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 A state senator for District 45 will be crowned today. The seat which occupies parts of southwest Oklahoma City, Moore and Mustang is void of Democrat nominees and therefore a Republican winner take all.
The two GOPers still running are Kyle Loveless and Steve Russell. While Aug. 26 marks the end of their campaigns with the runoff election, it draws to a bitter conclusion. The candidates have been trading jabs at each other since the primary days, which ended July 29.
Russell won the primary with 41 percent of the vote, while Loveless came in second with 27 percent. Short of the 50-percent-plus-one majority margin, a runoff ensued. It didn’t take long for fingers to start pointing.
Loveless began criticizing Russell over a State Chamber of Commerce questionnaire when Russell refused to answer two questions about illegal immigration and lawsuit reform. Russell said the questions were poorly written and difficult to answer.
Then Loveless made hay of Russell’s recent trip to New Hampshire to help support a Republican Congressional candidate in a primary. Loveless questioned Russell’s commitment to the Senate district when, during the heat of the runoff campaign, Russell flew off to New Hampshire to aid another campaign. Russell said he was only there one day.
The issue caused a small dust-up between the two candidates recently at a Panera Bread restaurant when Loveless and Russell accidentally ran into each other.
There have been more entanglements in the final days of the runoff. Russell, retired from the military, enlisted the help of big name Oklahoma Republicans like Mary Fallin and Tom Cole. It’s an unusual move for party leaders to engage in internal party elections.
Loveless isn’t sitting back and taking it. He mailed out a flyer essentially linking Russell to Democrat Corporation Commissioner Jim Roth by pointing out Russell and Roth have several of the same campaign donors.
Early on runoff morning, the two Senate contenders were out hitting busy intersections, waving to passing motorists in hopes of gaining just a few more votes. Loveless was stationed at the corner of SW 104th and May Ave. with his pregnant wife, Summer, two miles to the west on Santa Fe. Russell positioned himself between the Loveless marriage on Pennsylvania Avenue. Both candidates were more than relieved to be on the final day of the campaign. —Scott Cooper
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Thursday morning I received what appeared to be a normal press release from Oklahoma City Director of Communications Kristy Yager. But after reading the text, a serious question came to mind.
The news from the City was that Mayor Mick Cornett was invited to speak at the Republican National Convention up in Minnesota the week of Sept. 1-4. Cornett is a Republican who has gained national attention through his anti-fat crusade and helping to bring an NBA franchise to Oklahoma City.
The invite seemed logical. The announcement did not.
The press release of Cornett’s speech came through the City’s public-relations office, printed on official Oklahoma City letterhead. City government is supposed to be non-partisan which includes elections for the mayor’s office and city council. Cornett has not hidden the fact that he is a Republican, but partisan politics are to remain on the sidelines when dealing City business.
“I understand your concern,” Yager said in an e-mail to Oklahoma Gazette. “However, we felt the invitation to speak at the Republican National Convention is newsworthy. Anytime a city official is on the national scene it reflects highly on the city.”
However, another well-known Oklahoman has a different policy. Before he became President of the University of Oklahoma, David Boren served 16 years in the U.S. Senate and four years as the state’s governor. While he has spent the past 13 years as OU’s top boss, Boren, a Democrat, has from time to time dabbled in politics. This year, Boren led a bipartisan group calling for the presidential candidates to avoid extreme politics and move toward centrist views. He has also come out in support of Barack Obama.
“Typically, when the President releases a statement that involves his own personal political opinions he issues it through his private press secretary,” said OU press secretary Jay Doyle.
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 The public and press should not be shocked by Rep. Sally Kern calling herself a “cultural warrior.” Kern has made that her calling since the day she was elected to the state Legislature.
News erupted this week when the Norman Transcript ran a story about a speech Kern recently gave calling herself a cultural warrior. The Associated Press picked up on it and the term became headline news across the state.
But Kern has been calling herself a foot soldier in the culture war for years.
In March 2006, Oklahoma Gazette ran a cover story titled “Holy War” which Kern was a major part of. I spent more than an hour in Kern’s state capitol office, listening to her sermon about how America’s moral values are in peril and that God has told her to go out and heal the culturally sick.
“I’m a cultural warrior,” Kern was quoted in Gazette's story. It was under the subhead “Cultural warrior.”
Kern did not stop there.
“Our country is the only country that allows freedom of religion. Why? Because in my opinion, and I think there is evidence to document it, it’s based upon Christianity.”
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After an intense contest for the Republican nomination for the Oklahoma Corporation Commission, state Rep. Rob Johnson endorsed his GOP opponent Dana Murphy. The two battled to the very end on primary night with Murphy inching out a victory, 51 percent to 48 percent. Both candidates poured lots of money into the race, with large chunks going towards television ads in the final week.
Most of the campaigning between Johnson and Murphy stayed relatively calm, but only after a spat at the start. When candidate filing opened at the state Election Board in early June, Johnson contested Murphy’s candidacy because she goofed on her filing signature. On one form she signed Dana Murphy and another form she signed Dana L. Murphy. It was a pretty petty point from Johnson and the election board told him so in rejecting Johnson’s objection to Murphy’s candidacy.
Now the two have made up with Johnson calling Murphy a true watchdog for the interests of Oklahoma consumers. Murphy now takes on current Oklahoma Corporation Commissioner Jim Roth in what should be the best statewide race.
But expect to hear from Johnson again. When his dad, state Sen. Mike Johnson, is term limited out in 2010, there is a good bet the name Johnson will still be on the ballot.
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My morning started at the home of Oklahoma Gazette columnist and University of Oklahoma poly sci prof Keith Gaddie, who wanted to get an early start on primary day. That start was at 4 a.m.
We canvassed the area of south Oklahoma City, Moore and north Norman, checking to see which candidates were serious about winning. Any candidate willing to stand on a street corner and play the upscale version of "will work for vote" was considered a serious candidate.
The area surveyed is where some of the most contested primary races were shaping up. Senate District 45 has five Republican candidates who could be seen waving to motorists. 7-Eleven store corners are very popular. Must be the doughnuts.
As Gaddie and I cruised down the streets in his wife’s SUV, while jamming to Devo’s "Whip It," we spotted Rep. Mike Reynolds. Across the intersection of 104th and Penn was Senate District 45 candidate Steve Russell as the next song on the radio was Blondie’s "Rapture."
We desperately sought illegal immigration grand poobah Rep. Randy Terrill. His troops were out en masse, but Terrill was nowhere to be found. We had a spare breakfast burrito to give him.
Photos by Scott Cooper
State Senate District 45 candidate Kyle Loveless gets an early morning start on greeting traffic at the corner of SW 104 and May. Oklahoma Gazette columnist Keith Gaddie, right, gave a helping hand.
State Senate District 45 candidate Steve Russell waves to potential voters with his two sons at the corner of SW 104 and Penn.
State Senate District 45 candidate Kyle Loveless gives the campaign one last push on primary voting day in Oklahoma.
Rep. Mike Reynolds points out the finer details of attracting voters by standing on street corners to Oklahoma Gazette columnist Keith Gaddie. Reynolds is facing re-election for House District 91.
It was just a bit too early in the morning for this supporter of Rep. Randy Terrill, R-Moore.
Oklahoma Gazette columnist Keith Gaddie celebrates spending a few minutes exercising his right to vote at his polling location in Norman.
Republican House District 45 candidate Aaron Stiles spent his primary voting morning at the corner of Porter and Robinson in Norman.
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It’s very quiet at the state capitol right now.
No legislative session keeping lobbyists and staffers scurrying around.
No gavel banging debates between representatives over important issues like whether the toaster oven or the crock pot should be the state’s official cooking ware.
Even the computer keyboards in the press room have fewer clicks with several reporters taking vacations.
But don’t be fooled. Behind some doors, important work is being done.
This week, the state Senate released their approved request for legislative studies. They may be deemed as fact-finding assignments, but the requests are simply a routine matter for a legislator to push forward a proposal in the next session. They just need a study to back it up.
Senate leaders approved 33 studies, ranging from plastic surgery in ambulances to what makes a judge.
Some of the studies will continue heated dialog which took place during the previous session.
Sen. Jay Paul Gumm, D-Atoka, requested a study on health insurance coverage for autism. This became a hot item towards the end of the last session. Rep. Ron Peterson, R-Broken Arrow, chairman of the House Economic Development & Financial Services Committee, held up a bill mandating insurance companies provide coverage to parents with autistic children. Gumm led a vocal group of parents around the capitol for days trying to convince Peterson to let the bill get through for vote. The bill died but Peterson took a hit. He decided not to run for re-election. Several news stories pointed out Peterson’s campaign fund was heavily stocked with insurance company contributions who opposed the bill.
Sen. Constance Johnson, D-Oklahoma City, will get to study expanding passenger rail transit while fellow Oklahoma City Democrat legislator in the House Rep. Mike Shelton will be studying Oklahoma’s railroad system. The two lawmakers are hammering at better mass transit options in the metro area from both ends of the track.
Sen. Mike Shultz, R-Altus, was given permission to look into termite prevention while Sen. Charles Wyrick, D-Fairland, will be next door studying termiticide. Two studies of termites? That has to be a first. I guess the Republican view is to possibly provide tax credits to termites, while the Democrat take is to stop legislation preventing termites from suing exterminators.
Should be a lively session in 2009.
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The next board meeting of the Oklahoma Ethics Commission should provide an interesting discussion about the future of political campaigns. The commission has four new proposed rules which, if approved, will provide greater insight into:
• how candidates spend their money,
• set caps on how much money can be donated and
• give a little more flexibility for candidates to seek out contributions.
When reading the proposed rules, the one which stuck out for me dealt with campaign expenditure reports. Under the proposal, candidates reporting an expenditure would have to write down who received the expenditure and what the purpose was. This has been a pet peeve of journalists for a long time.
Currently, when a candidate lists a campaign expenditure, about the only requirement was to write down the dollar amount. In the next column on the campaign report, candidates could also list the purpose of the expenditure, but were not required to do so. And even when the purpose was listed, it may have been so vague that the public remained in the dark about how campaigns spend money. A report might list $1,000 as expenditure for the purpose of consulting. But who the consultant was and what the consultant did lingered in mystery.
Under the proposal sponsored by Commissioner John Raley, the days of being vague would be over. Candidates would have to disclose:
• how much money they spent,
• who they spent it on and
• what the money paid for.
Now we can find out:
• just how much is spent on polling data,
• which consultants practically earn a living working campaigns and
• just who is a consultant.
It should be interesting to see if any consultants show up to speak out against the proposal.
If the Commission approves the proposal, it would not go into effect until the end of the 2009 legislative session. Before any commission rule is placed on the books, the Legislature is allowed to examine it and can vote to reject the rule, as can the governor. If no action is taken, the rule automatically goes into effect.
Commissioners will meet at 10 a.m. Friday in the state Capitol. -Scott Cooper
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Although it affects no one currently on death row in Oklahoma, the U.S. Supreme Court's decision banning the execution of child rapists has serious consequences.
For the last decade, the Supreme Court has ruled on several challenges to capital punishment. Some rulings have altered Oklahoma’s execution standards, while others have reaffirmed them. Issues of executing international criminals, executing the mentally incompetent and the method of execution have all been examined by the court. All three outcomes impacted Oklahoma death row inmates.
This week’s decision is based on a case in Louisiana where 43-year-old Patrick Kennedy was sentenced to death for the rape of his 8-year-old stepdaughter. The Supreme Court banned executing criminals for rape in a case involving an adult woman. Besides Louisiana, five states approved laws to execute criminals for raping children; Oklahoma passed its law in 2006.
The Oklahoma measure’s author, Sen. Jay Paul Gumm, said he was "deeply disappointed" in the court’s decision.
The state attorney general’s office said: "Our attorneys are reviewing the court’s ruling to determine what impact it will have on Oklahoma’s law. We will also be comparing the language in our statute to Louisiana’s law, which was the subject of the Supreme Court case.
"There are no inmates currently on death row sentenced under this statute and we are working to determine if any cases are pending. If any district attorney is currently seeking the death penalty based on this statute, we will consult with him or her individually."
In recent years, the Supreme Court has restricted executing people who were under the age of 18 at the time of the murder, or who were deemed mentally incompetent. Those decisions had an immediate effect on Oklahoma's death row, as several inmates fell into those categories. The most recent decision was close, 5-4, but it continues a trend of the nation’s highest court voicing reservations about the death penalty.
Even with a decision from the court earlier this year that approved of lethal injection as a proper means of execution, the method was challenged as unconstitutional - cruel and inhumane. This week’s ruling now takes another class of criminals away from the needle. -Scott Cooper
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Along with local views about the president and some of Oklahoma’s top political leaders reported in today’s Oklahoma Gazette, there are poll numbers out that show state residents are very concerned about the national economy while their own checkbooks are doing fine.
According to results of the most recent SoonerPoll.com survey, about three out of every four respondents put the national economy in a depressing state. At the same time, 63 percent of Oklahomans feel the state economy is in healthy shape.
"It shows that people here know their personal finances are (more) driven by the local economy than the national economy," said Bill Shapard Jr., SoonerPoll.com CEO.
Other economy results of the poll:
-65 percent believe the national economy is getting worse with 4.5 percent thinking it is improving.
-26.5 percent said Oklahoma’s economy is getting worse compared to 12 percent who said the state’s economy is improving.
-78 percent feel their personal finances are in decent shape.
But there was one question that showed some trepidation about the state’s economy. Nearly 47 percent said they are more concerned about their personal economic situation now than they were a year ago.
"They’re cautious because of what they see on the national level," Shapard said. "They see the Oklahoma economy is better. They see their personal finances are driven by the local economy. But they are still taking a wait-and-see approach with their own economic situation, which means our economy could slow down a bit."
Surveyors were more concerned about their home values than a year ago, but were split down the middle on concern for their job situation. -Scott Cooper
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In an effort to avoid litigation, the chairman of the state Ethics Commission has asked the governor to call a special session to boost the commission’s funding. It is probably a move that will not work, but it puts the commission in a good-faith effort to find a solution that does involve lawyers.
This past year, a fire has been lit under the commissioner’s feet where it no longer fears the wrath of the Legislature. Like all state agencies, the commission gets its funding from lawmakers and therefore tries to play nice so the money keeps flowing. Even during rough economic times, which Oklahoma is currently not going through, agency heads continued to kiss the Legislature’s back side in the hopes their funding would not be cut.
But the ethics commission has said “no mo” and is demanding its fair share. The commission’s nerve has tightened up so much that at its last meeting they voted to pursue a lawsuit if their funding request was not met. Their argument is based on not being a typical state agency, but an institution mandated by the state’s constitution.
As the watchdogs of elected state officials, the commissioners take their own oaths seriously and have reached the conclusion that, for whatever reasons, the Oklahoma Legislature will not comply with the quoted requirements established by our Constitution, wrote commission chairman Don Bingman in his letter to the governor.
The commission was created in the early 1990s, not by the Legislature but by a vote of the people. In the wake of historic scandals like the county commissioner kickback scheme of the Eighties and former Gov. David Hall’s indictment for extortion and conspiracy, Oklahomans thought a state watchdog to keep track of money and politicians would be a good idea. The problem is the commission has a staff the size of a hot dog stand with more customers than a grocery store on double coupon day. The amount of money involved in campaigns and lobbying has grown taller than Jack’s bean stalk and the commission has only investigator to chop it down when the political beans grow where they should not.
The governor has sided with the ethics commission in their disputes with the Legislature the past few years. A fight broke out last year when the commission voted to require all candidates to electronically file their quarterly reports to the commission. The Legislature voted to scrap that rule only to have the governor pull out his veto pen. The electronic filing rule is now in effect.
This year, the Legislature approved a $50,000 earmark in the ethics commission funding to purchase new software, a move the commission did not request and did not want. The governor line-item vetoed the earmark leaving the money to spend at the commission’s discretion.
While it is unlikely the governor will go along with the commission’s request to spend tax dollars on a special session, the commission has made a move worthy of a skilled politician make a good faith effort to peacefully resolve a dispute before skewing the other side in court.—Scott Cooper
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Frequent observers of the Oklahoma Legislature probably had a peculiar look on their face when studying the candidates who recently filed for election in House District 41.
I know I certainly did.
At the bottom of a list of five candidates was a name too familiar for me: Mine.
Yes, Scott Cooper has filed as an Independent candidate for the district.
I laughed so hard the autographed frame photo of former Oklahoma City news anchor Jack Bowen fell off editor Rob Collins’ wall (it’s one of his prized possessions).
I don’t know what is funnier, the thought of some legislators who have not been under a favorable light in some of my articles seeing my name on the ballot; or imagining if Mr. Cooper actually won, the reception he would receive his first day in office. It is probably a safe bet Mr. Cooper would not get a good parking space assignment.
Making matters more complicated is the fact that Scott Cooper of Lahoma, the actual candidate, and Scott Cooper of the Gazette are both registered independents. But the riddle was solved when looking at the age difference Cooper of Lahoma is 26 while I am 40 (AND I’M A MAN!).
Of course, every election year, there are candidates whose name matches some ordinary citizen who would just assume dump all politicians in a lake. Capitol reporter Michael McNutt of The Oklahoma chided me about the ballot name. I told him my first thought when seeing my name on the ballot: “Quick, call Lance Cargill. I need some campaign contributions.” —Scott Cooper
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In what might be the most contested of the high-profile elections this year in Oklahoma, campaign reports for all three corporation commissioner candidates were posted. The seat, currently held by Democrat Jim Roth, is up for grabs this year since Roth was appointed to the position nearly a year ago.
Roth is the only Democrat in the race, but two Republicans are vying for the spot.
While knowing how much each candidate raised, I’m more interested in who gave. I like to see which well-known and well-connected Oklahomans decided to write a check for an office seeker.
Roth has some pretty big names in his bank account. Two names that jump out are Barry Switzer and Clay Bennett. Switzer has become a regular to state politics since hanging up his football coaching career. Bennett, the most hated man in Seattle, brings his personal wealth and celebrity status as owner of the SuperSonics basketball team to Roth’s campaign.
Other Roth supporters of note: Tulsa mayor Kathy Taylor, former governor George Nigh and FOX 23 KOKH weatherman Scott Padgett. Roth also has two publishing families in his camp. Journal Record publisher Mary Melon and James Everest, husband to The Oklahoman publisher Christy Gaylord Everest. That’s very interesting.
On the Republican side, state Rep. Rob Johnson of Kingfisher has former governor Henry Bellmon, former Oklahoma City mayor Kirk Humphreys and Love’s Stores CEO Tom Love backing his candidacy.
The other Republican candidate, Dana Murphy, can tout a former Miss America and popular local television news anchor Jane Jayroe as a supporter.
This race might get the most attention come the fall. Very few statewide offices are on the ballot. U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe is up for re-election, but he has won landslide victories in his three previous election battles. -Scott Cooper
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Gov. Brad Henry’s endorsement of presidential candidate Barak Obama is both shocking and important.
First the shock. The endorsement is out of character for the governor. In 2004, Henry stayed away from the bickering candidates who were cris-crossing the state. At the time, Oklahoma was a very competitive state on the Democratic side with several candidates in the mix to win Oklahoma’s delegates. Missouri Congressman Dick Gephardt was familiar with the state and had the backing of the labor unions. Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut was supported by some of the heavy Democratic hitters like Attorney General Drew Edmondson.
It took hours after the voting ended in Oklahoma on that Super Tuesday night in March of 2004 before Gen. Wes Clark eked out a win over North Carolina Sen. John Edwards.
It was one of the best presidential primary elections Oklahoma ever witnessed. It seemed like a candidate was flying into the state on an hourly basis in the weeks leading up to the vote. And Oklahoma was the last state out of dozen to declare a winner that election night which meant the cable news networks were focused on Oklahoma for a few hours.
But through all of that, Henry stayed out of the mix.
He was on track to do the same this year, refusing at first to endorse any candidate before the national party convention in August. When asked about his preference, Henry just stuck to the old faithful line politicians use when none of the candidates appeals to them: “I will support the nominee.”
That changed Wednesday morning. Henry’s out-of-political-body experience is hard to figure out. It goes against the conventional wisdom for Oklahoma politics. Hillary Clinton has strong support in Oklahoma. Her biggest fan, former state Attorney General and political pundit, Mike Turpen, has also been a strong surrogate for Henry.
It goes against the political grain in Oklahoma to endorse Obama. Clinton easily won the state’s primary back in February.
So what caused Henry to shed his usual political savvy intellect and gamble with an early endorsement of the candidate who has now lost three primaries in a row? Only those closest to Henry know. It is interesting to note Henry’s support for Obama comes days after the governor’s political Jedi master David Boren endorsed Obama.
Henry also has three daughters who might have influenced his decision as well. Several Obama backers have said it was their children who talked them into backing Obama.
Whatever the case, Henry’s declaration is huge. With the race between Obama and Clinton as tight as any in American history, every super delegate is precious. The support of a governor in a red state weighs heavy in the primary season. Obama’s weakness has been rural white support. But now, Oklahoma’s two biggest Democrat party names, Henry and Boren, two white men from rural parts of the state who became governors, are supporting a black candidate for president.
This is shocking and important in so many ways. - Scott Cooper
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Oklahoma Gazette Editor Rob Collins didn’t want me to use this phrase in my story coming out on Wednesday about NBA basketball heading to Oklahoma City. But okgazette.com’s editor said I could blog about it so here goes - it was a hell of week.
Think about it. On April 14, nothing had been signed, approved or even voted on concerning the Sonics' move to Oklahoma City. But four days later, three bodies of government and a national board of directors paved the way for the move. No time for gridlock.
The first domino fell on April 15 when the Oklahoma City Council approved a lease agreement between the city and the Sonics for use of the Ford Center. The City agreed to let the Sonics use the Ford Center to play basketball for the next 15 years, while the team agreed to give the city some of its money. A wise idea on the part of the Sonics since taxpayers are handing over $120 million plus letting the team bail out of $60 million in potential payroll taxes.
Twenty-four hours after the City Council’s action, the state Senate barely passed a bill letting the Sonics apply for the Oklahoma Quality Jobs Act. The program provides tax rebates on payroll taxes. The bill was sent over to the state House of Representatives where after more than an hour of heated debate, the bill made it through to the governor who took less than two hours to sign the bill into law.
The following morning, Friday April 18 to be exact, all owners of the NBA’s 30 teams met in New York City and gave the final clearance for the move.
Signed, sealed, delivered. Stevie Wonder couldn’t have sung it better.
It was a hell of week. - Scott Cooper
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For Oklahomans who hate paying taxes, and legislators who love cutting taxes, here is a bit of news: Oklahoma has the lowest tax rate in the country.
To some this may come as a shock, but others have known about this for years. However, just to confirm it as a fact, here is a new analysis done by Microsoft News (MSN).
When state, local and federal taxes are combined, Oklahoma residents have the lowest rate per capita at 27.8 percent. Alabama is next at 28 percent and Alaska third at 28.1 percent. The three highest states were Connecticut with 38.3 percent, New York at 37.1 percent and New Jersey at 35.6 percent.
The next time an Oklahoma resident complains about how much they pay in taxes, dare them to move to another state. -Scott Cooper
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It’s amazing how e-mails can ruin your day. Some friendly e-mail between the owners of the Seattle SuperSonics has not only been the cause for emb | |