Wright: Let’s give rural Oklahoma a real say in who represents us

When I helped start the Oklahoma Rural Schools Coalition, it came from a simple conviction: strong schools are the backbone of strong communities . Investing in education is how we keep rural Oklahoma alive and thriving for the next generation.

But for years, I’ve watched too many of our leaders focus on everything except the issues that determine whether kids can read, graduate, and succeed. In the early days, it was outside groups pushing agendas that didn’t fit rural life. Now, the problem has shifted closer to home. Our politicians are more concerned about pleasing a narrow band of voters than serving the families who actually live here.

In communities like mine, people care deeply about values and culture, but we also care about results. Parents can debate whether certain