Latest news with #JonEchols
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Jon Echols visits Bartlesville on his campaign for Oklahoma attorney general
Republican Jon Echols is officially on the campaign trail for Oklahoma Attorney General, making stops around Bartlesville on April 24 and April 25, introducing himself to voters and outlining his vision for the office. Echols, a former state representative from Oklahoma City, sat down for an interview with the Examiner-Enterprise in between meetings with local police, firefighters and community leaders. "I'm an Oklahoman through and through," Echols said in an interview with the EE. "I believe in a safer, freer, stronger Oklahoma, and I think the Attorney General's office is the best place to make a real difference for the citizens of this state." Echols served 12 years in the Oklahoma House of Representatives, including eight as majority floor leader, before term limits forced him out in 2024. He announced his candidacy for attorney general earlier this year and says the response has been overwhelming, noting endorsements from more than 18 sheriffs and the Oklahoma Fraternal Order of Police. The 45-year-old attorney said his goal is to bring a proven conservative record to the AG's office while ensuring that all citizens — regardless of background — are treated equally under the law. "Whether you're from the richest part of Tulsa or the wrong side of south Oklahoma City, like my parents were, you will be treated the same by my office," he said. Echols emphasized that the Attorney General's duties go beyond criminal law enforcement, explaining that a large part of the job involves protecting taxpayer dollars and serving as the legal counsel for state agencies. He pledged to maintain transparency and to prioritize upholding the Constitution. One hot-button issue already on Echols' radar is the use of Flock Safety cameras, which are license plate readers that track vehicles, sparking debate locally and across the state. While some hail the technology as a crime-fighting tool, others worry it could violate Fourth Amendment protections against unreasonable search and seizure. More: Bartlesville City Council approves Flock camera rules after split vote, heated debate Echols said he is taking a cautious approach. "Anytime you're dealing with government surveillance, it has to be done within the confines of the Constitution — both Oklahoma's and the United States," he said. He stressed that he is gathering information and weighing critical questions: how the cameras are used, where data is stored and whether the scope of surveillance is being legally applied. "I'm not a shoot-from-the-hip guy," he said. "Whatever the law is, that's what we're going to follow." Echols acknowledged the complexities surrounding surveillance technology, pointing out that he previously voted to authorize cameras used specifically to catch uninsured motorists — a system he said has operated appropriately within legal boundaries. Local news, sports and more: Accessing local journalism is even easier with the Sun-News app With no major challengers yet announced, Echols is the first declared candidate in the race for the 2026 election. He says his campaign is about public service, not political ambition. "If someone doesn't want a conservative Attorney General, I'm not their guy. I mean that and I have the track record to back it up," he said. The filing period for the 2026 elections begins in April of that year. This article originally appeared on Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise: Jon Echols campaign for Oklahoma AG comes to Bartlesville
Yahoo
26-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Former lawmaker announces bid for Oklahoma attorney general
Rep. Jon Echols, R-Oklahoma City, speaks before the governor's State of the State Address on Feb. 5, 2024, at the state Capitol. (Photo by Kyle Phillips/For Oklahoma Voice) OKLAHOMA CITY – Former lawmaker Jon Echols on Wednesday announced he is seeking the Republican nomination for Oklahoma attorney general. 'I am running to make a safer, freer and stronger Oklahoma, and I'm passionate about what I can bring to the position of attorney general,' Echols said in an interview with Oklahoma Voice. Echols recently spent 12 years in the Oklahoma House, serving as majority floor leader the last eight. Echols, 45, holds a bachelor's in political science from the University of Oklahoma and a law degree from Oklahoma City University. He is a small business owner, attorney and adjunct law professor. 'I have a legal background that I would stack up against anyone's,' Echols said. 'I have a business background that's been successful in multiple different companies…I know how to run an agency, how to run an office.' He said that if he is elected, he would be independent and work for the citizens, not a politician. Echols is the first to announce that he is running for the post. Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond announced he is not seeking a second term because he is running for governor in 2026. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
26-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Jon Echols to run for attorney general in the 2026 election
Oklahoma City Republican Jon Echols served in the House of Representatives for 12 years. Then he had to retire. Last fall, term limits forced Echols out of his post as majority floor leader, a leadership gig he held for the last eight of those 12 years. But Echols is far from retirement. In fact, if the next general election goes right, Echols will continue to work for the state for the next four years. This week he's announcing that he will run for attorney general in 2026. Though his formal announcement is set to be made Wednesday afternoon at Christian Heritage Academy in Del City, Echols sat down with The Oklahoman to talk about why the position of attorney general is important and why he wants to spend another eight years working in state government. At the Capitol, Echols has often been a key figure in the Republican Caucus. He's helped shape ideas and steer them through the Legislature to become law. He wears the moniker of conservative proudly. More: Oklahoma's HB 4156: What to know about state's paused immigration law, Trump policies And while Echols, 45, is seen as easy going and approachable — even by his opponents — he has had his share of controversies. He was part of Turn Key, the highly criticized company that contracted with cities and towns to provide health care in the state's jails. He also sponsored legislation that made major changes in the health care system, including hospice care in Medicaid coverage. And, Echols was also part of the leadership team that sponsored the state's anti-immigration bill, House Bill 4156. That bill, which is currently tied up in court, criminalized those in Oklahoma without federal permission "for an impermissible occupation crime." Echols isn't apologizing for the measures. He said immigration will continue to remain an issue, adding that his goal was "simply to make the state safer." But now, as a former member of the Legislature, Echols, an attorney by trade, isn't ready to leave state government. He's got plans for the next eight years. Instead of serving in the House of Representatives, Echols wants to take his experience, his background and yes, even his law degree, out for a spin, so Jon Echols is shifting gears. "There is a great deal the attorney general can do," Echols said. "There's a civil division and a criminal division and its important to make sure those serve the people of this state." Though Echols is proud to be labeled a conservative, and he's quick to say he supports the policies of President Donald Trump, Echols will also tout his independence and say his main focus is the law. During his announcement, Echols released a list of endorsements — from 16 sheriffs across the state, including Oklahoma County Sheriff Tommie Johnson III and Tulsa County Sheriff Vic Regalado. "My job is to uphold the law," he said. "We can disagree and still get along. But my goal is to help keep this state safe." A graduate of the Oklahoma City University School of Law, Echols received numerous academic awards and graduated first in his class. He said he wants to take his legal experience and understanding of state government to the office of attorney general. The goal isn't to run later for governor or a federal office, but he said, to focus on the problems faced now by Oklahomans. "This state has problems that need to be addressed," he said. "I believe the AG's office is the way to do that." He points to his family background — five generations that go back to the Land Run of 1889 — as part of the reason for serving. Call it family ties with state history. "My family still owns the ranch they had in 1889 in Okeene," he said. "We love this state, that's why we're here." With the race for attorney general expected to heat up — even though right now, Echols is the only announced candidate — the debate over what issues the AG's office should tackle quickly continues. Be the first to know: Sign up for breaking news email alerts For Echols, those issues are centered on one big problem: fentanyl. A synthetic opioid that is about 50 times as potent as heroin, fentanyl has a huge following because it is cheap to manufacture and a small amount goes a long way. "Fentanyl is a huge problem," Echols said. "And it's something we will hit from day one." Granted there are other issues, too, he said, that will be priorities. Echols said transparency in government, open records, and the ability to ensure that state funds are spent properly would all be focuses of his tenure if elected. "Yes, I'm a Republican and I'm a proud conservative," he said. "But I also believe in public service. Once elected you have to serve every Oklahoman — no matter what their politics — and I want to do just that." The filing period for the 2026 elections will begin in April of 2026. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Jon Echols, former state rep., to run for Oklahoma attorney general
