My name is Rhonda Sutton Eastman, and I would like to announce that I am a Democratic Candidate for the open seat on the Corporation Commission.

I was born in Tulsa, grew up in Leflore County, and graduated from Spiro High School.

I worked my way through college doing a variety of “dirty” jobs. The kind of work that you wear home with you on your clothing. I worked in Trucking, utilities, and even some construction-type work. Education allowed me to move into work that didn’t destroy my clothing, and for 16 years, I worked for the State.

During those construction years, I struggled as a female to find employers that would give me a chance. A few years ago, one of the few employers that gave me an opportunity when others would not, reached out to me and asked if I would consider returning to work for him as his manager, as he was planning his retirement. I vested my retirement and returned to work for him until his death a few years ago, which led to the closing of his business.

Within a couple of days of leaving that company, I was approached by my current employer and recruited to manage their Construction division. I have spent the last few years working with clients who have been impacted by disaster, navigating their claims, and fighting for them to get the benefits from their insurance that they deserve, and working to put their homes or buildings back together.

While I have experience in several vastly different types of work, most have something in common: working in service to the people. And that has always mattered to me.

The Corporation Commission is a 3-person board, serving 6-year terms, with a different seat up for election every 2 years. The last time this state elected a Democrat to the Commission was 1986, serving until 1991.

We have had decades of Republicans, handpicked by the very industries they are supposed to regulate. Their campaigns are funded through PACs linked to those same industries. And what has Oklahoma gotten in return?

Rising utility costs in no small part, due to Numerous Data Centers moving into our state.

Over 20,000 abandoned oil and gas wells, some contaminating the ground and water, or even filling up people’s homes with oil, are left for the state to deal with.

Oil production wastewater injection wells are purging in various locations throughout the state, spreading toxic contamination to the vegetation, the water sources, and in some cases, killing cattle.

I am not against industry or oil and gas production. I do take issue with companies that make billions yearly in profit off of Oklahoma’s Resources and then make a mess, and leave it for the state and, by extension the taxpayers to deal with.

I have an issue with Data Centers moving into our state, cutting deals to eliminate 85% of their ad valorem tax (value or property tax that supports schools and community resources) for 25 years, all the while the costs to upgrade the infrastructure to the utilities are getting passed on to all of the utility consumers.

I have concerns about the amount of water Data Centers require and the wastewater they produce. The citizens pay a sizable price when Data Centers set up shop in their communities, and most only create a few dozen jobs.

There are 3 seats on the Corporation Commission. This commission has the job of regulating Oil and Gas production, Public Utilities, Trucking, and Telecommunications.

If you look at the current commissioners, they all received donations for their elections by some of the very industries they have the job of regulating. Those industries made sure they had people on the Commission looking out for them.

Only 1 seat is up for election this year. At least 1 person on this Commission should be looking out for the people of this state. Rhonda Eastman for Corporation Commissioner. www.Eastman2026. com http://www.Eastman2026