Adam Masters is a Republican candidate for the Oklahoma House of Representatives District 59. He is seeking the seat being vacated by Mike Sanders, retiring because of term limits
Ḣe was born at Kingfisher, attending school there before heading to OU for a degree in political science. He currently works as a farmer for a relative and friend.
That job has given Masters the opportunity to volunteer for multiple campaigns including Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, former OKC mayor Mick Cornett and Carly Fiorina’s presidential run. It was while working for Fiorina in Iowa that he saw people engaged in politics and realized in his hometown, people his age were not invested.
“You see the brightest kids in the state working in Oklahoma City or Dallas, not where they grew up. I wondered how to inspire these kids to build a future here,” he said. The problem is small towns think they’re dying, and the residents believe they are the only person there who cares.
“I can promise you, a lot of people do care,” Masters said.
The first step to stop exporting the talent is to invest in the infrastructure such as roads and internet availability. When leadership doesn’t invest in a town, businesses won’t either “There is leadership willing to do that if we all get moving in the same direction. “
Towns have to focus on small business, fostering entrepreneurs who build businesses locally that do business globally. That means educating students in entrepreneurship and using technology. “Location isn’t a big factor anymore. Shipping is easy and the technology is there,” Masters said.
Those businesses thriving in small towns give young people a reason to remain and to be involved, investing locally and supporting ideas like bond issues to finance large ticket improvements.
“We need to incentivize and put a positive light on our career techs. They are some of the finest in the country. College doesn’t work for everybody and they can help keep businesses and young people in the area.”
Connie Burcham can be reached at Editor@WatongaRepublican.com