As if there wasn’t enough for the City of Watonga to concern itself with, four members of the council will be up for re-election early next year, should they choose to run.
The seats up for election are in wards 2,3 and 4, as well as the at-large seat. Currently, Adam Tock is the council member for Ward 2, Allen Cowan fills Ward 3 and Bill Seitter is the council member for Ward 4. He also serves as the mayor, selected by the members of the council. The at-large member is Travis Bradt and he, too, is up for re-election in the new year.
Those who wish to run for city council must file their candidacy with the Blaine County Election Board between Feb. 6-8, with the election taking place in April.
Those who wish to vote in the upcoming elections must register to vote either online or at the Blaine County Election Board on or before Dec. 15 for the January vote; Feb. 10 for the March special elections; and March 11 for the April vote. For more information or to check your registration status, call or go by the elections board or go to the Oklahoma.gov/elections website.
The Watonga, Canton, Okeene and Geary school boards will also have a seat up for grabs in 2023. The filing for that seat is Dec. 5-7. According to Brenda Rice, supervisor of elections for Blaine County, that election will be held Feb. 14 if there are three or more candidates but will be included in the April 4 ballot if there are two or more candidates. Sitting Watonga board member Andy Wigington has indicated he will stand for reelection to his seat. It seems likely that Shannon Sinclair, who holds seat three in Canton will also seek re-election, while over in Okeene, Bennet Peters has said he will file for re-election as well. Seat 3 is held in Geary by Waylan Upchego, but there has been no word as to whether he will stand for re-election.
Elsewhere in Blaine County, other council members are also nearing decision time for their seats.
In Geary, Mayor Bobby Allen, Ward 1 council member Allison Carter, Ward 2 council member Rocky Coleman and Ward 3 coun- member Mary Hays will either face re-election in April or vacate their posts. The filing period is Feb. 6-8, the same as Watonga City Council voting. Ward 4 council member Cory Hicks’ term is not up until 2024.
In Canton there are also city council seats up for grabs, although those seats are not divided by wards. The filing dates are the same, so the candidates are unknown at this point.
Of course, the question getting the most press and attention from voters in the coming year is State Question 820, the marijuana legalization initiative. That question comes to a vote in March, with a yes vote supporting legalizing pot for adults 21 and old, while a no vote opposes legalizing weed for those 21 or older.
If passed, the initiative would allow individuals to possess, transport and distribute up to one ounce of marijuana, eight grams of concentrate and eight grams or less of concentrate in marijuana-infused products. The sales would be taxed at 15%. Individuals could keep up to six mature plants and six seedlings. The law would allow those previously convicted of marijuana infractions to have their records modified or expunged of the convictions.
Of the anticipated tax collections, the money would be used by the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority to implement the initiative and the remaining funds would be split five ways.
That split shows 30% to the state’s general fund; 30% to public schools; 20% to grants to fund drug addiction treatment and overdose prevention programs; 10% to the state revolving fund; and 10% to the towns or counties where the substance is sold.