Published: October 19, 2008 10:42 pm         

Enns hopes to bring the stem cell research businesses to state

Incumbent state representative candidate for Oklahoma District 41 John Enns, a Republican, has spent his life in western Oklahoma.

Enns grew up in Enid and is a graduate of Enid High School. He spent his college years in Kansas, but came back to the Enid area immediately after graduation.

“I went to Tabor College and got degrees in biology and chemistry,” said Enns. “Then I came back to the Enid area and went back to farming.”

Along with farming, Enns used his degrees from Tabor to teach at Drummond Public Schools and Northern Oklahoma College Enid. 

The idea to run for office was not a sudden inspiration for Enns, but something that had always been a possibility.

“It’s something I always had in the back of my mind,” said Enns. “When (my predecessor) decided not to run anymore, I really felt led by God to go in that direction.”

 

As an incumbent, what have you accomplished during your time in office?



“The first year I got the state agribility program established,” said Enns.

The program “helps people in agriculture that are disabled in one way or another to get back into agriculture.”

He was told the same program failed to pass several times before.

Enns also had a hand in a scientific act that was passed.

 “The adult stem cell treatment and cures act which allows state funding for any entity that wants to come into the state to do this kind of research,” said Enns.

With microbiology knowledge and experience with disabilities which would benefit from this research, Enns said he was “kind of the ‘go-to’ person on this issue.”

Enns said he passed a safety bill having to do with safety in road construction areas as well as a bill that allowed local departments of motor vehicles to distribute disabled placards to those who qualify, rather than those people having to go to Oklahoma City to get them.

Enns said he championed tax credits on deep well production, interim studies on education issues such as school discipline and teacher protection and studies on wind energy and geothermal energy.

 

What are your proposals to enhance energy development in the state?



“We need to look at energy options that we can find from coal-fired energy plants to biofuels, nuclear, wind and geothermal,” said Enns.  “I’ve got those interim studies coming up on wind energy as well as geothermal.”

 

What are your proposals to encourage economic development in rural areas of the state?



“Infrastructure is a big thing,” said Enns.  “If we get good infrastructure, if we have good highways, good water, good sewage systems, this will make it easier. We passed a $300 million bond issue this last session for transportation.  We are also exploring ways to get possible wind energy manufacturers in the area.”

 

What is your opinion on the level of school funding now and how can the situation be improved?



“We spend $2.4 billion each year on school funding, and I believe that the students need to get all the funding they can get and teachers need to get all the pay they can get,” said Enns, who not only has public school teaching experience himself but is married to a public school teacher. “But $2.4 billion is over a third of the budget, and we have to look at different ways other than just money to improve scores.”

Enns mentioned Washing-ton, D.C., pays the most dollars per student in public school funding than any state in the nation and yet they are ranked 51st in ACT scores.

“So, when you look at this, it is easy to see that money does not necessarily mean that you will having a great education program,” said Enns.

Enns said the number one reason for teacher burnout is discipline issues with students and “something needs to be done in that area.”

“When kids are being disruptive, and they don’t do their work, they shouldn’t be a hindrance,” said Enns.  “The ones that make (the classroom) not conducive for learning should be in a different atmosphere.”

Enns said he has been studying alternative schools such as the Student Adjustment Center in Lawton to get ideas for plans to help the classroom environment and reduce teacher burnout.



What is an issue you find important?



“We’re having an interim study on (adult stem cell research) and we’re trying to figure out what the best way is to bring businesses into the state,” said Enns.  “If we can give incentives for the (research) businesses to come here, we can become known as the adult stem cell research area of the world.  That’s what I’d like to happen.”

Enns mentioned he is impressed by the stem cell research done at the University of Oklahoma. 

“What they are doing there is amazing,” said Enns.

Adult stem cell research has resulted in over 70 cures and treatments and embryonic stem cell research has resulted in none, said Enns.