Dana Weber
Special to The Sun
SAND SPRINGS —
This election year, if business is not at the table, we’ll be “on the menu” for lunch. The list of obstacles facing rural business is large: Federal health care reform and tax increases, skyrocketing deficits, cap-and-trade legislation, one of the nation’s most expensive workers’ compensation systems and proposed regulations that drive up nearly every cost of doing business. All this and more is crippling Oklahoma’s companies’ ability to compete, predict expenses, expand jobs and grow our economy.
The great news: On Election Day, we have strong, respected partners on our side — our employees.
Nearly every Oklahoma voter has a job, wants a job or is retired from a job. Among working Americans, the No. 1 issue this election year is the economy and their jobs. Poll after poll shows employees believe their employer is the most credible source on issues impacting their livelihoods. They welcome election information from their employers — as long as it’s nonpartisan and they’re not told how to vote.
At Webco Industries, we use The State Chamber of Oklahoma’s groundbreaking Prosperity Project to start the conversation about elections with our 660 Oklahoma employees in Sand Springs, Mannford and Kellyville. We’re provided free, easy-to-use break room posters, payroll stuffers and talking points for our staff meetings.
Most importantly, our team values the Prosperity Project’s Web site at www.okprosperity.com. It lets you type in your address and see the candidates running in your district for Congress and Legislature. Each candidate is surveyed on crucial issues that impact jobs — education, health care, a competitive business climate, taxes and transportation.
For the first time, Voter’s Guides are available on candidates running for governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general and state superintendent of public instruction. Each of these races will impact Oklahoma’s ability to compete.
We’ve seen the Prosperity Project’s power first-hand at Webco. We help our employees register to vote. We show them how learning about the candidates is easy and rewarding.
With solid information, our voters are energized to vote and make good decisions.
Instead of going to the polls, looking down at their ballot and wondering “Who ARE these people?” our employees are well-prepared and make informed decisions on who’s best for them.
We tell our team “Democrat, Republican, Independent — It doesn’t matter. Just look for leaders who understand what it takes to grow our state.”
With the July 27 primary just days away, more and more Oklahoma employers are joining the fight to determine their company’s fate. This year nearly 2,000 participating organizations — representing more than 560,000 employees — will arm their team with facts to help them vote smart on issues they really care about: good jobs, a growing economy and real future for their family.
Whether a company has one employee, 100 or 1,000, our ability to survive and compete is being tested like no other period in our lifetime. We must get involved. Thanks to Oklahoma’s Prosperity Project, help is just a mouse click away at www.okprosperity.com.
DANA WEBER is president and COO of Webco Industries of Sand Springs. She is also chairwoman of The State Chamber’s 2010 Prosperity Project. The Prosperity Project is a free, nonpartisan, election education service. It does not endorse candidates.
