Denise Brewer

Biography

Denise Brewer is a parent, national award-winning journalist and community volunteer. She is running for re-election to continue to represent District 71 because she knows that our greatest asset is our people and it is time for their interests to be advocated for at the capitol.

Denise’s family roots go back over 100 years in Oklahoma. While she is Oklahoman through and through, she was raised all over the world in tow of her father’s decorated service in the Air Force. Through her travels, she has seen first-hand that education and hard work are the cornerstones of a strong society. Once her family settled back in Norman, Oklahoma Denise focused on her childhood dream of being a journalist.

Denise worked her way through college, graduating from the University of Oklahoma earning her bachelor’s degree in Journalism. Upon graduation, she followed in the footsteps of her hero, Walter Cronkite and became a television journalist. Over the course of her award-winning career, she has worked as a broadcast journalist for a number of television affiliates in Tulsa as well as NPR.

Denise believes that Tulsa is on the verge of great things if our state government would only get out of the way. While she loves this state, she knows that our vibrant community has been handicapped by policies enacted by the leadership at the state capitol. We must fix our legislature before Tulsa can truly become a destination for businesses and travelers alike.

In covering stories all over Tulsa, Denise has seen the true potential of our citizens. Tulsa is brimming with entrepreneurial spirit, culture, and hospitality. She believes that we must put our assets front and center and deliver for the working families in our community. In order to do that, we must invest in our healthcare system, our kids, their teachers and the schools that educate our workforce.

When not at the Capitol, Denise lives and works in Tulsa. She is the proud parent of three great kids, Patrick, Riley, and Aidan.

Survey Issues

What do you want your Muslim constituents to know about you?

I honor and respect your faith & traditions! I also enjoy speaking at and attending events. In the legislature, I fight hard for the freedom of all religions.

Platform Issues

Public Education

Public education is in a crisis as we see with the budget cuts, layoffs, and shortened school weeks statewide. These are not a result of lazy teachers, fiscal mismanagement by our school districts, or salaries of school administration. These cuts are a direct result of the fiscal mismanagement and lack of economic foresight by the elected officials at the state Capitol. We need a change! Denise will fight vigorously to turn back the attacks made in the form of bills that support the privatization and deregulation of public education, and to ensure the education of our children is a priority every year.

Health Care

Denise will fight policies which would result in driving up rates for others and likely leading to the closure of health care facilities vital across Oklahoma. Denise will adamantly oppose any proposal that does not protect Oklahomans from rising healthcare costs, higher premiums, and out-of-pocket expenses while ensuring those with preexisting conditions cannot be denied coverage or charged more. Denise believes: Oklahoma must pursue policies that expand Medicaid coverage in our state. Health care is a right, not a privilege limited to the wealthy and those with jobs that provide coverage. Coverage must meet basic standards that protect individuals. Nobody should have to sell their house because a family member has cancer. A “cheap” plan that won’t cover preventative care, serious illness, pharmaceutical coverage, mental health, maternity care, birth control or other care for women is a sham. So is a policy that nobody can afford. No woman should be denied coverage of services based on the religious beliefs of her employer. We must ensure that quality healthcare is available not only in our cities but in rural areas as well. Oklahoma’s rural hospitals have been struggling for years, largely due to inadequate reimbursements, low volume, and high operating costs. Hospitals across Oklahoma are shuttering their doors and providers are closing their practices. We need robust funding for healthcare in Oklahoma if our hospitals are going to survive.

State Budget

Oklahoma is currently dealing with a nearly $900 million budget shortfall this year. This shortfall has caused disastrous cuts to vital state-funded programs such as DHS, hospitals and nursing homes, and public education. Although this is partially caused by lower prices in the oil and gas energy sectors, the majority of this economic crisis can be traced back to a lack of foresight and outright ignorance by our elected leaders of the problem. These problems will not be fixed by one party, and Denise is willing to work together with both parties to find a long-term and equitable solution to our budget issues.

Criminal Justice

The idea that somebody could go to jail for possession of drug paraphernalia is ridiculous. We need to spend tax dollars on reformation, not retention. Denise will also make it a priority to get private business out of our prisons.

Executive Leadership

There is an indispensable need for the appointment of executive leaders who are up to the task of caring for the hardworking people of Oklahoma. The time is now where we need leaders who stop catering to the needs of the rich but care for all Oklahomans. Denise believes we need executive leadership and a governor who is aware of what it takes to run state government in a correct manner.