OPEA

OPEA members took time from the business and fun of convention to honor legislators that helped the association at the Capitol during the 2011 legislative session. This year OPEA honored four Legislators of the Year, a special award for legislation benefiting state employees, and several honorable mention. Rep. Eric Proctor was honored as a 2011 Legislator of the Year.

Rep. Proctor of Tulsa. Rep. Proctor was elected to District 77 in 2006. Not only is Rep. Proctor an advocate for state employees at the Capitol, he is a member of OPEA and actively participates with the Tulsa chapters. He attends meetings in offices to hear the concerns of state employees and has been present at several Tulsa Emerging Leaders functions. He is constantly consulting with OPEA at the Capitol about concerns he sees in legislation. Rep. Proctor was one of the first to bring concerns about legislation that would privatize the AAU division of DHS to OPEA’s attention. He works across the aisle to forward the interests of state employees and was instrumental in stopping the attacks on the benefit allowance in the House.

“Thank you OPEA for this honor,” said Proctor. “It is very humbling because I know you guys are the workers who are in the trenches every day. You guys are putting in the work and the sweat and the tears and our state doesn’t work without you. We are grateful for everything you do.”

Rep. Proctor continued by quoting Ecclesiastes 4:12,“Though one may be overpowered,
two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.”

“That is what OPEA is, standing together becoming that chord of three that is not easily broken,” he concluded.