Where Oklahoma's Gubernatorial Candidates Stand On Job Creation

By Ashli Sims, The News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY -- The race is on to fill Oklahoma's top job, and the economy is the number one issue.

7/21/2010 Related Story: Candidates For Oklahoma Governor Face Off In Final Forum Before Primary

The candidates spend long days greeting voters and long nights planning strategies.

But with the state $1 billion in the hole, campaigning may prove easy compared to governing.

"My first priority is going to be stimulating the economy to create jobs and opportunity so we can generate new revenue to come into the state of Oklahoma," U.S. Representative Mary Fallin said.

Republican Congresswoman Mary Fallin wants to lead the charge in business development by making the state more business friendly through lawsuit and workers compensation reform.

Fellow Republican Robert Hubbard also says the way we pay hurt workers needs to change.

"The best way to create or save jobs in Oklahoma is to create a level playing field for anyone interested in coming to Oklahoma," Hubbard said.

State Senator Randy Brogdon's economic plan centers around income taxes.  He wants to cut them for you and for businesses.

"Politicians do not create jobs. Politicians throw up road blocks in trying to attract jobs to this state," Brogdon said.

Roger Jackson also says corporate taxes are too high.

"The way to make our state wealthy is to bring wealthy companies and wealthy individuals into Oklahoma," he said.

Democratic Candidate and Lieutenant Governor Jari Askins wants to bring in high-dollar, high-tech industries like biomedical research and aerospace. But she says that doesn't start in the lab but in the classroom.

"So continuing our efforts in education with the goal of making our students workforce-ready is the way to create new jobs in the state of Oklahoma," she said.

Fellow Democrat, Attorney General Drew Edmondson, wants to grow existing businesses and attract new ones by selling what makes Oklahoma unique.

"We have all of the tax advantages and the quality jobs bill, but so does Texas. So does the other states," Edmondson said. "We've got to sell the quality of life here in the state of Oklahoma. Clean air, clean water, abundant energy and a people who want to work."

Oklahoma's unemployment rate rose slightly last month to 6.8%, but that's still almost three points lower than the nation as a whole.

To read about the candidates views on immigration and learn about other races across the state, check out our Campaign 2010 page.