s district that signaled their intent to carry through with a promise which failed to come to fruition this last election cycle. With Boren removed from consideration, Oklahoma’s slate of elected Republicans will now be free to support a Republican for this open seat.
Over the past several months myself and members of the campaign have been asked as to my aspirations regarding this congressional seat. With the recent announcement, those questions have become a bit more persistent. My answer now is the same as it was six months ago: I have no plans to seek the Republican party nomination for U.S. Congress to represent Oklahoma’s 2nd. Congressional District. We believe that efforts to restore constitutional government, openness, accountability, government restraint, fiscal responsibility, systemic prosperity rather than systemic decline, expansion of Freedom, and individual Liberty can best be focused by utilizing many of the other very important avenues.
I look forward to the upcoming campaign season which will most assuredly culminate in the election of a true constitutional conservative to represent the wonderful folks of Oklahoma District 2…a representative OF the people which We, the people of Eastern Oklahoma require, deserve, and demand.
May God continue to Bless each and every one us
Thank you,
Howard Houchen
Howard Houchen's Blog 