Published: September 25, 2009 08:44 pm      

Editorial Board makes changes

EDMOND — The Edmond Sun’s Editorial Board began in July 2007 as a way to create more connections between the newspaper and the community. The board has met weekly for about two years and considers a variety of local, state and national topics that have community interest. Its collective opinion is reflected in editorials on the Opinion page throughout each month.

Chris H. Palmer has been with the board since the beginning. The commercial real estate broker and lifelong Edmond resident brought local knowledge and tremendous business experience to the Editorial Board’s decision-making process.

Palmer recently ended his service on the board to give more time to a church building project. The group already misses Palmer’s insightful jousting with the more conservative members of the board.

Those who have served on the board freely give of their time to this newspaper as way to make a contribution to their community. The Edmond Sun recognizes its role as one of many opinion makers on local issues and we owe it to local readers to let them know where the newspaper stands on certain topics. For example, the board has consistently and passionately championed the Public Safety Center project.

The Edmond City Council will restart discussions on this project Monday afternoon in a workshop session at the Downtown Community Center, 28 E. Main St. The Editorial Board continues its stance that this project is absolutely critical in the progress of Edmond as it continues to become more urban, while maintaining that costs should be scaled down on the project.

Meanwhile, another board member, Keith Weber, is safely home in Edmond after a serious traffic accident while on a business trip to Las Vegas. I spoke with Keith on the phone earlier this week and he sounds as chipper as always despite nine broken ribs. He’s even answering e-mail. We’re thrilled that he’s back in Edmond to recuperate and grateful that his injuries were not more serious. Information is available on The Sun’s Web site on how to contribute to a medical fund started by Oklahoma Christian School alumni on Weber’s behalf.

The Editorial Board to this point has had three community members and three Edmond Sun staff members including myself, staff member Dagmar Peery and Publisher Steve Paterson. It is our intention to grow the community side of the board and add two more members by the end of the year.

As part of that effort, we already have added Edmond attorney Tim Reese to the board to fill Palmer’s slot.

Reese graduated from the University of Central Oklahoma with a Bachelor of Arts degree in urban affairs in 1984. He was active in several campus organizations and served as Student Government president.

He received his juris doctor from Oklahoma City University where he graduated summa cum laude. Reese is a practicing attorney with the law firm of Lawter and Associates. He is a regular instructor for the Oklahoma Bar Association Continuing Legal Education Programs.

Reese, his wife Carmen and two sons live in Edmond where he serves as assistant Scout master with Boy Scouts of America Troop 79.

In other community activities, Reese serves on the Board of Advisors of Tau Kappa Epsilon at UCO, advising undergraduate members on risk management issues. He also has served as the president of his neighborhood association, and is a former president of the Edmond Neighborhood Alliance. He has been involved in many Edmond grassroots endeavors.

In addition, Reese served as Gen. Wes Clarks’ presidential representative during the 2004 campaign and served as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in Boston. Reese also serves as a moderator for a Democratic Blog and reported from the 2008 Convention Floor in Denver.

The Sun would like to welcome Reese to the board while it bids a fond goodbye to Palmer. We greatly appreciate Palmer’s service and admire his true dedication to Edmond.



LISA SHEARER is managing editor of The Edmond Sun. E-mail her at lshearer@edmondsun.com.