Longtime educator Ron Sharp formally announced today that he will seek the Republican nomination for the Shawnee-based state Senate District 17 seat, saying he will champion a common-sense, conservative approach to state issues.
Sharp, 59, is a lifelong resident of Shawnee.
“During my decades as an educator, I have had the honor of teaching hundreds of young people about our government and representative democracy,” said Sharp, who is in his 38th year with the Shawnee Public Schools and has served the last 12 as an AP Government and American History instructor. “Now the time has come to apply those lessons as I seek to become Shawnee’s next state senator,” Sharp said.
“Oklahoma is a great state, but I believe we can make it better by enacting free-market policies that reduce taxes and burdensome regulation, allowing businesses to thrive and create jobs,” Sharp said. “We must address the challenges facing our schools so that every child can reap the opportunities afforded by a quality education. And we must stand firm in defense of traditional moral values, including the fundamental right to life,” he said.
Sharp was named 2011 Oklahoma State Teacher of the Year by the Veterans of Foreign Wars and Shawnee High School Teacher of the Year in 1994, 1996 and 1997. He is a member of the United States Selective Service Board, the Nation Council for the Social Studies, and the Oklahoma Bar Association’s Foundation for the U.S. Constitution. He has been named to Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers for 18 straight years. Sharp received the United States Congressional Award of Special Recognition for Outstanding Service” recognizing coaching and teaching accomplishments in 1998.
“I understand the vision of our nation’s Founding Fathers and believe, like most Oklahomans, that our government can operate more efficiently and more economically,” Sharp said. “We must get spending under control and focus resources where they are truly needed while keeping taxes as low as possible.”
During his career, Sharp also served ashead coach of the Shawnee High boys and girls tennis teams, helping win five state boys’ championships and one state girls’ championship. He was recognized as one of the “Best 50 Tennis Coaches in the World” by the US Professional Tennis Registry, has been a member of the Oklahoma Coaches Association for 29 years and was co-founder and first President of the Oklahoma Tennis Coaches’ Association.
Although incumbent state Sen. Charles Laster recently announced that he would not seek re-election, Sharp has been gauging support for his candidacy for several months along with filing his Statement of Organization with the state Ethics Commission, holding a campaign kickoff fundraiser late last month and speaking to local Republican and activist groups.
“My interest in seeking this office is based on my belief that state government must be leaner, taxes must be lower, every child should have access to a quality education, and conservative values should guide the decisions of those in elective government,” Sharp said. “I have been encouraged to run by many, many people in our community, including everyone from my fellow educators to members of the business community. I have been humbled by the strong response I have received.”
In addition to his professional background, Sharp is active in his home church, Liberty Baptist, and is strongly pro-life, believing that society must defend the right to life from the womb to the grave. He is a long-time member of the NRA and the Sons of the American Revolution.
“For over 200 years the United States has stood as the bastion of freedom, capitalism, personal responsibility and liberty,” Sharp said. “I believe those principles remain as important today as at the time of our nation’s founding, and those values will guide me as state senator.”
Sharp graduated from Shawnee High School and earned his bachelor’s degree from Southeastern State College, his master’s from Central State University and his doctorate in education with an emphasis inpolitical science, from Kensington University.
Senate District 17 includes a portion of Pottawatomie County which includes all of Shawnee and McLoud as well as part of Oklahoma County which includes Harrah, Choctaw, Jones and Luther.
