subscribesubscriber servicescontact usabout ussite map
Sun, Sep 07 2008 

Published July 18, 2008 09:50 pm - For the first time in a long time, two of the three seats on the Oklahoma Corporation Commission are up for election. And two candidates in a primary battle are willing to give up their current jobs or positions to gain a seat.

Two seats up for grabs on Oklahoma commission



By Joe Hadsall

jhadsall@joplinglobe.com

For the first time in a long time, two of the three seats on the Oklahoma Corporation Commission are up for election. And two candidates in a primary battle are willing to give up their current jobs or positions to gain a seat.

Republicans Rob Johnson and Dana Murphy will square off in the July 29 primary election for a short-term corporation commissioner. The winner of that race will face Democrat incumbent Jim Roth, of Oklahoma City.

Roth holds the seat vacated by Denise Bode, who resigned in June 2007. Roth was appointed by Gov. Brad Henry to fill her term until 2009; the seat’s term expires in 2011.

Democrat Charles Gray and Republican incumbent Jeff Cloud, both of Oklahoma City, will race for the full-term seat in the November general election. Commissioners serve six-year terms.

“I can’t remember the last time this has happened,” said Matt Skinner, spokesman for the commission.

The commission regulates public service corporations whose services are considered essential to public welfare. It monitors utility companies, oil and gas conservation, pipelines, and some transportation matters.

Johnson, 34, is a state representative and majority whip for District 59. He is a lawyer in private practice from Kingfisher and part-owner of a car dealership in Kingfisher.

He has a bachelor of science degree in political science from Oklahoma State University and a law degree from Oklahoma University. He has represented District 59 in the House for four years.

If elected, Johnson said he would work with the Legislature to develop a long-range plan for energy-producing resources and to develop alternative sources of energy. The plan was something he tried to accomplish as a legislator, he said.

“We have the potential to be a much larger energy exporter,” Johnson said. “I think Oklahoma has the potential to be a power-producing leader in the country. But we need a plan, and we don’t have that now.”

Johnson cites his experience in the state as why he should be elected.

“It’s important to have someone who is a proactive thinker, who can look out for the entire state,” Johnson said. “We need to move forward and make energy more affordable.”

Murphy, 48, is a lawyer who specializes in oil and gas titling, transactional and regulatory work. The Edmond resident was an administrative law judge for the commission from 1995 to 2001, when she left to start her private practice.



print this story    email this story    comment on this story   

Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.


Add a comment on this story





monster
wheels
Premier Guide
Find a business

Walking Fingers
Maps, Menus, Store hours, Coupons, and more...
Premier Guide
Get Our Free Pod Cast!

32 buy 1 get 1 free offers


Find a job! Find a Home! Find a car!
Featured Jobs

SMALL LOCAL
trucking company needs 5 drivers to run Midwest region ASAP! Good miles, home weekends. 918-806-2312, (417)499-7648....>MORE

CLOUDS MEATS/MEAT CUTTER
CLOUDS MEAT’S Inc. is looking for a meat cutter, must have carcass and meat boning experience also retail/cold storage ...>MORE

GALENA CHILD CENTER
Galena Child Center now hiring part time help. (620)783-2349...>MORE

CHAIRSIDE DENTAL ASSISTANT
needed for pleasant small town practice. Full time with benefits available after trial period. Dental experience or assi...>MORE

DEL RIO
accepting management applications for immediate openings.
Great pay and benefits. Apply in person at any location.
...>MORE

FULL-TIME PRODUCTION
Clerical/office and Inspection Openings. (40+ hours per week). SHIFT WORK REQUIRED. Previous manufacturing or industrial...>MORE

FULL TIME DIRECTOR
Experienced teachers needed for day care. Experience in lesson planning. Small environment. Director must have CDA educa...>MORE

DIESEL TRUCK MECHANIC
DIESEL TRUCK mechanic, for general service, brakes, minor repairs, must have own tools, competitive pay. Joplin area. Mo...>MORE

PRIVATE TUTOR
needed for 12 year old boy. Work in our home. 35 hours per week. 417-291-5419....>MORE

SECRETARY/RECEPTIONIST
SECRETARY/RECEPTIONIST, Full-time position with benefits at Lafayette House in Neosho. Applicant must have excellent co...>MORE

See all ads

Featured Transportation

CHEVROLET 1998 LUMINA
CHEVROLET, 1998 Lumina, 62,000 miles, loaded, $3900. 417-434-0344....>MORE

YAMAHA 2006 R6
YAMAHA 2006 R6, blue, new tires, matching helmet, jacket. $6900. (417)439-5309....>MORE

CHEVROLET 1998 BLAZER
CHEVROLET, 1998 Blazer, 4x4, air, leather, 174,000 miles, $2800. (417)325-5191....>MORE

1994 FORD EXPLORER
2 wheel, Safari guard, $1900/offer. (417)434-2329...>MORE

BUICK 1998 RIVIERA
59,000 miles, $3550, full power, sunroof. (417)437-4424...>MORE

PONTIAC 1999 GRAND AM
PONTIAC, 1999 Grand AM, great gas mileage/ mpg, $2,000 or best offer. 918-666-4603, 918-533-5343....>MORE

BMW 2006 330i
BMW, 2006 330i, black/tan, premium and sport packages, 38,000 miles, good gas mileage, $27,500. (417)434-0509....>MORE

CHEVROLET 2005 TRAILBLAZER
4x4, 1 owner, loaded, CD, 4.2L V6, 24 mpg, new tires, like new, sacrifice $7900. 540-3838....>MORE

NISSAN 2005 FRONTIER
NISSAN, 2005 FRONTIER CREW CAB, 65,000 miles, with bed extender, 4x4, single owner, good condition, $15,000 or best off...>MORE

FORD 2002 TAURUS
49,000 actual miles, super nice, loaded with options, must see to appreciate, $4800. 417-623-2011....>MORE

See all ads

Featured Homes

OPEN SUNDAY 9/7
OPEN Sunday 9/7 1:30-4:30 pm Completely REMODELED 512 Porter $64,900 Zero down to qualified buyers. 623-8166....>MORE

COMPLETELY REMODELED HOUSE
332 S. Ball, Webb City, accessible to Joplin and near 171 Highway. 1450 sq. ft. with 3 br, 2 ba, new appliances, central...>MORE

TABLE ROCK LAKE
cabin, clean and neat. 4 Br, with appliances, covered boat slip with enclosed heated fishing dock. Good location on pave...>MORE

JOPLIN/WEBB CITY HOMES
2-4 BR’s, Joplin/Webb City, good locations, financing, $400-$650. 624-3931....>MORE

IRON GATES
IRON GATES, 5+ building lots west of 23rd and Iron Gates Road. Selling as package. $27,500. 417-483-7883....>MORE

INVESTMENT PROPERTY
1, 2, and 3 Bedroom houses, also vacant lots, all in Baxter Springs, KS. (620)856-3565....>MORE

BEAUTIFUL, 8 YEAR OLD HOME
Beautiful 2035 sq. ft home, approximately 8 years old on corner lot in great neighborhood. 3-4 BR, bonus room, 2 full BA...>MORE

3 BR, 2 BA 324 N. HARLEM
3 BR, 2 BA, 2 living rooms, very nice brick house, $78,900. Open Sunday 2-4. 324 N. Harlem, (417)499-6729...>MORE

28X56 3 BR, 2 BA CARPET
28x56, 3 br, 2 ba, new carpet, all appliances, solid wood cabinets, $35,900. 417-869-5144....>MORE

28X80 1999 5 BR 3 BA
28X80 1999 5 br, 3 ba, fireplace, needs new sheet rock and some work, $28,900 CASH. 417-869-5144....>MORE

See all ads

Other Cool Stuff

MINIATURE SCHNAUZERS
Miniature Schnauzers, AKC, 3 females, $325, 2 males, $275. (417)684-5469...>MORE

FREE TO GOOD HOME/LAB
Free to good home full blooded chocolate Lab, 3 years old, full of energy, very family friendly. Please call (417)214-52...>MORE

PUPPIES AND POT BELLY PIGS
Puppies AND POT BELLY PIGS Chihuahua, Shorkie, Muggin, Morkie, Beagle, and other mixes. Plus Potbelly Pigs. Saturday and...>MORE

REFURBISHED REFRIGERATOR
Refurbished refrigerator. Runs well Do not need anymore $100 or best offer. Call (417)300-1397 for information....>MORE

2 SPACES AVAILABLE
900 square feet each, contact Jerry Black. (417)434-3990....>MORE

CLOSED FLEA MARKET BOOTH
Closed flea market booth, lots of miniature toys, old marbles, wire lid glass jars, book and miscellaneous $150 for all....>MORE

OLD ENGLISH PINE
Old English Pine Kitchen Cupboard $2500, Side Matching Armoire $1500 or best offers. See at Connie’s Antiques, N. Range...>MORE

COCKATOO BIRD
Cockatoo bird, talks, does tricks, $500 with cage; additional large cage, $25; (417)626-7408...>MORE

BERMUDA
square bales, $5; round bales, $40; mixed round bales, $30. 499-3940....>MORE

MINIATURE SCHNAUZER
Miniature Schnauzer puppy! AKC ,Salt and pepper female! Up to date on vaccinations and dewormings, tail docked, dew claw...>MORE

See all ads


 

Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc.CNHI Classified Advertising NetworkCNHI News Service
Associated Press content © 2008. All rights reserved. AP content may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Our site is powered by Zope and our Internet Yellow Pages site is powered by PremierGuide.
Some parts of our site may require you to download the Flash Player Plugin.
View our Privacy Policy
Advertiser index

 

 

Find A Home Find A Car