OJ Oleka
OJ Oleka (Republican Party) ran for election for Kentucky State Treasurer. He lost in the Republican primary on May 16, 2023.
Oleka completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2023. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
OJ Oleka was born in Kentucky. Oleka earned a B.S. in marketing from the University of Louisville in 2010, an M.B.A. from Bellarmine University in 2016, and a Ph.D. from Bellarmine University in 2020. Oleka's career experience includes founding Oleka Management Consulting, Inc. He served on the board of directors of Greater Louisville Inc. and the Kentucky Nonprofit Network, and as the president of the Association of Independent Kentucky Colleges & Universities (AIKCU).[1][2]
Elections
2023
See also: Kentucky Treasurer election, 2023
General election
General election for Kentucky State Treasurer
Mark Metcalf defeated Michael Bowman and Robert Lee Perry in the general election for Kentucky State Treasurer on November 7, 2023.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Mark Metcalf (R)  | 57.2 | 735,522 |
 | Michael Bowman (D) | 42.8 | 549,461 | |
 | Robert Lee Perry (No Party Affiliation) (Write-in) | 0.0 | 155 | |
| Total votes: 1,285,138 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Democratic primary election
The Democratic primary election was canceled. Michael Bowman advanced from the Democratic primary for Kentucky State Treasurer.
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Kentucky State Treasurer
Mark Metcalf defeated Andrew Cooperrider and OJ Oleka in the Republican primary for Kentucky State Treasurer on May 16, 2023.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Mark Metcalf | 51.2 | 135,451 |
 | Andrew Cooperrider | 29.3 | 77,373 | |
 | OJ Oleka | 19.5 | 51,570 | |
| Total votes: 264,394 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Campaign themes
2023
Video for Ballotpedia
| Video submitted to Ballotpedia Released December 1, 2022 |
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
OJ Oleka completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2023. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Oleka's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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That’s why OJ has dedicated his life to serving his home state and preserving America as a beacon of hope and opportunity. He is part of a new generation of Kentucky leaders who will chart a new course for our Commonwealth in the 21st century. That starts with new leadership in Frankfort.
When Governor Beshear’s COVID mandates threatened Kentucky kids' education, OJ fought back, keeping classrooms open for 57,000 students and helping save 10,000 good jobs. OJ served as Deputy Treasurer to Republican Treasurer Allison Ball, where he protected millions of tax dollars from fraud, defended private property, and won national recognition for budget transparency.
OJ graduated from the University of Louisville with a degree in Marketing, and from Bellarmine University with an MBA and PhD. OJ is married to Jamie Oleka. Together, they have two daughters. OJ and Jamie are deeply committed to their faith, and serve as leaders at Multiply Church in Frankfort.- OJ’s parents immigrated from Nigeria with nothing. They achieved the American Dream. OJ wants to preserve that opportunity for all Kentuckians.
- As the former Deputy Treasurer for Republican Allison Ball, OJ is the experienced conservative candidate who can do the job on Day One.
- OJ is a new generation Republican leader in Frankfort who can expand the Republican coalition for the foreseeable future.
I look up to my dad because he was deeply committed to his faith in our Lord and savior Jesus Christ, and was the ultimate example of what a good man and great father looks like. He was also the embodiment of the American Dream. I want to be a great husband and father like that to my kids, and provide opportunities for every Kentucky family to have a shot at the American Dream, just like my family did.
Republican State Treasurer Allison Ball
State Senator Damon Thayer
State Senator David Givens
State Senator Julie Raque Adams
State Senator Whitney Westerfield
State Senator Donald Douglas
State Senator Danny Carroll
State Senator Stephen Meredith
State Representative Ken Fleming
State Representative Nancy Tate
State Representative Phillip Pratt
State Representative DJ Johnson
State Representative Dan Fister
State Representative Walker Thomas
State Representative Kim Moser
State Representative Stephanie Ann Dietz
State Representative Samara Heavrin
State Representative Michael Meredith
State Representative Robert Duvall
State Representative Kevin Jackson
State Representative Bobby McCool
State Representative Jacob Justice
State Representative Mary Beth Imes
State Representative Richard White
Former State Representative Steve Sheldon
Former State Representative Jerry T. Miller
Former State Representative Jim DuPlessis
County Judge/Executive Jerry Summers
County Judge/Executive Adam O'Nan
County Judge/Executive Brad Schneider
County Judge/Executive Kenny Imes
County Judge/Executive Joe Pat Covington
County Judge/Executive Gary Moore
County Judge/Executive Steve Pendery
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
Campaign website
Oleka's campaign website stated the following:
| “ |
My Priorities Stop Fraud & Abuse I'll relentlessly protect Kentucky tax dollars from waste, fraud, and abuse.
Fight Woke Attacks on our Pro-Life, Pro-Gun Beliefs.
I'll continue building on my record of opening the state budget to the people.
As young people transition into adulthood, I'll work to prepare them for success.[3] |
” |
| —OJ Oleka's campaign website (2023)[4] | ||
See also
2023 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ LinkedIn, "OJ Oleka," accessed February 25, 2023
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on March 16, 2023
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ OJ Oleka for Kentucky State Treasurer, “Home,” accessed February 25, 2023
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