Hofmeister campaigns in Bartlesville as gubernatorial candidate. What did she have to say?

As the appetizers arrived at the table at the front of Frank & Lola’s, Joy Hofmeister was busy.

Situated in the corner of two walls with large windows, Hofmeister greeted the restaurant’s co-owner, Katie Gilbert. As the drinks and appetizers arrived at the table of eight, she turned to introduce herself to the couple sitting in the booth behind her.

Then, the gubernatorial candidate addressed her table. During the hour-lunch in a Bartlesville hot-spot, the group leaned forward, engaged with what the Oklahoma superintendent for public instruction, and governor-hopeful, had to say.

The Wednesday lunch was among several local stops for Hofmeister, who spent the morning in Weeze’s Cafe and The Eatery — inviting the public to speak with her about their "concerns and hopes,” her campaign said — and the afternoon in a fundraising event at the Johnstone-Sare Building.

Hofmeister, who changed her registration from Republican to Democrat in October 2021 — the same time she announced her bid for governor — is campaigning with an emphasis on education. After lunch on Wednesday, she said many who met with her that morning expressed concern about the teacher shortage and having their kids prepared for the future.

“I believe it’s important we get back to Oklahoma values of common sense and respect for one another, working together and getting things done. To have a strong state, we have to have a strong education system, safe and healthy communities and a robust economy,” Hofmeister said. “It all has to work together to make that happen. Right now we have shortages in education, our children are bearing the cost of that.”

Bartlesville resident Liza Williams met Hofmeister at The Eatery to discuss her concerns about topics that are generating nationwide buzz — guns and abortion rights.

Hofmeister said both topics were brought up to her several times throughout the day. Following the elementary school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, many people expressed concern, both for that community and their own.

“Like a lot of Oklahomans, the people I’ve been meeting here in Bartlesville are broken-hearted and deeply concerned,” Hofmeister said. “I am a gun owner and I am proud of Oklahoma’s long history of responsible gun ownership. I’m also convinced there is a way forward with responsible gun ownership and keeping our communities and our children safe.”

She said meeting with citizens on the campaign trail and listening is a key part of learning what that way forward is.

Related: Hofmeister shown virtual program during Kane Elementary visit

With the recent leaked Supreme Court draft opinion and Gov. Kevin Stitt’s signing of a strict anti-abortion bill, Hofmeister said while she is a Southern Baptist who is anti-abortion , she believes Stitt’s actions are “extreme.”

“I haven’t walked in every woman’s shoes. I don’t favor extremism on either side of this issue. This is a health care decision between a woman and her doctor and it needs to stay that way,” she said.

Williams said while Democratic candidates do not traditionally gain much support in Washington County, she believes Hofmeister is uniquely positioned to reform the state.

Hofmeister is looking for long-term solutions, which Williams said she likes.

“What she’s doing is future building, and that’s exactly what we need in a candidate,” Williams said. “Her background of being a non-partisan advocate for schools and having such a strong connection with educators, I believe she is well-positioned for the role of governor. So much depends on education, everything stems from there.”

This article originally appeared on Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise: Oklahoma governor's race: Hofmeister campaigns in Bartlesville