It appears Governor Stitt’s pick to serve out the remaining term of Attorney General is ready to take on major issues. During a news conference in Tulsa on Friday, John O’Connor said he was there to serve Oklahoma.
“I am humbled and honored to have been selected by Governor Stitt to serve 4 million Oklahomans as Attorney General protecting their interests and the State of Oklahoma,” said O’Connor. “There is much work to be done and I look forward to bringing my experience to the office in service to the good people of Oklahoma.”
When asked, O’Connor said he was committed to overturning the McGirt v. Oklahoma decision and would send an amicus brief if a challenge to Roe v. Wade made it to the U.S. Supreme Court. O’Connor also said he would be running for a full term as Attorney General, but that was not a condition set by the governor to take the appointment.
Stitt said that O’Connor was a mentor while he was building his Gateway Mortgage business.
The other Republican candidate who has announced he is running for Attorney General is Gentner Drummond, who is also a Tulsa attorney.
“I commend the governor for fulfilling his constitutional duty in making this difficult decision. While I respect his authority to appoint a candidate of his choosing, my passion to serve as the next elected Attorney General remains undaunted. I have been campaigning across the state for the past several weeks, building support and sharing my belief that Oklahoma needs a strong, independent leader who will take bold action to fight corruption, defend our liberty and uphold the rule of law. I look forward to earning the trust of the voters and serving the People of Oklahoma once their voice has been heard,” said Drummond in a statement.
O’Connor is filling the term left vacated by the resignation of Mike Hunter. Allegations of an affair with a state employee surfaced shortly before he resigned.
You can watch Friday’s press conference via KRJH below, as well as the swearing in ceremony taken at the Capitol later that afternoon.
Swearing in Ceremony:
Another stitt failure, and notice the line”he was mentor”, paybacks. Again another stiltt appointment that’s not qualified for the job. We have to suffer with this gov and his admin. for another year and half: PLEASE GOOD REPUBLICAN candidates put your name in the hat….Oklahoma needs you.
We have to stop the bleeding and failuers.