OKGOP vice-chair race shaping up

As the Oklahoma Republican Party's 2011 State Convention draws near, candidates are beginning to announce for party positions. State Chairman Matt Pinnell is expected to run for a full term (he is currently fulfilling past State Chairman Gary Jones' term), so the real race appears to be shaping up for Vice-Chair. Today, the first candidate made public her decision to run.

Grassroots organizer, Jenni White, to run for GOP Vice Chair

From the precinct, to local schools, to the halls of the state Capital, Jenni White has proven her abilities to get things done for Oklahoma.  On March 3, 2011 White announced her candidacy for the number two position in the state Republican Party.

“I’m excited about the opportunity to help our Chairman Matt Pinnell and every Oklahoma Republican build an even better party over the next two years” said White.  A lifelong Oklahoman, White has primarily worked in the area of education reform.  White commented, “Education takes over half of the state budget but our results have yet to catch up.  I was pleased to support Superintendent Barresi and I appreciate the way in which the legislature has worked to advance public education reforms.  Now I’m ready to use the organizational skills I have developed to build our party.”

White co-founded ROPE (Restoring Oklahoma Public Education) in 2009 and has been active at every level of Republican politics.  White and her family live in north Oklahoma City and attend Fairview Baptist Church in Edmond.

The OKGOP State Convention will be held on May 6-7 in Oklahoma City; expect some more candidates to announce in the coming weeks. The current vice-chair is Angie LaPlante, who was first elected in 2009. No word as of yet on whether or not she will run for reelection.