Will Dorman really be a Governor for all Oklahomans?

In December of 2013, Representative Joe Dorman started to explore a run for Oklahoma Governor pledging then that he would be a Governor for all Oklahomans. Now the Democratic candidate, The Gayly interviewed him, letting him know the community intends to hold him to that.

Dorman said then and he says now that he intends to provide leadership on critical issues such as the construction of school storm shelters, education, economic opportunity, public safety and infrastructure.

He spoke frankly about protecting LGBT kids in schools, not just from storms and giving them better educational opportunities; he wants that for all students…but from bullying and discrimination and to give all LGBT citizens in Oklahoma a better future.

“I am an advisor for a youth program and these kids come together for a week. It’s their mission to write something to better the world. One young man from New Mexico wrote a proposal on bullying. The young man was gay and the proposal was so touching, but then he went back to the same type environment and ended up committing suicide.

“We can’t put any kids in that situation. We have to toughen up the regulations and restrictions when it comes to bullying in the schools. The schools need to do a better job policing. I want to see more resource officers in the schools, not only for the security standpoint, not only for the safety, but to increase more opportunities for guidance and have more counselors and have more opportunities to help these kids. They need that; they deserve that.”

Dorman said he would be willing to put together a state-wide bullying task force if he were elected as Governor.

“We have got to provide resources to Oklahomans who are struggling; even if it’s the bully. If someone is bullying a kid because that kid is gay, then they should have to learn from that experience.”

Dorman said he thought some type of community service that the bully could learn about the positive side of the LGBT community would be effective for someone who bullied a gay student in school.

When asked about marriage equality, adoption, hate crimes and federal benefits for same-sex couples, Dorman said, “I want to find a way to address all these issues. I think all the laws should be applied equally and fairly – everyone should be treated equally and fairly under the law.”

 Of course we had to ask about the situation with the National Guard.

“The situation with the National Guard, what Mary Fallin did was despicable. She punished one segment of our society by implementing a standard that affected all the citizens and that should not happen, that was a clear case of discrimination. Absolutely I would reverse that.

“When you have a standard set in place, especially like that handed down from the federal government, you have to apply that equally. It was ridiculous that she forced this burden on all of our citizens in the military by making them go to federal facilities when there were state facilities available and I think her actions were in appropriate.”

Where Governor Fallin, who has voted against pro-LGBT and marriage equality issues for Oklahoma citizens, was not asked for comment in this report, she did say in a recent statement that she would ‘stand up’ to the Obama administration on a number of issues facing our state.

“Whether it has been the administration’s facility for illegal immigrants at Fort Sill…the EPA’s attempt to put their ‘green agenda’ ahead of the safety of our lives and property and the ability to fight fires…or Washington’s attempt to hijack our education standards, I’ve stood firm for Oklahoma. When Washington tried to force bad policies on Oklahoma in healthcare, education or environmental regulation, I’ve fought back and put Oklahoma first,” is what Governor Fallin said.

However, Dorman voted just last year on Oklahoma’s House Concurrent Resolution 1009 to “reaffirm Oklahoma’s ban on same sex marriage and urge the Supreme Court to uphold the Defense of Marriage Act.” The Gayly asked Dorman to explain if he believes so much in equality, why he voted the way he did.

“Different situations. I serve House District 65 and I try to serve my constituents to the best of my ability and that was a situation where the district felt different than the overall population of the state of Oklahoma and I represent Ft. Sill. They have, I think, a different point of view when it comes to the policies like that, and there were no votes on that resolution.”

Dorman said he voted the way he felt his district wanted him to vote.

Dorman also said in conjunction with this however, that they have a problem right now in the state of Oklahoma where many of the legislators feel that policies that are run at the capitol are simply trying to trap Democratic legislators on votes and use those [against them] in campaigns.

“A perfect example is the 10 Commandments Bill from a couple of years ago. [Rep.] Dennis Baily voted against it. Dennis was a Deacon in his church, very active and his opponent spent $70 in his campaign account and beat Dennis and it was because of that one vote and it was because the leadership at the capitol ran those resolutions to use that as a political ploy in the campaigns.”

Dorman said many of the legislators felt if they voted against it, it would be used against them.

“I would also like to add to that, we see legislators also who feel abandoned because they [constituents] don’t get active and work in the races. Where people are quick to judge and hold things against the legislator when you don’t vote a certain way, but the flip side is constituents also don’t get active and help them get re-elected.”

Dorman said he thought if Oklahoma had a SQ 711 (marriage equality) before the vote of the people today, he does not think it would pass, but it certainly wouldn’t get the margin of votes it did last time.

Dorman will be 44 years old this month, yet he is still a single man. Yes, this has been an issue in some of his elections in Oklahoma.

“My first race in 2002 I won by about 71 percent. My second, there was a primary and a general election. I won the primary; it was a very good opponent. That opponent still said some things about me being single at 32 and in the general, there were ‘insinuations’ that I was still single and people should ‘ask the questions.’”

According to Dorman, the person he ran against in the general election also insinuated there was a “reason” he was still single other than just not finding the right woman.

“So fast forward two years from my first campaign and now the constitutional amendment banning gay marriage is on the ballot and it’s a hot topic. I’ll point out that by statute, gay marriage was already illegal in Oklahoma, by statutory provision. But, the Republicans wanted to get this on the ballot to use it against us in the campaigns. I dropped from 71 percent [2002 race] to 62 percent…as an incumbent! And it wasn’t because of any policy decisions or anyone angry at decisions, it was that one question of my opponent that second race that said, in a letter to an editor that I had been endorsed by a national gay organization. It was a blog really and they said I would be a great legislator for Oklahoma but I dropped in the polls because people judged me on that and that hurt a lot.

“When you are facing those obstacles in campaigns and in public service, it’s difficult. Where I’m never going to say I understand how someone in the community feels, but I have faced that judgment through the ballot.”

Dorman acknowledged that he recognized people can judge others unfairly in a negative light.

“So all of these policies that go through the capital each year that are simply being used for political gain by one political party it makes it difficult if you want to lead in other categories, if you want to fight the tax cuts or if you want to fight the horrible education policies, you have to be there fighting the fight and then they try to trump up issues simply to beat you at the ballot box, it just makes it more difficult especially when you don’t get the support from the people around you, you have to be there fighting the fight.

“Too many legislators feel abandoned at the capitol.”

Joe said the lifestyle he has chosen in politics is no cake walk and it’s difficult on relationships. He treats his job number one and said he does believe in serving the people.

“But to answer the question as to why I am single, I just haven’t met the right woman yet. It’s that simple and there is nothing more to it.”

Dorman outraised Fallin in the most recent campaign finance reporting period. Dorman said this report is further evidence of the shift in momentum in the race.

Dorman raised $267,310.40 in the most recent quarter,​ ​in comparison to Fallin’s $239,677.02 - almost a $28,000 difference.

by Robin Dorner, Editor in Chief

The Gayly – September 2, 2014 @ 4:15pm