And the Winner Is...

November 2, the day we had both dreaded and dreamed of, finally arrived. A restless sense of "What do we do now?" prevailed. We had poured everything we had into the campaign, working nonstop even into the wee hours of the morning of November 2. It was hard to let go and let the actual election take place. We could do nothing but try to occupy our minds until the polls closed at 7:00 P.M.
Instead of hosting a watch party, we chose to stay home and face the returns alone. We knew our supporters were pulling for Doug, but we felt that regardless of the outcome, we needed some time together to make the transition.
Election results began to roll in by 7:30. After listening to the first radio reports, I decided I could not handle the suspense. I quit listening and tried to block out the returns with a book and TV. Doug gamely listened and hoped. At 8:24 Keenan called and said "It looks like you won!" Then seven minutes later, he texted Doug and said, "All polls are in but one. You got 55%. Congrats!" In the meantime, Keenan was also texting Lauren and Shannon about the progress. At one time Doug was talking to Shannon with his cell phone to one ear and talking to Lauren with my cell phone to his other ear; then Keenan called again on the land line. After he shared a victory moment with the kids, the phones rang nonstop for several hours.
In addition to two radio interviews and one newspaper interview, friends and family called in their congratulations. An excited group of friends showed up at our house to wish Doug well and share in his excitement, and the phone calls continued. Doug was so elated that he did not sit down for at least three hours!
Although Doug and I worked harder than we ever imagined we would on his campaign, numerous volunteers put in hours of their time. They supported the campaign financially, canvassed door to door, mailed post cards, made phone calls, hosted receptions, and talked to their friends about Doug's candidacy. We are forever grateful. In addition, our family was asource of emotional support. Not only did they volunteer, but they loved us unconditionally through it all. We could not have survived without them.

Honoring His Honor

Benjamin Franklin once said, "Three may keep a secret if two of them are dead." I should have recalled this wise quote when Doug's secretary called me and informed me that the Beckham-Roger Mills County Bar Association would be hosting a dinner for Doug and nominating him for an award and that it was to be a surprise. My job was to get him and our family to the dinner without his suspecting anything. Gamely, I agreed to the conspiracy. Never mind the fact that I would somehow have to convince Doug that he must wear a suit and tie on a night that we had set aside to canvass door to door. In my mind, possible explanations for the fancy attire ran the gamut from "The suit makes you look official" to "You need to look good because you never know who might take your picture." I am definitely a rather lame and uninspired liar.
The situation was further complicated by the logistics of getting family members' schedules to cooperate. Week nights were ruled out because of distance and early work hours the next day, and Friday and Saturday nights were complicated by work schedules and of course football game attendance. Friday, September 24 was settled on, and then there was the possible problem of invitations. Keenan still gets his mail at our house, so if an invitation were to be sent to him, I would have to beat Doug to the mailbox every day so he would not spot the suspicious-looking envelope.
Making my conundrum worse, I decided that Doug needed a new suit for this affair. Since neither of us could take time away from the campaign to shop for one and since I would have to come up with a semi-plausible explanation for the new clothes, I decided to have Lauren buy the suit in Amarillo. I sent my credit card with her, and the plan would have worked flawlessly except for the fact that a very astute cashier realized that it is highly unlikely that such a young woman would be named Judy. Well, to make a long story short, we worked it out, and Lauren was not arrested for credit card fraud, and Doug got a new suit.
Well by this time, the "secret" had been shared with numerous people making the chance for a surprise dinner smaller and smaller. And then, one of the lawyers in charge of the dinner told Doug. In spite of the fact that I had wasted a great deal of creative deception and stealth on the project, I was relieved.
The dinner was wonderful. Of course, Shannon and Josh could not come from Georgia, but Lauren, Brandon, and Eli and Keenan and Carlie were all there along with many members of the bar and numerous friends. Doug received a Citation of Appreciation signed by Governor Brad Henry, Senator Tom Ivester, and Representative Purcy Walker. He was unanimously nominated by the Beckham-Roger Mills County Bar Association for the Oklahoma Bar Association Award for Judicial Excellence. It was truly an evening of respect and affirmation.

Fairs and Foibles by Judy Haught

Western Oklahomans love a parade. Rodeos and homecoming celebrations wouldn't be complete without a string of marching bands, cardboard and tissue paper floats, horses, beauty queens, and yes, politicians. A parade just happens to be the perfect venue for a candidate, providing high visibility and access to large numbers of voters. However, what seems like a simple follow-the-leader activity is not without pitfalls.

We planned for Elk City's Rodeo Day Parade several weeks in advance. I was going to drive our ATV while Lauren and Eli rode along and threw candy. Doug and Brandon were going to walk and hand out campaign literature. I spent the week prior to the parade with a sense of dread. I have never been very good at driving the ATV, and I had a feeling of foreboding. But wanting to be a good sport, I kept my fears to myself. Well, we decorated the ATV, got our parade number, and got in line. Half a block down the street, my fears were realized; the ATV died. We restarted it, but it died again a few feet down the road. We had to push it off the road leaving Lauren and Brandon to put signs on their car and take our place in the parade.

A helpful bystander did some emergency tinkering on the ATV and got it going again. Doug abandoned the idea of walking and drove while Eli and I rode along and threw candy. Then we committed a huge campaign faux pas: we ran out of candy half way through the parade route. We left small, forlorn-looking children holding empty candy bags. Not really--the bags were filled with other parade participants' candy.

We vowed to have enough candy for the next parade, but, alas, we ran out again at the Thomas Homecoming Parade. Maybe we will get this parade thing down before the election.

County fairs continued, and we had good intentions of making them all. The only problem was that the Custer, Beckham, and Ellis County fairs were held on the same weekend. With some fancy maneuvering and many vehicle miles, Doug did make an appearance at all three fairs. With my assistance and the excellent help of our good friend Ed Rolison, we manned booths in all three counties. As a result, children from all over the district sported "Haught for District Judge" stickers on their shirts.

The campaign continues with more social events than we can name and evening after evening of door knocking.

Remember a vote for Judge Haught is vote for hard work and persistence.

Back in the Saddle Again by Judy Haught

"We're back in the saddle again out where a friend is a friend...Ridin' the range once more...Back in the saddle again." We are back campaigning again, and just like Gene Autry, we feel a little like we never left. The campaign trail is old, familiar ground now. We have indeed begun to feel at home meeting and greeting folks, shaking their hands, and partaking in the social life of Western Oklahoma.
We kicked off this phase of the campaign at Southwestern's Organization Fair, where Doug had a booth. He and Keenan greeted students, gave them voter registration forms, and gave away Tootsie Rolls and pens. A large percentage of the student population took class notes that day with a "Doug Haught for District Judge" pen.
Next, we had a booth at the Washita County Fair. Again we gave away voter registration forms, Tootsie Rolls, and pens. The Tootsie Rolls were a hit with the kids and a good way to lure parents to the booth. The Washita County Fair is great fun with handmade exhibits, homemade food, show animals, and a carnival. This quintessential rural American phenomenon attracts a huge crowd. In fact, Doug was not the only candidate appealing to the electorate. Several people vying for state offices made appearances.
After the fair, we were off to Arnett where we rode in the parade and attended the rodeo. While Doug and Brandon greeted the crowd and handed out campaign literature, Lauren, Eli, and I rode in the pickup, which was adorned with campaign signs. I drove, and Lauren and Eli threw candy to the crowd. Eli had a grand time; after all, candy and horses are two of his favorite things.
We spent the following evenings knocking on doors in Weatherford, and we were blessed with beautiful weather. When we are canvassing door-to-door, we just never know whom we will meet. I ran into a former student that I had not seen in several years, and Doug met up with a second cousin he had not visited with in a long time. Both were pleasant surprises.
This past weekend found us at Cheyenne's Day in the Park, where we enjoyed great music and where Roger Mills County firefighters and EMTs were recognized. We followed up this event with a ceremony honoring Chief Lawrence Hart at the Visitor Center at the Washita Battlefield. It was a moving ceremony, and we connected with several people from all over Western Oklahoma.
Today we worshiped at the United Methodist Church in Weatherford and began planning the coming week. The fall is crammed with rodeos, festivals, and parades, so don't be surprised when we turn up at a celebration near you.
Remember a vote for Judge Haught is a vote for one of the state's finest, a man who understands and appreciates Western Oklahoma values and traditions.

As the Band Plays by Judy Haught

This lull between the primary election and the general election in November seems a little like halftime at a football game. As the marching band takes the field, the opposing teams head for the locker room to plan strategy for the second half. I have never been privy to a football team's halftime conversation, but I would imagine that the first half must be rehashed and analyzed. So as the band plays, Doug and I go over the highlights of the past few months. We met hundreds and maybe thousands of voters and took away priceless memories. A few of the most outstanding experiences are as follows:

• The lady who gave us fresh vegetables from her garden
• All the people who offered us bottles of cold water on hot campaign days
• The delightful twin ladies who made the drive to Rocky worthwhile
• Good conversation
• Fire Department barbecue and catfish
• Potluck dinners
• Fireworks
• Parades and festivals
• Knocking on doors in the rain
• "In the Mood" played on the piano just for us

We are looking forward to the next few months and the chance to let Western Oklahomans get to know the best qualified candidate for District Judge. We'll be coming to your town soon and possibly even knocking on your door. Look for the red Chevy truck with the "Doug Haught for District Judge" signs on the side.

Ellis County Odyssey by Judy Haught

Holidays present a unique problem for candidates. Not unlike the young married couple who has to eat four Thanksgiving dinners to please all the parents and grandparents, a candidate can find himself needing to be in more than one place at once. The 4th of July presented such a problem for Judge Haught. Independence Day celebrations were advertised in all five counties of the 2nd Judicial District, and several invitations had been extended to us. However, after much consideration, we decided to spend the weekend in Ellis County.
We arrived in Shattuck the evening of July 2 and checked into the Holiday Motel. We then had dinner at Ed's, the place to be on Friday night in Shattuck, and both the food and the atmosphere were great. With full stomachs, we left to "recon" the town, or in other words, we drove around town and formulated a game plan on how to meet and talk with the largest number of people possible.
On Saturday morning, we checked out of our motel, ate a whopping breakfast at the Frozen Frog in downtown Shattuck, and began meeting and greeting. We started on the west side of Shattuck and knocked on doors, talked with voters, and worked all the way to the east end of town. In spite of the rain that varied from a sprinkle to a downpour all day, we had an interesting, productive day. The people of Shattuck were cordial and interested, and they treated us like honored guests. The town itself has a warm, hometown feel to it. It would be a good place to grow up and a good place to raise a family.
After putting up campaign signs in Shattuck, we left for Arnett. We found the Circle C Motel and tried to rent a room, but the office was closed. The people in the cafe next door gave us the proprietor's phone number, and we called him.. He told us we could stay in room 16 and to just go on in because it was unlocked. Doug and I looked at each other in amazement. We didn't realize there was any place left on earth where people could go off and leave doors unlocked! Sure enough, room 16 was unlocked, and we moved in for the night. We didn't even have a key! Arnett is definitely a throwback to a safer, more innocent era.
We attended Arnett's fireworks display on Saturday, July 3, and it was spectacular! In fact, it rivaled the fireworks shows of many large towns. So far everything about the town had been a delightful surprise.
The next morning, we attended church at the United Methodist Church where we received a warm welcome. Reverend Dollarhite delivered a moving Independence Day sermon on laying down one's life for a friend.
After church, it was off to the Circle G Cafe. In novels and old black and white TV shows, there is always a local diner where the food is great and where everyone gathers. Well, the Circle G is that place; it could have come from the pages of a John Grisham novel. The place was packed with the Sunday church crowd, so we shared a table with a lovely woman named Mrs. Clem. We didn't know one another, but after sharing a meal and discussing mutual acquaintances, we felt like old friends.
That afternoon we worked from the east end of Arnett to the west end knocking on doors and talking with the citizens. We met many wonderful people and several Purcy Walker fans. In fact, one man told us that he and Purcy often sang karaoke songs in his garage. Doug hastily told the man that he could not sing like Purcy just in case the man had any such ideas!
After meeting and greeting, we traveled back to Shattuck for more barbecue with the Shattuck Fire Department, the perfect finale to a perfect weekend.
Our weekend in Ellis County gave us a look at two of Western Oklahoma's hometowns. Remember, a vote for Judge Haught is a vote for a Western Oklahoma hometown guy.

Blessings Great and Small by Judy Haught

As both the temperature and the campaign heat up, Doug and I find ourselves stopping from time to time to reflect on the many blessings that have come our way. We have been going door to door all over the district recently, and we are thankful for all the positives aspects of this marathon meet and greet. Shady porches, friendly dogs, and the kindness of strangers top our list.


When the temperature hovers around one hundred degrees with the heat index well above that, stepping upon a shady porch is like coming upon the proverbial oasis in a desert. Sheltered from the sun and with breezes wafting over our sweat-soaked bodies, we gain strength and determination to carry on. Often people have the most inviting looking swings, hammocks, rockers, and gliders on their porches. We always look longingly at them, but we are never presumptuous enough to try one out.



Dogs, however, do make presumptions; they are never ambiguous. Either they like you or they don't, and when they do, they demonstrate it with their whole bodies. They prance, sniff, lick, bark, and wag their tails like flags in the wind. Fortunately for us, most of the dogs we have met on our door-knocking adventures have been the unequivocal friendly types. Cats, on the other hand, are downright apathetic. For example, one cat we came across, lay draped over the back of a sofa and gazed at us with one bored eye; meanwhile, the dog of the house practically turned somersaults of joy at our arrival. Hopefully the voters will be more of the dog variety.



Our tramping around in the heat seems to bring out the sympathy in people. We have been invited into the homes of complete strangers and given bottles of cold water. One man even told us he would vote for Doug because anyone out campaigning in such heat must really want the position. We are humbled by and thankful for the kindness of these wonderful people.



Speaking of being thankful, we owe a debt of gratitude to area fire departments, not only for the jobs they do to protect the public but also for food and hospitality. We partook of fried catfish prepared by the Berlin Volunteer Fire Department and barbecue cooked by the Cordell firefighters.



And finally, we are eternally grateful to the army of volunteers who showed up last Saturday to knock on doors in Elk City. Approximately twenty people all clad in their "Doug Haught for District Judge" t-shirts walked the streets and campaigned for Doug. Better friends cannot be found.



We are fortunate indeed to live here in Western Oklahoma where people are kind, hospitable, and empathetic. Remember a vote for Judge Haught is vote for one of Western Oklahoma's best.