Advisers selected to sift 100 Ideas for legislation

By Jennifer Mock

Published: February 10, 2007

House Speaker Lance Cargill's 100 Ideas Initiative announced its advisory board Friday, which will be responsible for gleaning the list of ideas down to the best over the next year.

The project is meant to serve as a springboard for Oklahomans to become more involved in government and have input into future legislation.

The Initiative also announced Friday a partnership with Oklahoma Community Institute, an organization in Edmond focused on improving community planning.

Thad Balkman, a former House member and executive director of the initiative, said the institute will help promote and run some of the idea-raisers in cities and towns across Oklahoma.

The institute will not be providing funding, Balkman said. Funding for the project is still unknown, as private donations made to the initiative have not been made public.

The advisory board includes:

•Carols Bermudez, Newalla, owner of Sonshine Services.

•Kirk Humphreys, former Oklahoma City mayor and real estate developer.

•Jonathan Small, Edmond, certified public accountant.

•Daniel W. Pullin, associate vice president and executive director for the University of Oklahoma's Center of Economic Wealth.

•Xavier Neira, vice president of special projects at Rooney Holdings, Inc.

•Christopher B. Howard, associate vice president of the University of Oklahoma's Honors College; veteran of the War on Terror; Rhodes Scholar and founder of the Impact Young Lives Foundation.

•Stuart Ericson, Muskogee, former lawmaker and now an attorney.

•Jason Ramsey, policy analyst for the OSU/A&M Board of Regents.

•Melissa McLawhorn-Houston, Norman, licensed attorney and chief of staff for the Office of Homeland Security.

•Tom Langdon, Edmond, vice president of Stephens Inc., an investment banking firm.

•Devon Shannon, Lawton, stay-at-home mother and wife of state Rep. T.W. Shannon.

•Tom Cooper, Tulsa, chairman and chief executive of the Warren Professional Building Corporation.

Along with Cargill, former Oklahoma governors George Nigh, David Boren and Frank Keating are serving as co-chairmen of the 100 Ideas Initiative.

For more information about 100 Ideas, visit www.100ideasok.org.