— Editor’s note: One in a series of election stories.



Improvements to the country’s crumbling infrastructure are key to a secure economic future and vital to public safety, some experts contend.

The need for infrastructural improvements is so great that two unlikely partners — the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and AFL-CIO – issued a joint statement more than a year ago, asking Congress to “build America’s infrastructure” and “support job creation.”

Although that largely has yet to materialize, two local Democrats jockeying for the party’s nomination in the 2nd Congressional District race indicate that they would answer that call. Both men said the nation’s infrastructural systems are “unacceptable” and “desperately need” repair.

Wayne Herriman, a Muskogee agribusinessman, said that as a business owner he understands the need “to make wise investments to help grow this economy.”

“We simply cannot allow it to deteriorate to the point where collapsing bridges are undermining public safety,” he said. “But it is not only a public safety issue, it is an economic issue.”

Herriman said he would support any infrastructure project that he believes is “necessary for public safety” or “would help move this economy forward.”

Rob Wallace, a former state and federal prosecutor in Fort Gibson, said investing in an improved infrastructural system “really isn’t an option.” Citing statistics regarding the declining condition of the states’ roads, bridges and dams, Wallace said something must be done to “protect our citizens and their property.”

“A key role of government is to protect its people, and improving infrastructure is vital to keeping Oklahomans safe,” he said. “Safety and job creation must be a top priority in Congress. We can accomplish both by investing in our infrastructure now.”

Both Herriman and Wallace cited infrastructure investments as a way to invigorate a stagnant economy and ignite growth in what has been a lackluster performance in job creation.

Herriman said rebuilding the infrastructure would “put tens of thousands of people back to work and help get our economy moving again,” making those projects more affordable. Wallace offered a mixed approach of cutting wasteful spending while funding projects essential to public safety and those likely to spur economic growth.

In order to make sure that vital infrastructural projects are funded, started and completed, the Democratic candidates offered alternative views.

Herriman said every American must pay a fair share.

“We also need to make sure that corporations and the wealthy are paying their fair share in taxes,” he said. “When America’s infrastructure is crumbling, it is ridiculous that we are giving tax breaks to companies that ship our jobs overseas or that billionaires on Wall Street who helped crash our economy are paying less in taxes than middle-class Americans.”

Wallace advocated leadership and bipartisanship as key to the debate. He said that in order to strengthen the infrastructural backbone of America, congressional leaders “must end the partisan bickering and work together.”

“Putting people back to work is my top priority, and I want to be heavily involved in any project that will do that,” he said. “I will work with local governments so I can better understand their needs and get the projects finished that will lead to better economic growth in their area.”

Herriman and Wallace will go toe-to-toe in the Aug. 28 Democratic primary runoff election. The winner will face one of two Republicans and Michael G. Fulks, an independent from Heavener, in the Nov. 6 general election. The two GOP candidates are Markwayne Mullin of Westville and state Rep. George Faught of Muskogee.

Reach D.E. Smoot at (918) 684-2901 or dsmoot@muskogeephoenix.com.