By Richard Engle

Oklahoma has never seen a campaign for Republican National Committeeman like the current one. In the last two months my campaign has been to 50 of the state's 77 counties. Several of the counties have had multiple visits. We have a large team of volunteers, high caliber endorsements with substantive content, the best and most campaign materials for this office in state history.

Why?

Folks frequently ask me, "Why?" Why am I running? Why am I running so hard? Why is this office (which most people don't know exists) so important? Why would anyone spend so much for a job that pays nothing and creates an obligation to spend even more? They have told me I could run for Senate or other office.

Each of us has a place in life that is right for them, a calling. Simply stated, this is mine. I believe that serving the Oklahoma Republican Party as National Committeeman is an important part of God's plan for my life.

As I write this article I am in Arizona at the Republican National Committee meeting carrying the proxy for James Dunn. Unlike what I found in the late 1990's -- 2000 the makeup of the RNC has changed. Many stalwarts are still there like my friend Morton Blackwell of Leadership Institute fame. Also, many people I worked with in my years as President of the National Federation of Republican Assemblies and during my involvement with the annual CPAC convention are now members.

At the RNC the RINO has definitely left the building. While a majority of the RNC is clearly conservative (as that word is defined by most Americans) the premise of government limited to the constitution is not yet the majority ideology. While they all claim allegiance to the document, big "good" government is still an accepted premise. I do have some work ahead for me.

Another positive trend is the sincere intent to empower the grassroots of the party to the demise of old institutional powers. At the Rules Committee meeting we pushed through grassroots oriented changes to the party rules. As an example, any state that violates the rule regarding timing and apportionment of national Delegates will have their Delegations apportioned for them in addition to the other penalties for rules violations. They will be apportioned based on that state's primary or caucus vote for a Presidential candidate to a 10% threshold. This is even stronger than the 15% put in place in Oklahoma. As I was known by several of the members, I was immediately pulled into the working group that put this together.

These changes and others will have to be accepted by the National Convention to go into effect, but they do reflect positive reforms on the part of the RNC.

These changes are merely the tip of the iceberg so far as I am concerned.

As your Republican National Committeeman, I will have a four year voice on the Republican Party's governing body to advocate for constitutionalism, sanctity of life, our God given rights and an opportunity to oppose all unconstitutional spending.

I will also be placed on the Oklahoma Republican Central Committee. This would give our views an additional consistent voice. I relish the opportunity to push the Oklahoma Republican Party further toward a clear line of distinction from the Democrats, while working with party leaders around the state to build the organization on principle and away from elitist and social oriented activities. A political party is about politics, and politics must be about the proper role of government.

In addition, I want to use this forum as an opportunity to make some clear cut promises as I endeavor to serve all Oklahoma Republicans as your National Committeeman.

I will not endorse in open primaries. I won't automatically endorse incumbents and have no expectation to endorse any of them. Those endorsements made to date will be honored, but no more going forward. I reserve the right to be involved in party races, but I will be very careful.

I will support the Oklahoma Republican Platform. If there is something in the platform as passed by the state convention that I don't agree with then I will be silent. While the platform is under consideration you can count on me to be an advocate for the same principles you have come to know me for.

No RNC member will outwork me in support for our party. I love to go out and work for candidates across our state. I am never hesitant in fundraising. I will support our nominees, although I am sure that will come in varying degrees of enthusiasm.

I will continue to train newcomers to our party. They need to understand how the GOP works so they can effectively work in the GOP.

I will work to clarify and simplify our state party rules. New folks into our party need to be able to trust that we will operate according to our rules more than by traditions not specified in the rules. e are the party of the rule of law.

Everything I do will be to empower the grassroots, elect conservative Republicans, and build our party on the solid foundation of the constitution.

As an automatic or "Super Delegate" to the 2016 convention I will encourage the state convention to pass a resolution of instruction and I pledge to be bound to such resolution when it comes to voting for President at this future convention. This will give the grassroots Republicans at the state convention a direct role in how at least one Delegate to the National Convention will vote. I would prefer to empower you over accepting that power myself.

As stated in the preamble of the national Republican Party rules, "We are the party of liberty." Let us make that statement ever more true.