Ahotly contested primary election for the State House seat being vacated by republican Sherrie Conley at the end of this term has resulted in a runoff between Mike Whaley of Blanchard and Jonathan Wilk of Goldsby.
The two were the biggest vote-getters in the republican primary where five people were vying for the spot.
The runoff primary election is from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, August 27, and the SH-20 republicans are the only item on the ballot (Sample Ballot on page 2). Voting precincts will be open around Newcastle for the election. The winner will continue on to the November 5 general election where he will face Democrat Mitchell Jacob of Newcastle.
Whaley said this is a critical time for District 20 with all the growth. He said he is concerned about taxes, inflation and the economy. He is for people keeping as much in their pocketbooks as they can. Wilk said he is concerned about taxes, specifically the property taxes and the discussions about going to a system similar to the one in Texas. He said this system would cripple Oklahoma farmers and ranchers, and will kill public schools.
Mike Whaley
Former Blanchard High School coach, teacher, administrator and Navy veteran Mike Whaley, 66, had the following to say.
“The American dream and our way of life in Oklahoma are in a time of crisis. As a former coach and principal, I see the future of our next generations of Oklahomans, in peril,” Whaley said. “As a Navy veteran, I’ve seen a slide in the love of country Oklahomans hold dear. I’m running for the State House to do my part to ‘turn the ship around’ and preserve Oklahoma’s way of life.”
Whaley said, “I’m focused on opposing Joe Biden’s progressive policies in and out of the classroom, investing in the next generation of Oklahomans, supporting small business owners and taxpayers, and respecting the rule of law. I’m guided by my firm faith in Christ and my loving family.”
A high school valedictorian, Whaley enrolled in the United States Naval Academy immediately after high school. He was there from June 1974 to February 1976. This includes his naval service — serving on the destroyer escort 1073, the Robert E. Peary, during her Western Pacific Cruise in the summer of 1975. Whaley said this was at the end of the war in Vietnam helping refugees escape southeast Asia during the communist takeover. Whaley said he observed firsthand the importance of freedom and liberty.
Whaley was a Midshipman Third Class when he left the Navy to return to Oklahoma and enroll at Southwestern Oklahoma State University. Whaley graduated from SWOSU and began to coach football and work as a teacher and administrator in the public school system.
After stops at Sand Springs, Mangum, Blanchard and Purcell, Whaley concluded his public-school career as the head football coach at Westmoore. Most recently, as an administrator with the Oklahoma Secondary Schools Activities Association during the pandemic closures, Whaley helped lead the charge to bring back sports and other extracurricular activities after the COVID lockdowns forced elimination of school activities.
Currently, Whaley guides interested students in their recruitment and application to the US Naval Academy in developing the next generation’s officers in the US Navy and Marine Corps as a Blue and Gold Officer.
Whaley has been married to his college sweetheart, Peggy, since 1978. They have one daughter, Mary Beth, who is married to Spencer Braggs and a granddaughter, Avereigh Braggs, who is the light of their lives. They attend First Baptist Church of Blanchard where Mike serves as a Deacon.
Jonathan Wilk
Jonathan Wilk describes himself as a dedicated community servant with extensive experience as a firefighter and commissioned police officer. Wilk has lived in the district his entire life and graduated from Washington High School.
With a background as a third-generation firefighter with 23 years of service, he has served his community, making critical life-saving decisions under intense pressure, he said. Wilk’s commitment to public service extends beyond his roles in crisis response. Having also served as a commissioned police officer, he supports law and order and said he will champion policies that help Texas secure the nation’s southern borders.
Through his roles as a cattle rancher and small business owner, Wilk said he is dedicated to the local economy. He said he understands hard working families and the importance of limited government in the free market.
Wilk has been married for 22 years to Tasha, a Washington public school teacher and Choctaw tribal member. He said she understands the importance of protecting the next generation.
As a father, Wilk is an advocate for parental rights and has raised his three sons to pursue their individual goals. He said he has guided them to start their own successful small business. His eldest son, a fourth generation Washington High School graduate, serves as a lineman for a local electric cooperative. Wilk said this is a reflection of the strong work ethic and commitment he values.
W ilk said his candidacy represents “a true commitment to service and a deep understanding of the challenges facing Oklahomans.”
He said his extensive experience as a small business owner, cattle rancher, police officer, firefighter, and in the oil and gas industry, makes him the best candidate to represent conservatives and transform adversity into opportunity.
