ABOUT ME
I am honored and flattered that you are taking the time to learn about me. This website has been devoted to me as an organization, that is to say all of the many interests that I pursue on a daily basis. I am dedicated to the idea of making the community better by working for a better way . I stand ready to assist in that goal through employing my talents, and / or donating my time. I'm willing to pursue and assume office; be it legislative, executive, or judicial (regardless of whether it is elected or appointed) in an effort to achieve these goals. In the paragraphs below, I will tell you my story in an effort that you can get to know me and understand how and why I propose to improve our community .
My Core Values
I've been told that I am a throwback to an earlier time. This is probably as a result of being raised by my grandfather as much as anyone else. As such, I have values and beliefs that are more consistent with those who lived their adult lives in the 1940's rather than the 21st century.
I believe in God, and am heavily influenced by my Christian values. I see wisdom in the Bible and try to follow its teachings.
I believe in honesty, hard work, rugged individualism, and the fact a man is bound by his handshake.
I believe in the intrinsic value of family and that people do and should take care of their family members and their neighbors.
I believe in the value of private property and contrary to what some would have you believe, inherited property is as important as property you work for yourself. This is true because oftentimes the a family farm is exactly that, it is an endeavor of the entire family, not a single ancestor.
I believe in small government and that the government is responsible to the people. When I was younger, I remember the news commentator that came on every morning as my mother was driving us to school. While I cannot remember his name, I remember him saying over and over again that the government has three purposes: 1. defend our shores, 2. deliver the mail, and 3. leave me alone. I agree whole-heartedly with his philosophy.
Finally, my guiding light is freedom and liberty. With each thing that I do, I ask myself what makes someone more free or less free . Will this project increase liberty or take it away .
The Early Years
As early as I can remember, I lived in the area of the intersection of State Highway 48 and Highway 64 in rural Pawnee County Oklahoma. My parents had built a house on some land my grandfather had given them. I was raised about a tenth of a mile down the road from my grandmother and grandfather. As soon as my mother returned to work following my birth, my grandparents became my babysitters. From the time I was able to walk, I went with my grandfather to take care of the cattle. I developed a love of hunting, fishing, and the outdoors. My grandfather instilled in me the intrinsic value of working for yourself, or "being your own boss" as he called it. I remember all the times during the summer that I would see him return to the house, covered in sweat and dirt from working in the field, and not complaining one time.
I remember he never had the newest tools or equipment, but he cared for and took pride in what he had. His tractors did not have air conditioners or even canopies to provide shade, but if he could make what he had work, that was good enough. I remember seeing him working with his hands until they bled for no other reason than if the job was going to be done, he was the one who would have to do it. I remember how he loved what he did and the land he worked on his entire life, and how important that land was to him . His spirit of determination played a great role in shaping how I see the world.
Another great influence (not surprisingly) was my mother. She was both the caretaker and the provider of the family. She was up in the morning before anyone else in the house making breakfast for everyone. She saw to it that everyone's needs were met before her own. She managed the household, and made sure there was money for our needs. While we were not wealthy by any stretch of the imagination, I don't remember wanting for anything. I remember going on vacations as far away as Yellowstone and the Grand Canyon. I also remember the joys of hiking the mountains. During my early childhood there were no other children to play with. Therefore, my socialization was limited to my family members and their adult friends.
My School Years
I attended school in Sand Springs Public Schools. From kindergarten to elementary school, I remember having many friends. Because school was an opportunity to interact with other people, I quickly developed a love for it. I excelled in academics and developed a thirst for knowledge, as well as the desire to interact with my classmates.
By the time I made it to junior high, things had changed. While I was known by everybody, I was more infamous than I was famous. I attribute this largely to the fact that my father taught shop and was widely reviled as a disciplinarian. It may have also been that I was a quintessential nerd who wore homemade clothes and possessed a completely different set of values than most junior high school kids. It was during this time, that I learned the true value of friendship. I was grateful for every person who stood by me and remained my friend through junior high and high school. Many of the friends I made during this time I maintain to this day.
It was during junior high that I became familiar with the sport of debate. In junior high, I participated in both value debate and policy debate. However, my natural tendency was towards policy debate. That was a tendency I continued all the way through high school. Participating debate gave me a sport that I was good at, in which I could excel, and which rewarded hard work in the pursuit of excellence. It also introduced me to the concept of giving back and improving what existed for those who would follow. Most debate judges are former competitors. (This is true because former competitors are often the only ones that can understand how the game is played.) Without the former competitors continuing to offer their services as judges, the activity would cease to exist. I continue to offer my services as a judge to this day.
After graduating high school, I attended college ad Oklahoma State University. I remember being quite full of myself when I went to enroll. I walked through the "career day" tables and ultimately inquired as to the highest paying four year degree they had going. Their response was "chemical engineering" to which our responded, "Sign me up." It is amazing how a snap decision can so dramatically affect the rest of your life.
My First Business
It was during college that I encountered an engineer named Paul Archerd, who became a friend and mentor. Paul offered me the opportunity to essentially throw in with him. After a few small jobs, I accepted his invitation. There was no salary that went with this invitation, one of the hazards of starting at the top. I became the director of the entire environmental division of what was then ENCO Engineering, and later became ENCO Environmental Co. While he gave me several opportunities to travel to west Texas and southeast New Mexico on projects relating to gas processing work for Amoco, the primary efforts were focused on business development and developing the environmental wing of the business. This gave me the opportunity to meet with perspective clients, do sales work, product development, production, and ultimately delivery. But when I was finished, the business that I have built was my own. Paul recognized this, and allowed me to incorporate ENCO Environmental Co. as my own company which I continue to operate today. One the most striking things that I remember that resulted in my decision to enter the field of consulting as opposed to the workforce was a total lack of uncertainty on my part as graduation approached. Many of my friends were concerned about their abilities to land a job. Later, when I was doing contract work for Amoco, I noticed many of the employees were constantly enduring the stress of keeping a job. However, I had no such stress. I knew my job was ending from the beginning. I was contract labor. As such, I knew I was there for a set time or a specific project, and when the project was concluded, it was time to move on.
Law Enforcement Career
I was in my late twenties, when an opportunity to serve and give back to the community presented itself. I learned about reserve law enforcement commissions. Under these commissions, one could volunteer to be a cop and do the job of a deputy sheriff without being paid. I reasoned that I was able to give back, and I felt that I had the calling. (In truth, I also have a certain taste for adventure.) I was first commissioned at the age of twenty with the Pawnee County Sheriff's Office and volunteered hundreds of hours to that office before returning to college. After I graduated college and settled into my consulting business, I became a certified reserve peace officer for the Town of Mounds in Creek County. I put in hours and weekends, working tirelessly to patrol the town. My hard work did not go unnoticed, and before long, I was tapped to fill a part time position and was often used as a training officer for new recruits.
In 1999, I returned to the Pawnee County Sheriff's Office as a reserve officer for Sheriff Dwight Woodrell, jr. Ultimately, I pursued and received a fulltime commission as a deputy sheriff with his department. I truly loved the work of a deputy sheriff. During my stay, I led the department in arrests. I derived a great deal of satisfaction from my investigations, which put drug manufacturers, rapists, child abusers, murders, and many others in jail. Ultimately, I became the Eastside supervisor and held the rank of lieutenant.
As a supervisor, it was my job to deal with personnel issues, as well as training. It was then that I learned that I enjoyed training others more than I enjoyed doing the job itself. It was also at this time I came to the realization that at some point I would be too old to chase taillights. I realized that it was again time for a career change. As much as I enjoyed the feeling that I was making the community a better and safer place, I found that I had too many masters and not enough time. While I still assist law enforcement by participating in hiring boards, and occasionally provide training , that is a chapter of my life that has been closed.
The Law Office
After realizing it was time for a change, I began attending law school at the University of Tulsa College of Law. During that time, I participated in several internships, one of which was Pawnee County District Attorney's Office, and a second of which was at the Osage County District Attorney's Office. As a prosecutor, I enjoyed the feeling of wielding the awesome power of the State. However, at one point, I came to the realization that as the representative of the State, my actions were oppressive by nature. I went on to realize that if I established a precedent upon appeal, as a direct result of my victory, people would be less free. That realization weighed heavy on me. Ultimately I left the field of prosecution and went into private practice. In 2007, I opened the Law Offices of John M. Dunn, PLLC. My office is a general practice, which means I take on almost any case that comes through the door. I focus my practice on criminal law, family law, and civil litigation. Additionally, my law office permits me a vehicle that allows me to continue to serve the community by taking up cases that promote the cause of liberty. These causes have ranged form the representation of local volunteer fire departments in an effort to ensure that they are paid for their efforts in rescuing motorists injured in automobile accidents in rural Oklahoma to the defense of non-custodial parents who are victimized by DHS and are often too poor to vindicate their interests to the general erosion of the protections offered by the Fourth Amendment at the hands of our court system.