Oklahoma Governor places cockfighting on state ballot

Governor places cockfighting on state ballot

By Staff reports
8/20/2002 2:44:00 PM

Gov. Frank Keating on Tuesday placed the proposal to ban cockfighting in Oklahoma on the Nov. 5 general election ballot.
"The initiative petition calling for a vote of the people on this matter has beat a long series of court tests, and it is time for the people to decide," Keating said.

He signed an executive order for a statewide election on State Question 687 late Monday, and it was filed with the Secretary of State's office Tuesday for transmittal to the Oklahoma State Election Board.

The governor also endorsed the proposal and said he plans to vote for the cockfighting ban.

"Cockfighting is cruel, it promotes illegal gambling and it is simply embarrassing to Oklahoma to be seen as one of only a tiny handful of locations outside of the third world where this activity is legal," Keating said. "I will vote yes for State Question 687, and I encourage all Oklahomans to do the same."

Oklahoma, Louisiana and New Mexico are the only three states where cockfighting still is legal.

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COCKFIGHTING ISSUE ON BALLOT

2002-08-20
By John Greiner
The Oklahoman

Gov. Frank Keating on Tuesday placed the proposal to ban cockfighting on the Nov. 5 general election ballot, calling it a cruel sport and embarrassment to the state.

"The initiative petition calling for a vote of the people on this matter has met a long series of court tests, and it is time for the people to decide," Keating said.

The governor signed an executive order to set the proposal on the general election ballot. Keating also endorsed the measure, State Question 687.
"Cockfighting is cruel, it promotes illegal gambling and it is simply embarrassing to Oklahoma to be seen as one of only a tiny handful of locations outside of the third world where this activity is legal," Keating said. "I will vote yes for State Question 687, and I encourage all Oklahomans to do the same."

Cockfighting is legal in Oklahoma, New Mexico and Louisiana. "We are very gratified that the governor took such quick action to ensure this would appear on the Nov. 5 ballot," said Cynthia Armstrong, campaign manager for the coalition pushing for passage of the anti-cockfighting proposal. "It's a vote that is long overdue."

Mike Clingman, secretary of the state Election Board, said setting of the election by the governor provides plenty of time for the election  board to get it and the other state questions printed on the general election ballots.

"We'll begin printing the backs of the ballots, the ones with the state questions, almost immediately to get that part out of the way," Clingman said.

Nine state questions will be on the general election ballot.

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