When someone is elected to office in Oklahoma, they raise their right hand and take an oath. That oath is a promise to serve the people, to follow the law, and to do what’s right for our state. It’s not just fancy words. It’s a bond of trust between Oklahomans and the folks we choose to lead us. But as I see it, our elected officials treat their oath as an afterthought. 

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I spent seven years as a federal prosecutor at the Department of Justice, fulfilling my oath to uphold the Constitution. As an Assistant US Attorney, I stood in front of juries made up of everyday Oklahomans and presented evidence that was fair and honest. I worked with dedicated officers across law enforcement agencies like the FBI, OSBI, and Homeland Security Investigations, ensuring that our state’s communities are safe and secure. That work is often thankless for the officers and agents, but they understand it’s about honoring our shared oath to serve and protect.

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Unfortunately, Oklahoma’s elected officials are more interested in personal gain than serving and protecting.  

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Take State Superintendent Ryan Walters. He used his time in office as a stepping stone to his CEO gig. He fulfilled no duties to the office – he just ignored public records requests, shut lawmakers out of meetings, mishandled millions in COVID relief funds, and even spent tax dollars on out-of-state media trips to boost his image. He pushed a teacher “loyalty test” that likely breaks the Constitution.  Let’s acknowledge the truth: if an everyday Oklahoman wasted that kind of money or broke those kinds of rules, they’d be in real trouble. But Walters, as usual, just gets a slap on the wrist because our leaders lack the political courage to hold him accountable. 

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Time and time again, politicians walk away with sweetheart deals or little more than a fine. This is wrong: our elected Oklahomans should be held to a higher standard, not receive a get-out-of-jail-free card.

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Here’s the problem: when leaders break their promises and face no real consequences, all of us pay the price. Businesses don’t want to invest in a state where corruption runs wild. Parents don’t want their local school run by someone more focused on politics than students. And taxpayers like you and me end up footing the bill for grifting and waste.

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The fixes aren’t complicated. Fund the Ethics Commission so it can actually do its job to be a watchdog on politicians and their money. Elect people that have the courage to put people over politics and call out corruption when they see it. Put pressure on politicians to solve problems for us rather than just worry about their next election. 

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But none of that will matter unless our lawmakers find the backbone to honor the oath they swore on the Bible. In Oklahoma, we value hard work, honesty, and keeping our word. If you promise something, you do it. That’s the standard everyday Oklahomans live by. Why aren’t we demanding the same of our elected leaders? And when they don’t meet that standard, we need to find a new person for their job.

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At the end of the day, this isn’t about politics. It’s about public service, an American value that folks at the Capitol should honor–not ignore–and should use to help their communities–not get rich. It’s about the people we elect putting voters first, not themselves. We, the people of Oklahoma, deserve leaders who take their oath seriously. And we need Oklahomans that believe in this to step up and run. Our future depends on it.