NC Oklahoma News

A U.S. Army veteran  has taken exception to Gov. Kevin Stitt's description of gubernatorial candidate and Operation Iraqi Freedom veteran Joel Kintsel  as a 'career bureaucrat.'

Kintsel, the executive director of the Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs, announced in April he would challenge Stitt for his seat in the Governor's mansion. According to The Norman Transcript, Stitt dismissed Kintsel as a 'career bureaucrat.'

U.S. Army veteran and business owner Jason Junkens came to Kintsel's defense

"I have had a few interactions with LTC Kintsel over the past few years," Junkens said. "First, as a cohort member of the Veteran's Entrepreneurship Program at Oklahoma State University, I had the pleasure of sharing the evening's conversation with him and his wife at my table during the final banquet.  It is my understanding he has been a big supporter of that program as it was apparent from our evening's interactions."

"[Kintsel's] service representatives are top-notch in assisting veterans with claims and they have personally assisted me with my claims," Junkens continued. "They are seen as knowledgeable and skilled from veterans and claims representatives working for the VA."

"From my interactions with LTC Kintsel, they have always been positive and have put veterans first," Junkens said. "I look forward to his run for governor."

Junkens is an emergency management professional with, and owner of Titan Preparedness, LLC

Kintsel served as a lieutenant colonel in the Oklahoma Air National Guard and had previously served as the OK House parliamentarian for 14 years. 

According to his campaign website, Kintsel is a combat veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom, serving as a judge advocate for the Joint Area Support Group – Central in Baghdad, Iraq in 2008.  Kintsel served in the Oklahoma Army National Guard for nine years during the Iraq and Afghanistan wars before joining the Oklahoma Air National Guard. Kintsel is a lieutenant colonel and is the staff judge advocate for the 137 Special Operations Wing of the Oklahoma Air National Guard.