Kevin Stitt, the founder and CEO of Gateway Mortgage Group, is officially running to be the next governor of Oklahoma, reports Tulsa World staffer Randy Krehbiel.
Stitt, who is the 12th person overall, and the sixth Republican, to register a candidate committee with the Oklahoma Ethics Commission, runs his business out of Jenks, Okla. Gateway Mortgage Group operates in 40 states and expects to originate more than $6 billion in residential mortgage loans this year.
“This campaign is about growth,” Stitt said. “I built my business; now I want to grow our economy and give teachers the tools they need to make our schools and children successful. Our state’s problems are too large to ignore. I’m running for governor because I believe we need new leadership to turn our state around.
“Over the next year, I am going be traveling the state so I can talk to and learn from Oklahomans from all walks of life,” Stitt said. “I want to hear their thoughts on education and economic development. Oklahomans will see I am the only candidate in this race who has the business experience to make the necessary changes so Oklahoma can be number one.”