Official Website of Senator Jay Paul Gumm

For the years that Senator Gumm has been in the Senate, he’s visited with students at our area schools.

 

Senator Gumm is passionate about public service and he wants the next generation to have that same passion. The first time I met Gumm, before he won the office of senator, he proved to be straightforward. In fact, I made the mistake of calling him a politician. He corrected me by telling me he is a public servant. I questioned it at the time being skeptical having dealt with many politicians, but have agreed with him ever since.

 

Senator Gumm believes in many issues which are considered Democrat, but also he is an issues man. In other words, he’ll fight for the issue if it’s right, even if it goes against his party.

 

Among topics for Gumm’s successful legislation thus far, as his web site will tell you, have been items to strengthen Oklahoma’s economy; lower taxes on middle class families; improve conditions for thousands of working Oklahomans; protect Oklahoma’s children; improve public schools; toughen state law on drug paraphernalia; reduce the size of state government; improve health care and make prescription drugs more accessible to needy Oklahomans; and prevent large cities from draining southern Oklahoma’s water supply.

 

I’m conservative in my political beliefs and especially when it comes to national issues, but it seems the Democrat Senator Gumm and I see eye to eye on most of those state and local issues.

 

Two of his recurring themes for legislation are the support of public education and children’s issues. His belief is that legislation must make people’s lives better. The lives of children are precious and they must be given the tools to succeed in the world. What a great philosophy — one that all public servants should follow.

 

The senator has always done what he believes is right for Marshall County and Lake Texoma. He inherited the shutdown of Lake Texoma Lodge, but then fought to privatize it and have it rebuilt — even as he was being attacked in character and politically by a small, but very vocal group of local residents opposed to the project.

 

At that first meeting before Gumm was elected, we disagreed about a proposed US70 bypass at Madill. The senator believed our community should be bypassed, and at the time I didn’t. We left amicably agreeing to disagree, and a promise from Gumm to support what the community of Madill wanted.

 

I determined later that I had been wrong, and began working to correct my mistake as did many others in the community. We do need the bypass at Madill and we are only now seeing action being taken by the Oklahoma Department of Transportation to begin the process to build it.

 

Had we listened to Gumm, it would probably have already been built, or at least it would have been well underway.

 

As Senator Gumm visits the local schools, listen to his words. Those are the same words he’s been backing up with actions since he has been in the state senate. He’s been making a difference in his Senate District, and within the State of Oklahoma.

 

Senator Gumm wants the youth of this area to step up to the calling of public service. Leadership on the local, state and national level is more important now than ever, and we can all make a difference.