Leftwich Expresses Frustration Over County Home Rule

Senator Debbe Leftwich, chair of the Business and Labor Committee says Oklahoma residents should have the opportunity to decide on what type of county government they believe will help move Oklahoma forward.

Leftwich, (D-Oklahoma City), expressed frustration Monday that her amendment concerning county home rule government hit a roadblock in the legislative process when a procedural motion failed to receive enough votes to allow an up-or-down vote on the measure by the full Senate.

Leftwich filed an amendment which would give any county in Oklahoma that contains a metropolitan area with a population of 550,000 or more the option to adopt or amend a county home rule charter for county government.

“Essentially this amendment would have only applied to Oklahoma and Tulsa County, because they are the only two counties which have a population over 550,000,” Leftwich said. “These two counties have grown way beyond the pre-statehood structure and the people there are not content with the status quo and want and deserve the right to change the way they are governed. It’s a shame that we have to ask the
Legislature for permission to change our form of government.”

A home rule government allows for the appointment of a county administrator and governing board. It could also lead to combined city and county governments. Currently, under Oklahoma law, three commissioners from different districts throughout the county are elected to operate local governments.

“There has been a lot of misinformation spread about the whole concept of home rule,” Leftwich said. “All home rule does is merely allow citizens the opportunity to come together and discuss the manner in which they want to be governed.”

Leftwich said any changes to the current structure of county government would be presented to voters and require their approval.

“There was an overwhelming display of county commissioners and their employees in the gallery today at the Capitol,” Leftwich said. “This amendment would not have affected the manner in which they conduct business in any form or fashion. Different parts of the state have different needs and I certainly respect those differences, which is why the bill I authored only applies to Oklahoma and Tulsa Counties.”

Leftwich said she is exploring every legislative avenue to have her amendment heard again.

“I intend to continue to push for approval of this amendment until the very end.” Leftwich concluded.