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POLITICS: Lack of campaign experience does not faze Lankford

By Justin Martino

Staff writer

(POL) Despite having never been involved in a political campaign before, Republican James Lankford, candidate for the Fifth Congressional District, said that so far nothing on the campaign trail has surprised him.

"I think it's been pretty much what I expected," he said. "From the outside looking in, you see all the dynamics, and you get there and look at it and go 'yep, there it is.'"

Lankford said his decision to run for Congress was not an easy one, no matter how much he might have been prepared for the process. The former director of Falls Creek Youth Camp, he resigned in order to campaign for Congress.

"This was a long prayer journey for my wife and I," he said. "We have not been a part of any political race before, and we feel very convinced this is what God calls us to do."

Lankford said his experience at Falls Creek would be useful in handling the national debt, which he considers one of the most important issues in Congress. As the former director of a huge non-profit organization, he said he has experience handling large budgets.

"We know how to manage a large, difficult budget," he said. "We need to learn that to do that in our district and learn to do that nationally, as well."

Lankford said other goals if he is elected include improving the way the federal government handles business. He pointed out that there is no single-subject requirement in federal legislation, as there is required in the Oklahoma Constitution.

He said he would like to work on making that a requirement in the federal government.

"That'll kill a lot of our overspending because we're not cramming in bad spending policies in the middle of good bills," he said.

Lankford added that he also would like to work to de-fund national health care reform, and he believes it is time the federal government took on immigration. He said he does not believe in amnesty for illegal immigrants and thinks the government needs to enforce the current immigration laws.

Lankford's message is obviously catching on with many constituents, judging by the numbers of people who have donated or are following his campaign, he said.

"One of the unique things about our campaign is just the number of people that are involved," he said. "We are now approaching 2,000 donors to our campaign. We have 14,000 on our Facebook fan page. It's the largest political Facebook page in Oklahoma of any campaign of any candidate of any party. There are also a tremendous number of volunteers involved in the campaign."

Lankford may have been prepared enough to run his campaign without any surprises so far, but his lack of political background, he believes, has caused people to choose to support him.

"I think there is a real interest in Oklahoma in looking for someone who comes from outside the political perspective and who can be confident about the issues and doesn't come with all the career political baggage," he said.

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After years of serving thousands of Oklahoma families of teenagers through Falls Creek, it is time to serve all Central Oklahoma families in the U.S. Congress. Family is important to me. We don't just talk about family, we live it. There are plenty of things that distract marriages and families, our government should not be one of them. For seventeen years I have enjoyed a great marriage to my bride, Cindy. We have two beautiful daughters, Hannah (13) and Jordan (9).

Total strangers in Washington D.C. are trying to define what is right and wrong for my family. They are telling me how to teach my children, live my life, drive my car, spend my money, etc. Almost everything you touch has a federal guideline. Someone needs to go to Washington and tell those nice bureaucrats to take care of their family so we can take care of ours. If you will help me, I will pass on this message for your family.

In 1995 James joined the staff of Falls Creek and in the fall of 1996 he became the Director of the Falls Creek Summer Youth Camp. Falls Creek is the largest youth camp in America with over 150 summer staff and more than 51,000 students and adults attending camp each summer from across Oklahoma. Since James has directed Falls Creek, well over half a million people have participated in a week of camp. James also speaks extensively across the state to teenagers and adults. James has coordinated mission and community service projects in Belize, Malawi, England, Wales, Germany as well as many areas of Oklahoma.

James has been an active proponent in the pro-life and abstinence education conversation in Oklahoma. James is also a member of the Heritage Foundation and the NRA. He enjoys hanging out with his wife and two daughters (ages 13 and 9), sport shooting and reading.

Family Background:

James' mom was a public school librarian and her parents owned and operated a small dry cleaning business. James' Dad and paternal grandparents were dairy farmers near the Texas / Oklahoma border. James' stepfather was a Navy Vet and a career employee of AC Delco, the parts division of General Motors. Cindy's family has been in Oklahoma since statehood.

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JAMES LANKFORD ANNOUNCES LEADERSHIP TEAM FOR FIFTH DISTRICT CONGRESSIONAL CAMPAIGN

From James Lankford (01.15.10)

The leadership team for Edmond Republican James Lankford's Congressional campaign was announced today in a release by campaign manager Holly Isch.

Campaign Co-chairs for the Republican congressional candidate are respected community leaders from the three counties comprising the Fifth District.

Representing Oklahoma County are Gene and Jo Downing, Steve Green, and Frank McPherson. Downing is President and CEO of Downing Wellhead Equipment, Inc; Green is President of Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc.; and McPherson, now retired, is the former Chairman and CEO of Kerr McGee Corporation.

Leading the campaign's efforts in Pottawatomie County are Ralph and Wanda Hill. The couple is active on numerous boards and organizations in Shawnee where they live. He is a retired educator and she is a retiree of Oklahoma Natural Gas Company.

Seminole County Co-chairs are community leaders Randy and Susan Kemp. He is a respected family physician who owns Seminole Medical Clinic and she is active in both church and school programs and activities.

In addition to the Campaign Co-Chairs, two other key leaders were also named. David Gillogly, former President and COO of Express Personnel Services, will serve as Finance Chairman. Serving as Prayer Chairman will be Tom Elliff, former pastor of First Southern Baptist Church, Del City.

"I am deeply grateful for these men and women who have agreed to take key roles in my campaign," Lankford said. "They share my passion for the future of our country and the need for reliable conservative leadership in the Congress."

Lankford's campaign gained considerable attention in political circles when more than 10,000 Oklahomans had signed up on his Facebook page in the first two months after entering the race last September. "We are excited to see our Facebook supporters also linking themselves to our campaign website www.jameslankford.com so they can increase their direct involvement in our campaign," Lankford said.