Meet the Candidates: Denise Crosswhite Hader, OKGOP Vice-Chair hopeful

Denise Crosswhite Hader, candidate for Oklahoma Republican Party vice-chair

Continuing our series on the 2013 OKGOP Convention races, let's learn more about one of the two announced candidates for Oklahoma Republican Party Vice-Chair. Current Vice-Chair Pam Pollard is not seeking reelection, putting the second-in-command slot up for grabs at this year's convention. Denise Crosswhite Hader was the first candidate to announce for the position, and the first Vice-Chair hopeful to respond to our survey.

The other announced candidates for Vice-Chair are Richard Engle and Sara Jo Odom. For chairman, Dave Weston and Amanda Teegarden are the current candidates. You can view Weston's survey here; I am awaiting responses from Teegarden, Engle and Odom, and will post them when I hear back.

Now, meet Denise Crosswhite Hader.

1. Tell us a little bit about your personal side.

• Born and Bred in Oklahoma
• Piedmont High School and Oral Roberts University (BA-Government)
• Married to Marc Hader; two daughters and two wonderful sons-in-law; first grandbaby expected in October
• Church: The Bridge (Mustang Assembly of God)
• First-Line Service - multiple financial facilities
• Field Representative and Constituent Services - Congressman Ernest Istook
• Analyst – Commercial Property Review for Zoning
• Legislative Liaison and Research Analyst – Oklahoma Labor Department

2. What involvement have you had in the past with the Republican Party (from precinct-level to RNC)? If possible, include approximate dates.

• First State Convention at 14 years old (1980)
• College Republicans (1985-1987)
• Previously held all Precinct positions (many times, different years)
• House District 100 Chairman (approx. 1998)
• OK County Vice Chairman (2009-2010)

3. Do you currently hold any Republican Party office?

Precinct Secretary

4. What political involvement have you had outside of the Republican Party (i.e. campaigns, elected office, political groups, etc.)? If possible, include approximate dates.

• Dr. Tom Coburn for Senate: Office and Volunteer Coordinator (2004)
• Istook for Congress: Volunteer Coordinator, Ethics Reports, and Campaign Manager (1992-1998)
• Gary Jones for State Auditor: Campaign Manager (2002)
• Stan Inman for Oklahoma County Commissioner: Campaign Manager (2002)
• Candidate for State Senate District 47 (Came in 2nd of 4-winner Todd Lamb)
• Multiple Volunteer efforts for various campaigns, including: James Lankford for Congress; Mark Costello for Labor Commissioner; Greg Treat for State Senate; and many others from Federal offices right down to the local school board
• Volunteer service to advance policy issues, such as: Stop HB1017 (education);
• Right-to-Work; State Question 640 (tax increase limits) and more
• Member, both past and present of countless GOP clubs and auxiliary conservative organizations

5. There have been eight state conventions in the last decade; how many have you
attended (and which)?

I think I have been to every one.

6. What prompted you to run for this office?

As a Christian, I have grown to love serving others to assist them in accomplishing their goals and endeavors. Like the UPS commercials we’ve all seen, I love logistics and that is my strength. I have a knack for helping others do their job more efficiently by figuring out the most effective way to get people working together to accomplish combined goals.

7. What are your top priorities if elected as vice-chair?

• To help anyone and everyone that wants to participate in our Party’s process to find a place to do so
• To gain a Republican registration majority in the State of Oklahoma
• To find and recruit quality, conservative candidates, from the courthouse down to the schoolhouse, for elections, while maintaining our majorities in Congress, with our statewide offices, and the State Legislature
• To support our Republican Leadership in advancing the conservative cause
• To ensure that the GOP has representatives on hand at every naturalization swearing in ceremony for citizenship, to celebrate, welcome and register new American citizens with the GOP
• To create committees within the GOP with a heart for reaching out to the Latino and Asian communities, by soliciting meetings in their churches, educating them on the principles of our party, and empowering them to become active in shaping the government
• To empower and support our rural and suburban county party structure to better impact their Communities

8. What five issues should the Republican Party focus on politically?

• Personal Responsibility: We must exercise it and educate those that don’t have that ethic on why it is beneficial to them.
• Fiscal Responsibility: The government spends more than we make. Stop it.
• Size of Government: Reduce it at every level.
• Scope of Government: Reduce the intrusion into our lives.
• Life is precious from the beginning to the end. We should honor life with our legislation.

9. List some of the individuals who are publicly supporting your candidacy that
delegates might recognize.

I have a number of people who have pledged support. However, my goal is to have unity and allow everyone to participate in the process. I don’t want to create division by lining up a “team”. I want to work on my own merit.

10. Here's your closing statement - cover whatever you want to talk about.

I am not seeking the Vice Chairman position for the power, the glory, or the financial windfall. It is probably one of the most expensive volunteer positions. I really just want to serve. I hope to be successful in this endeavor on the state level. But if I am not, you will still see me around volunteering where I am needed, especially with the Canadian County GOP. Because it isn’t about me, it really is about the future of our country.

Thanks for participating, Denise!


Denise has a campaign page on Facebook that you can visit here. As I said before, when I get responses back from additional candidates, I will post them.

[UPDATE]

Current candidates for OKGOP Chair:
Dave Weston -- survey here
Amanda Teegarden -- survey here

Current candidates for OKGOP Vice-Chair:
Denise Crosswhite Hader -- survey here
Sara Jo Odom -- survey here
Richard Engle -- survey here