It's Arthur vs. Bradley in District 3 County Commission race

By Chris Day Stillwater NewsPress

STILLWATER, Okla. — Incumbent Jim Arthur and Kent Bradley face off in Tuesday’s Republican Primary for District 3 Payne County commissioner with the winner likely to capture the post in November.

Payne County Democrats don’t have anyone running for the seat. However, someone could still file to run as a independent candidate in November.

Arthur, 67, is seeking his fourth term in office. He was raised in Perkins and went to school there. He is married with three adult daughters. Arthur also raises about 50 head of cattle.

Bradley, 50, was born and raised in Stillwater, and is a real-estate developer. He graduated from Stillwater high school and has a construction management degree from Oklahoma State University-OKC. It’s his first run for a political office.  He is married and has three children

The NewsPress asked four questions in a candidate survey. Here are the responses:

With the economy still in a downturn, can you suggest ways the office you are seeking could cut expenses?

Bradley: Scrutinize and review all costs – especially purchase orders that can easily total into the hundreds of thousands of dollars. I would ask all department heads, starting with myself, to reduce their salary equal to the budget cuts for that year. Have all employees take available OSHA training to help reduce workers compensation insurance rates. I believe in accountability for everyone,  including myself.

Arthur: It’s difficult to make cuts and continue to maintain roads and bridges properly. Material prices are going up. We are paying $10 a ton for rock for roads. It’s hard to make the $120,000 we get a month from the state’s fuel tax stretch. The District 3 road district has 18 employees, including four part-timers and two office personnel. We could save money by hiring more part-time employees for the road crew. You save money because you don’t have to provide insurance or retirement benefits for part-timers, It’s hard to find part-time workers. I work to provide services the public expects and be responsible with taxpayers money.

How does your previous political or work experience prepare you to be District 3 County Commissioner?

Arthur: The county has been dealing with FEMA a lot more in the last four years. I’ve learned a lot about how to apply for FEMA money and get it when natural disasters hit Payne County. I’ve also learned we need to develop and keep several big projects ready to apply for federal and state money when it becomes available.

Bradley: I have a common sense approach to life, work, people and the government. I have over 30 years experience in the construction industry, 20 years of that related to the excavation business and most recently five years as a residential land developer.  I am active on the boards of the Rural Water Corp No. 3, the Rural Water Advisory Board, the Payne County Conservation District and the Stillwater Homebuilders Association.  I have gained valuable experience and have a great concern and care for the people of Payne County.

If you could change one thing about the office you are seeking, what would it be?

Bradley: I would like to see the County Commissioner position have term limits of eight  to 12 years.  I believe when called to serve the people you do so and then return to the private sector. This would continue to provide fresh views and avoid complacency.

Arthur: I think county road departments should get a bigger chunk of the state fuel tax. We could do a lot more to maintain the county roads, including getting better road construction materials and mowing at section road intersections if our state appropriations increased. Now it’s slim pickings when we get the fuel-tax money at the county level.

What are your suggestions on how county departments could operate together to increase revenues or reduce operating costs?

Arthur: I would like to see the counties and state work together to create a state or regional bidding process for construction materials and road department supplies. You’d have to accept a primary bid and a backup bid like we do now on some road supplies just in case your primary supplier doesn’t have the tire you need for example. If all the counties could go out to bid all together, it would save a lot of money.

Bradley: I would like to see both districts 1 and 3 share the county barn at the expo center and relocate a barn more central to district 3 area. Currently workers and equipment have to cross the other  two districts including Stillwater to maintain the majority of the district area. Hours of productivity are lost every day.  Let’s get the men and equipment to the job quicker and be able to respond to emergencies faster. Determine the use for the jail annex. Sell it, use for permanent storage, or turn into child detention center  so we can stop paying utilities and insurance on a vacant property. Help the expo center to grow to become self-sustaining if at all possible. We need to stop thinking how to get more money from the taxpayers, and start thinking how to save them money.

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