Scholars, journalists, and political leaders—including two potential 2010 Republican candidates for Oklahoma governor—will meet tomorrow, Saturday, November 15, at the Renaissance Convention Center Hotel in downtown Oklahoma City to discuss ways to reform Oklahoma’s initiative process as part of a forum hosted by Oklahomans for Initiative Rights.

The conference, entitled “Reforming the Reform Process: How to Restore Oklahoma’s Iniative,” will feature national experts on initiative and referendum as well as Oklahoma leaders, including Bob Sullivan, a 2006 GOP candidate for governor and State Sen. Randy Brogdon (R-Owasso), both of whom have been rumored to be considering a run for governor in 2010.

“Oklahoma’s initiative process is in serious need of reform,” said Norma Sapp, executive director of Oklahomans for Initiative Rights. “We have the toughest requirements in the country and have not had any initiative qualify for the ballot in recent years.”

Also speaking at the event will be Mark Tapscott, editorial page editor of the Washington Examiner; Andrew Spiropoulos, Oklahoma City University Law Professor; Dane Waters, founder of the Initiative & Referendum Institute; Paul Grant, a litigant in the landmark Supreme Court case, Meyer v. Grant; Patrick McGuigan, managing editor of The City Sentinel; Frederick J. Boehmke, Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Iowa; Brandon Dutcher, Vice President for Policy at the Oklahoma Council for Policy Analysis; and others.

Sapp said the conference will address the obvious problems and, more importantly, “suggest some much needed solutions,” added Sapp.

The event will be held at the Renaissance Convention Center Hotel, 10 North Broadway, in downtown Oklahoma City, from 8:30 am to 1:00 pm. For more information, contact Norma Sapp at 405-321-4619 or email her at Norma.Sapp@ok4ir.org.