Oklahoma Politics, Volume 4 (October, 1995)

Farmer, Rick “The Effects of Term Limits on Oklahoma Legislators”, pp. 1-10.

Term limits will have a dramatic effect on the membership of the Oklahoma Legislature.  The Senate will be most affected.  Groups that will gain descriptive representation from term limits include Republicans, women, and the young.

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Anderson, Rita S.G, and James J. Lawler, “Implementation of the Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act in Oklahoma: Elite Dominance and Community Non-Participation”, pp. 11-24.

The federal Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act (EPCRA) directs Local Emergency Planning Communities (LEPCs) to make citizens aware of chemical hazards in their communities.  This study of how EPCRA is being implemented in eight Oklahoma Communities finds that: there is considerable variation in implementation from one country to another; most communication by the LEPCs is directed to industry rather than the general citizenry; the most active LEPCs are chaired and aided by industries regulated by the law; and LEPC members have a narrow view of their functions and limited understanding of their community outreach responsibilities.  Reforms are suggested to involve the public more actively in the risk communication process.

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Benson, Megan “Reform and Retaliation: Cora Diehl and The Logan County Election of 1891”, pp. 25-42.

This is an account of the election of the first woman in public office in the new territory of Oklahoma.  The Logan County elections of 1891 pitted the majority Republicans against a fusion of the minority Democratic and People’s parties.  Cora Diehl was the People’s Party nominee for County Register of Deeds.  Later she was endorsed by a fusion convention for that office.  This fusion proved successful and Diehl was elected.  But elements within her own party; as well as the Republicans, challenged her election-a challenge that ultimately went to the Oklahoma Territory Supreme Court which upheld Diehl’s election.  This article examines the elements that contributed to her defeat for re-election.  Most significant of these was the adoption of the Australian ballot.  The single ballot format, rather than the previously used partisan ballot, discouraged fusion.  The new ballot had a specific impact on both Populist “mid-roaders” and on the expanding black voting population in Logan County.  It is the assertion of this article that the Republican victory of 1892 was directly attributable to the antifusion nature of the Australian ballot and that the decline of the third party movement also resulted from the changed ballot format.  As a result, women and blacks lost their political voice.

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Frankland, Erich G “The Wastewater Treatment Construction Grants Program: The Impact of “New” Federalism”, pp. 43-64

The 1970’s federal attempt to address water quality with national standards and national funding ran into Reagan administration initiated budget cuts.  This left state and local governments with the task of meeting national water standards with largely local resources.  The problem is illustrated in the cases of Muncie, Indiana and Norman, Oklahoma.

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Wheeler, W. Michael, Beverly A. Wheeler, and Michael D. Connelly, “Trends in Oklahoma’s Aging Prison Inmates”, pp. 65-81.

Prison populations are aging and Oklahoma’s is no exception.  Currently seven percent of Oklahoma’s prison population is 50 years old or more, and this older population is growing at a faster rate than their younger counterparts.  Changes in statutes related to sentencing, longer life expectancy, and an increase in crime committed by older individuals are all contributing to the situation.  As prison populations age, the problems facing corrections officials will also change.  The specialized needs of this particular segment of the prison population are not only different from those of traditionally younger inmates, but they are also diverse within the group.  This trend towards a growing elderly prison population and its associated concerns and problems is forcing new thinking about incarceration. 

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