Oklahoma City, OK – OKLAHOMA CITY - State Treasurer Scott Meacham today announced he will
not seek another term as State Treasurer following the expiration of his
current term in January of 2011. He also announced that he will not seek
any other elective office.
"There has certainly been a lot of speculation on my future political
plans over the last several months," Meacham said. "I appreciate the
patience shown by the media, my supporters and others as my family has gone
through a difficult time with the passing of my wife's sister from cancer.
"I am completing an eight-year commitment to public service and
elected politics," said Meacham. "Although I very much enjoy public service
and the job of being an elected public official, I find I do not enjoy
partisan politics and the process of continuously running for office. The
toll on my responsibilities to my family and just missing out on so many
moments in my children's lives is too great.
"I have accomplished everything I set out to do in the Treasurer's
office thanks to a great and dedicated staff that has worked hard to
implement my vision for the office since my first taking the post in June
of 2005. We have dramatically increased earnings on the state's
investments, cut costs for state financial services, reduced staffing
levels and overhead in the Treasurer's Office, greatly increased payouts
from the state's unclaimed property fund and substantially expanded the
number of families taking advantage of the Oklahoma College Savings Plan.
"I appreciate the many Oklahomans from both political parties who
have encouraged me to look at the Governor's race or the Attorney General's
race. Although it would be a great honor to serve the citizens of this
state in either of those positions, I do not feel that is the best path for
me or my family at this time.
"I have not yet even considered what I might do next in my career,
although I certainly have accumulated an interesting resume as a banker,
attorney, state agency head and elected statewide office holder," said
Meacham. "I believe the Lord leads us according to His will through doors
opening and closing along life's path and while the elected office holder
door is closing, I am sure some other door will open."
Meacham was named by Governor Brad Henry to serve as Oklahoma's 17th
State Treasurer and began serving in that position on June 1, 2005, serving
out the remaining unexpired term of Robert Butkin. Prior to being named
State Treasurer, Meacham had been the State Finance Director since January
of 2003. Before answering Governor Henry's call to serve as State Finance
Director, Meacham was the Chief Executive Officer and General Counsel of
the First National Bank and Trust of Elk City, Oklahoma. Meacham was
elected to a full, four-year term as State Treasurer in 2006, garnering 59
percent of the vote in his first run for public office.