Published: March 09, 2008 11:24 pm         

Trio of city of Enid commissioners plan to take Washington, D.C., trip

Only three city commissioners plan to attend this year’s Washington, D.C. trip, which cost taxpayers nearly $20,000 last year.

According to an agenda furnished by the Greater Enid Chamber of Commerce the group leaves Monday, March 10 and will check in at the Hilton Garden Inn. That evening they will have dinner together.

Tuesday they have meetings scheduled at the Pentagon during the morning and will have the afternoon on their own.

Wednesday the group has the morning off and at 1:30 p.m. will meet with U.S. Rep. Mary Fallin.

U.S. Rep. Frank Lucas will meet with the group at 2:30 p.m., followed by U.S. Rep. Dan Boren, U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe and Tom Coburn.

A legislative reception is scheduled for Oklahoma Congressional staff and military officials from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. and the group will have the remainder of the evening on their own.

Most of the group will return Wednesday.

Mayor John Criner said recently he was not going this year but that Ward 1 Commissioner Jim Crabbs, Ward 3 Commissioner Larry Dillon and Ward 4 Commissioner Loyd Kaufman did plan to go. Kaufman planned to take his wife Bonita. Ward 2 Commissioner Don Rose planned to go but became ill.

Criner said last year that when he was mayor he would institute a voluntary policy that three commissioners would go.

“I would like to see the council send three each year and if they were elected and had been the year before, then another three would get to go. If they were not elected they would not go at all,” Criner said. “It’s a plan I’ve expressed.”

Only three commissioners are going, and that is just the way it worked out this year, he said. Criner is willing to step aside and let other go, he said.

“I thought last year was a fiasco. I didn’t run to go to Washington, but to be mayor of Enid and do what’s right for Enid, Okla. I think the trips are important, but is three enough, four too many...we have a responsibility to people in the community to limit how we spend their money,” Criner said.

Even if his idea does not pass next year and everyone goes, the mayor said he will stay home. Criner said he promised he would try to have the group limited to no more than three.

“If we are asking people to do things for their community then we need to do things to show people we have their best interests at heart,” he said.

Criner said the city has Mike Cooper as its liaison to protect Enids’ interests in Washington. Criner believes the group going to Washington should be limited and if they take their wives, they should pay for it themselves.

Crabbs said he will take his wife Sandra and plans to reimburse the city for her costs.

“I want mine to be the least expensive, I want to take advantage of whatever discounts are available,” Crabbs said.

City Manager Eric Benson will not go on this year’s trip.

A complete list of those attending representing both the City of Enid and the Greater Enid Chamber of Commerce is:

Jon Blankenship, president Enid chamber and his wife Kim; John Collison, staff for Sen. Inhofe; Mike Cooper, Chairman, Oklahoma Strategic Military Planning Commission, and liaison of the Vance Development Authority, and his wife Jill; Enid commissioner Jim Crabbs and his wife Sandra; April Danahy, chairman of the board, Enid chamber; Larry Dillon, city commissioner; Loyd Kaufman, city commissioner, and his wife Bonita; Chad Lareau, Enid chamber, board of directors and his wife Julie; John Little, past chairman, Enid Chamber and Wendy and Penelope; and Bryce Marlatt, field representative for Sen. Inhofe.

Also, Dan R. Ohnesorge, program manager, CSC, Vance Infrastructure support, Vance Development Authority; Don Roberts, Autry Technology Center; Bill Shewey, past chairman, Enid chamber; and Jimmy Stallings, federal government affairs council chair for Enid chamber, and his wife Abby.