For Immediate Release
Dec. 27, 2005
Contact: Jason McCarty
Oklahoma Democratic Party
405.427.3366

Kiesel Reflects Democratic Values
Under Severe Circumstances

As grassfires wreaked havoc on his district, Oklahoma Democratic State Representative Ryan Kiesel spent the day and evening of December 27 covering his House District 28 ensuring families were secure. The day was especially meaningful for Kiesel, as he and wife Allison were also celebrating their second wedding anniversary. A burger at McDonalds at the end of a long and tumultuous day seemed pale to the plans they had, but duty and commitment to the constituents called.

As Kiesel moved swiftly to aid first responders and make assistance available to those in need, a thought crossed his mind.

"It is such a rarity as a state legislator when you can do this much with your own hands to help the people that you represent. Usually a call or letter of support is the best we can do, but this was a real opportunity to personally make a difference," he said. "My wife knew that even though it was our anniversary, the needs of the people must come first. It was the right the thing to do, and really it's just that simple."

Kiesel spent that day his setting up Red Cross cots for displaced families, coordinating where to house the local emergency response operations and manning the radio inside the local fire station as all available hands were literally in the field.

Kiesel's leadership helped Oklahoma families when they needed it most. Now, Kiesel wants to make sure first responders get the proper funding and resources they need to battle rural emergencies like the statewide grassfires that have done burned almost 400,000 acres, destroyed more than 220 homes and businesses and killed two people. Kiesel, along with Governor Brad Henry, pushed the Bush Administration for a federal disaster declaration, which was issued this week and will allow individuals in 12 Oklahoma Counties, including Kiesel's district, comprised of Seminole County and parts of Okfuskee, Pottawatomie, and Lincoln Counties.

Ninety percent of the firefighters fighting the rural grassfires in the state are volunteers - putting their personal safety on the line to defend Oklahoma's resources. However, Kiesel said proper lack of funding and tools are hampering their effectiveness.

"We must properly fund these real heroes, as they are the ones putting their safety on the line to defend our resources," Kiesel said. "Maybe we can't prevent disasters like these, but we can be better prepared to respond and take action in the time of emergency."

Lisa Pryor, State Democratic Party Chair, praised Kiesel for his leadership in a difficult and demanding situation.

"We have dynamic young leaders in the Democratic Party who are defending the values of our state and the morals of the families that live here," Pryor said. "Representative Kiesel is prime example of the kind of values we, as a party, represent. Democrats care about responsibility and accountability. Defending people and establishing a true sense of community where we have an obligation to our own families first, and we also have a moral responsibility to the family next door and to the family across town, and to the family across the state."

Kiesel and his wife will always have a special and meaningful memory that just happened to coincide with their wedding anniversary.

"On Dec. 27 we will always have this to remember. It looked like a bomb had gone off around Seminole, smoke was everywhere, and I had a responsibility to the people there," Kiesel said.

McDonald's never tasted so sweet. It will mean more to them through the years. More than anything else they could have possibly done.