Representative takes Oklahoma House post

BY MICHAEL MCNUTT Comments 0
Published: October 22, 2009

Republicans now have their highest total in the House of Representatives.

With his family by his side, Rep. Todd Russ is sworn in at the state Capitol. From left are his children Lacey Russ, Ryan Russ and Lauren Paige and his wife, Khristy Russ. Photos By John Clanton, The Oklahoman

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Todd Russ, a Republican elected in a special election last week to serve in House District 55, took his oath of office Wednesday in the House chamber.

Republicans now outnumber Democrats in the House, 62-39.

"During the campaign I promised to work to diversify and promote western Oklahoma’s agricultural base, strengthen our schools, create more jobs, protect our rural hospitals and uphold our traditional conservative values,” said Russ, of Cordell. "I will work hard every day to keep those commitments.”

Russ is the first Republican to represent House District 55, where Democrats outnumber Republicans by a 2-1 margin.

The vacancy in the House district seat that covers Washita County and parts of Caddo, Canadian and Kiowa counties was caused when Ryan McMullen resigned in the summer to take a federal agricultural post.

Today, House membership is at 101. The number of House seats changed from session to session when seats were assigned by county before the current district plan was adopted more than 40 years ago.

Republicans have a way to go to catch the all-time high for Democrats in the House. According to "A Century to Remember,” a history of the Oklahoma House of Representatives, Democrats had 114 members in the 1937-38 and 1941-42 sessions.