Campaign Leadership Team
Campaign Co-chairs for the Republican congressional candidate are respected community leaders from the three counties comprising the Fifth District.
Representing Oklahoma County are Gene and Jo Downing, Steve Green, and Frank McPherson. Downing is President and CEO of Downing Wellhead Equipment, Inc; Green is President of Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc.; and McPherson, now retired, is the former Chairman and CEO of Kerr McGee Corporation.
Leading the campaign’s efforts in Pottawatomie County are Ralph and Wanda Hill. The couple is active on numerous boards and organizations in Shawnee where they live. He is a retired educator and she is a retiree of Oklahoma Natural Gas Company.
Seminole County Co-chairs are community leaders Randy and Susan Kemp. He is a respected family physician who owns Seminole Medical Clinic and she is active in both church and school programs and activities.
In addition to the Campaign Co-Chairs, two other key leaders were also named. David Gillogly, former President and COO of Express Personnel Services, will serve as Finance Chairman. Serving as Prayer Chairman will be Tom Elliff, former pastor of First Southern Baptist Church, Del City.
“I am deeply grateful for these men and women who have agreed to take key roles in my campaign,” Lankford said. “They share my passion for the future of our country and the need for reliable conservative leadership in the Congress.”
Lankford’s campaign gained considerable attention in political circles when more than 10,000 Oklahomans had signed up on his Facebook page in the first two months after entering the race last September. “We are excited to see our Facebook supporters also linking themselves to our campaign website www.jameslankford.com so they can increase their direct involvement in our campaign,” Lankford said.
The announcement was made in conjunction with formal endorsement statements issued by each campaign leader:
“In all the years I have known and observed James Lankford his commitment to serve, listen well and make decisions based on facts with honesty and integrity has never waned. His leadership skills are excellent and his desire to make a difference is undeniable. It is important for the great state of Oklahoma to have a James Lankford who will represent the values we hold so dear. I have no doubt that James will do an outstanding job. I hope you will join me in supporting James Lankford for Congress.” – GENE DOWNING
“I’m excited about Oklahomans having a new, fresh face to send to Congress. James Lankford is a man who won’t be bought out, will stand firm in his convictions, will be passionate in supporting Oklahoma’s conservative values, and will act with integrity as he fights for what is in the best interest of those he will represent. James understands that the current trend of enlarging the governments’ control and spending is not in the best interest of our country. I am honored to give my support to James Lankford and encourage you to consider supporting him, as well.” - STEVE GREEN
“I have known James for years and he has always demonstrated personal integrity, outstanding leadership ability and a tenacious work ethic. James Lankford genuinely enjoys serving people and I believe he is exactly the kind of leader we need in Washington D.C. A fresh voice is running for office who is worth your vote. I’m honored to endorse James Lankford for Congress.” – FRANK McPHERSON
“I believe God has placed James Lankford in a position to run for congress to give us hope. Our Oklahoma senators and representatives, gratefully, are conservative and represent us well. I believe with James’ moral and ethical background that he will adhere to our Constitution, keep his Oklahoma values and listen to and represent we Oklahomans. James will allow his conservative Christian values to guide him and he will go to Washington, D.C. ready to serve ‘we the people’. I endorse James Lankford with excitement and hope.”
- WANDA HILL
“Faith in God. Faith in our Country. And faith in the heritage and people of Oklahoma. James Lankford’s strong faith is what sets him apart as a person and future congressman of our great state. His integrity and commitment for excellence will make James a leader we can trust to make the tough decisions in Washington.” – RANDY and SUSAN KEMP
“Trust. I’m looking for someone in Washington who is smart, high-energy, has a servant’s heart, and is absolutely trustworthy both professionally and privately. James Lankford is that man. He doesn’t come to this race with a political background but with high ideals, high energy, and high integrity. None of us can possibly know everything we need to know about what goes on in Washington, D.C., so we need someone whose judgment, diligence, and integrity we can count on to represent us there. My endorsement is not a calculated political decision, James is no political insider, it is a craving for a real change in our national leadership that puts God and people ahead of politics.” – DAVID GILLOGLY
“James Lankford possesses in abundance the primary qualification for any political office: character. James has already proven gifted as a leader, articulate as a speaker, convictional as a conservative and motivated by a deep concern over the erosion of national conscience. He has an exciting vision for the future and the determination to recover the fading distinctives of our constitutional heritage. I urge you to support James Lankford.”
– TOM ELLIFF