Patty Miller The Edmond Sun The Edmond Sun Wed Nov 03, 2010, 03:03 AM CDT   November 2, 2010

EDMOND — Incumbent Republican District 3 County Commissioner Raymond L. Vaughn Jr. of Edmond won re-election Tuesday with 60,839 or 72.19 percent of the votes cast.

His Democrat challenger Thomas Parkhurst, also of Edmond, had 23,434 votes or 27.81 percent, according to the Oklahoma County Election Board.

“I am elated, obviously,” Vaughn said. “I love this job. I really value the work that the county does, and I look forward to returning for another four years. Oklahoma County is the best place to live and Oklahoma is the greatest state to live in. Now is our time to shine and we are going to do it.

“We have great new leadership from the top of the state coming down, and I think it is a grand time to be here.”

In 2006, Oklahoma County voters elected Vaughn to serve a four-year term as county commissioner for District 3, which covers most of northern Oklahoma County including Edmond, Arcadia, Luther, The Village, Nichols Hills, Warr Acres, Bethany and Oklahoma City. When he took office on Jan. 2, 2007, his colleagues elected him as vice-chairman of the Board of County Commissioners.

In his first month in office, Vaughn fulfilled a campaign promise in leading the way to re-establish the Budget Board in Oklahoma County, effective June 30, 2007.  

Vaughn re-established and served as chairman for the Jail Funding Task Force, a committee of community leaders working to address issues facing the Oklahoma County jail.

“We have got to resolve the issues with our county jail,” Vaughn said Tuesday night after hearing of his re-election. “That is going to be a larger project. I think we can handle the large projects and I hope the voters will trust us. We have got to act responsibly and do our part.”

Vaughn led the way to dissolve the establishment of the Office of Budget and Management, saving taxpayers an estimated $250,000 annually, and he also assisted in establishing the Budget Evaluation Team, which aids the budget process by making preliminary preparations before consideration of the budget by elected officials, and helped establish an IT Committee to analyze Oklahoma County’s high-tech needs.

Commissioner Vaughn and his wife Suzanne have been married for 41 years and have three grown children and eight grandchildren.

KEVIN JACOBS WILL WORK FOR COMMISSIONER RAY VAUGHN

BY RICK BUCHANAN NewsOK.com Contributor 
    EDMOND — Former Oklahoma Christian University President Kevin Jacobs has been hired as second deputy to District 3 Oklahoma County Commissioner Ray Vaughn of Edmond.

    Jacobs, 50, of Edmond, succeeds Randy Grau, who was elected to the Oklahoma House of Representatives.

    “It is an honor to have someone as capable and as professional as Kevin Jacobs as part of my District 3 staff,” Vaughn said. “Kevin served 16 years working for Oklahoma Christian University, including serving as the school’s president for several years. He also has served as an attorney since 1985. Having someone on our staff with his impeccable professional credentials, contacts and capabilities is a tribute to Kevin’s commitment to serving others.”

    “We’ll certainly miss Randy and his distinguished service to the citizens of Oklahoma County, but we know he’ll continue to proudly serve Edmond, as well as our entire state, as the District 81 state representative. I couldn’t be more proud of Randy and his commitment to public service.”

    Jacobs graduated from Shawnee High School in 1978 and from Oklahoma Christian College, now Oklahoma Christian University, in 1982 with a bachelor’s degree in accounting. He graduated from Vanderbilt University School of Law in 1985. He has maintained a private law practice focusing on business planning, real estate and estate planning. He also has served as president of Crosswinds Development Group and The Banta Cos.

    Jacobs lives in Edmond and is married with four children.

Former Oklahoma Christian University President Kevin Jacobs was named second deputy for District 3 Oklahoma County Commissioner Ray Vaughn.

PHOTO PROVIDED BY RICK BUCHANAN

KEVIN JACOBS WILL WORK FOR COMMISSIONER RAY VAUGHN

BY RICK BUCHANAN NewsOK.com Contributor 
    EDMOND — Former Oklahoma Christian University President Kevin Jacobs has been hired as second deputy to District 3 Oklahoma County Commissioner Ray Vaughn of Edmond.

    Jacobs, 50, of Edmond, succeeds Randy Grau, who was elected to the Oklahoma House of Representatives.

    “It is an honor to have someone as capable and as professional as Kevin Jacobs as part of my District 3 staff,” Vaughn said. “Kevin served 16 years working for Oklahoma Christian University, including serving as the school’s president for several years. He also has served as an attorney since 1985. Having someone on our staff with his impeccable professional credentials, contacts and capabilities is a tribute to Kevin’s commitment to serving others.”

    “We’ll certainly miss Randy and his distinguished service to the citizens of Oklahoma County, but we know he’ll continue to proudly serve Edmond, as well as our entire state, as the District 81 state representative. I couldn’t be more proud of Randy and his commitment to public service.”

    Jacobs graduated from Shawnee High School in 1978 and from Oklahoma Christian College, now Oklahoma Christian University, in 1982 with a bachelor’s degree in accounting. He graduated from Vanderbilt University School of Law in 1985. He has maintained a private law practice focusing on business planning, real estate and estate planning. He also has served as president of Crosswinds Development Group and The Banta Cos.

    Jacobs lives in Edmond and is married with four children.

Former Oklahoma Christian University President Kevin Jacobs was named second deputy for District 3 Oklahoma County Commissioner Ray Vaughn.

PHOTO PROVIDED BY RICK BUCHANAN

November 29, 2010

Oklahoma County Turns to Gravel for Road Repairs Due to Budget Cuts

Posted: Aug 19, 2010 9:38 PM CDT

News9.com

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Due to budget cuts, Oklahoma County crews are tearing up the pavement and going back to gravel.

Oklahoma County Commissioners said they don't have enough money to repair some asphalt roads when heavy traffic and weather take their toll, and they are now turning to gravel as an alternative.

Workers will come in grind up the asphalt into gravel-sized pieces and then lower the speed limit to 25. Grinding up the asphalt is the first step to replacing paved roads.

"It's not that we're doing something that won't be utilized later on. We will ultimately come in when the opportunity is right when we have the budget, when the wear and tear on the road is lessened and we'll restore the asphalt," said Oklahoma County Commissioner Ray Vaughn.

The budget crunch has forced many others counties to tear up the pavement and also lay down gravel.

Greater Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce visit the Oklahoma County Jail - January 2010