Published: July 29, 2008
Modified: July 30, 2008 at 10:42 am
Republican Dana Murphy won a narrow victory Tuesday over opponent Rob Johnson, a state representative, in a contest to decide who will face Corporation Commissioner Jim Roth in November.
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Murphy, 48, received 68,741 votes (51 percent), while Johnson, 34, got 65,937 votes (49 percent).
“I really feel incredible,” Murphy said, adding that getting the support of Oklahomans in the primary was humbling.
Murphy will face Roth, who was appointed to the seat by Gov. Brad Henry in 2007 after Denise Bode resigned. The winner of the November race will serve out the remainder of Bode's term — a period of two years.
As for her upcoming race against Roth, Murphy said: “I think the primary is a great illustration that having the most money, having the most powerful people supporting you, doesn't necessarily translate into a win. I think you have to go out among the people and earn it.”
Earlier, she had talked about going door to door during the past week to let people know who she was.
At Johnson's watch party, meanwhile, the candidate waited to appear. Johnson's father, Sen. Mike Johnson, said his son was looking for a trend to develop in the election before coming to the party.
“The whole time, we just felt it was going to be extremely close,” Mike Johnson said.
Murphy ran her primary campaign on the issues of:
Improving the use of technology at the state agency.
Developing the state's energy policy.
Diversifying Oklahoma's energy portfolio to make electrical power more affordable and dependable for the state's residents.
Making better use of Oklahoma's people.
Johnson ran his primary campaign on the issues of:
Protecting economic development.
Using a conservative, common-sense approach in making decisions about cases before the commission.
Developing a long-term energy policy for the state.
Streamlining the Corporation Commission to save taxpayers money.
Providing balanced representation to give rural residents a voice at the commission along with urban Oklahomans.
Contributing: Staff Writer Randy Ellis
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People don't care that Roth isn't a progressive, because they feel progressive voting for him for reasons we all know. However, recall he made robo calls for the corporate welfare basketball stadium swindle...voted to give a huge gift to COX cable, and is doing special favors for his honorary chair Aubrey McClendon. Wake up people...Dana knows the job and can do it free from the bondage of corporate welfare punks.
I agree - Go Jim Roth. Go and just keep going and going and going until you get to California or Massachusetts. Jim cares about what?
All the big wheel Republicans that came out in support of Rob Johnson didn't seem to help him that much. These politicians speak and believe we accept everything they say as law, but it is obvious who has the best qualifications for Corporation Commissioner. Dana has the qualifications. We don't want Dana to go; we want her to stay and win.
We already have corporate mouthpieces on the Corporation Commission which sets rates for consumers. We need someone to be the mouthpiece for consumers. That person is Roth.
I as a Republican also know Jim Roth personally and I can tell you that he is the epitome of a fine public servant. Jim care deeply about our great state and it's people and he will do an excellent job as an elected Corporation Commissioner. I have nothing against Dana Murphy, it is just that I know what I am getting with Roth.
I think Jim Roth has done an excellent job in both positions. I too know Jim Roth personally and have to agree with WIO below. He's nice, respectable, and most importantly, honest.
Common "C" Roth is a smart man. Fess up, you wouldn't vote for him because he is gay. Big damn deal! He has his life out there for everyone to see and still does a great job. Vote for a man/woman who does a great job and stop voting on "promises" of "Good Christian, conservative, moral values"! Thats a load of crap. They will be in the news soon for being drunk, with a prostitute or stealing money from me and you!
I know Jim Roth personally, and I think he's one of the most refreshing politicians I've ever met. He really takes his role as a public servant very seriously. How would you react if the Governor asked you to fill that position? That's a tough decision for anyone to make, and I don't think it's fair to hold that against him.
woman in okc, Oklahoma City - Jul 30, 2008 at 9:37 am
Yes, Andrew, I did remember Johnson's silly signature complaint yesterday when I voted for Murphy. And I also hated all the negative phone calls. I voted for Caudill for the same reason - way too much negativity from Inman. As for Roth, I wouldn't vote for him because he deserted Oklahoma County just when he was starting to accomplish something. What happens after the Corporation Commission? A gay US senator? How about a gay governor for Oklahoma???
Denise Bode (who left the position), the Gov and Roth should have to pay for the cost of this election. Roth should have to pay for the cost of the special election that was required to fill the County Comm. seat and Willa Johnson (who won the seat) should have had to pay for the special election on the City Council when they had to replace her. Not saying any of them can't do the job but can any of them be trusted to stay there for the full term they were elected? Obviously not.
I voted for Roth twice as County Commissioner but was extremely disappointed when he accepted the Gov appointment to the Corp Commission. Not that I don't think he couldn't do a good job there, just that he made a promise to the voters when he ran for re-election to the County Commissioner position. Then just a year later abandoned the job he was elected to do.
Remember how Johnson tried to prevent Murphy from running by complaining about her signature? He was a total jerk and hid behind his daddy. Notice he didn't even show up at the watch party, at least according to the story. Lame.
I never got quite what Johnson was on about. The man ran on a pro-life platform which has exactly WHAT to do with his being qualified for Corporation Commission???? It's time to get behind Roth now. Go Jim!!!!
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All the big wheel Republicans that came out in support of Rob Johnson didn't seem to help him that much. These politicians speak and believe we accept everything they say as law, but it is obvious who has the best qualifications for Corporation Commissioner. Dana has the qualifications. We don't want Dana to go; we want her to stay and win.