June 29, 2020
By News Director Jared Atha
A lot of local political races that include school board seats and county sheriff positions will be decided Tuesday by Oklahomans.
Also on the ballot is State Question 802, which asks Oklahomans to amend the state’s constitution to expand Medicaid to cover low-income adults between the ages of 18 and 65 whose income does not exceed 133% of the federal poverty level, which is $16,970 annually for an individual and $34,846 for a family of four.
Great Plains Regional Medical Center CEO Corey Lively says he supports expanding Medicaid.
However opponents of State Question 802 question how to fund the plan. Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt fears cuts to other state services could be on the horizon if it passes.
If passed, Oklahoma will have until July 1, 2021, to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act.
Local Sheriff races will be decided Tuesday as well.
In Beckham County Sheriff Derek Manning is being challenged by Wes Henry. In Roger Mills County Sheriff Darren Atha is challenged by Brian Smith, and in Custer County, Sheriff Kenneth Tidwell will run against Dan Day.
Multiple school board seats will be up for grabs in Sayre, Erick, Mangum, Sweetwater, Hammon, Sentinel, and Cheyenne.
