State Auditor Announces 2018 Bid For Governor, Will Launch Campaign In Fall
Oklahoma Auditor Gary Jones to Run for Governor in 2018
By SEAN MURPHY, Associated Press
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Republican Gary Jones, the state auditor and inspector who has been a thorn in the side of leaders from both parties over Oklahoma’s tax and budget policies, confirmed Monday that he’s running for governor.
Jones, 62, said he will formally launch his campaign in the fall, but that he will seek to replace Republican Gov. Mary Fallin, who can’t run again because of term limits.
“My main message is that we have to be fiscally responsible, that we have to cut out all unnecessary expenses, but we also have to have enough revenue to fund core services,” Jones told The Associated Press. “If you turn me loose today, I could show you some areas where we could make cuts and not lose core services.”
Jones said he thinks many state agencies are top heavy with excessive administration, and he noted how his own agency’s budget has been slashed from $5.9 million in 2010 to $2.9 million this year.