Dana Murphy upsets Jim Roth in Oklahoma Corporation Commissioner race

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BY JACK MONEY
Published: November 4, 2008

Republican Dana Murphy upset Corporation Commissioner Jim Roth Tuesday in a race to fill the remaining two years of former Commissioner Denise Bode's term.

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Despite being significantly outdone in fundraising, Murphy emerged victorious in a race that started as a campaign on affordable energy and experience but turned into one questioning character and ethics.

“I feel incredibly grateful to the voters of Oklahoma for selecting me, based on my qualifications and experience,” Murphy said. “I wanted to give Oklahomans somebody to vote for, not to vote against.”

During the campaign, Roth went after Murphy, accusing her of ethical lapses, while Murphy accused Roth of pandering to special interests as a county commissioner.

Late Tuesday, Murphy led Roth by more than 60,000 votes with about 99 percent of the state's precincts reporting. Precincts still out were mostly rural, and not expected to generate enough movement to change the race's outcome.

Roth was appointed by Gov. Brad Henry to fill Bode's seat until Tuesday's election.

“We always knew it was going to be a tight race,” Roth said. “We worked very hard.”


 

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The Plainsman, Oklahoma wrote: "Larry, you are wrong about Roth. Just because he had the oil industry support doesn't mean he was owned by it. That OGE Coal plant was and remains a bad idea. I feel confident you don't know anything relevant about energy."

What are you talking about? I didn't mention anything about where his donations came from, my post had nothing to do with the energy issues. My post was about the basic, fundamental promise he made to his constituents that he violated.
Larry, Oklahoma City - Nov 5, 2008 at 3:33 pm
Oklahoma is and always will be home to closet racist and people who have homophobia. Point is she forged documents and never got called on it. He's not the best candidate either. He lost. She won. Move on. If she skrews the pooch on her job then reprocusions will come. Only time will tell.
Cristina, Edmond - Nov 5, 2008 at 3:25 pm
Bonnie, I believe the bible says something about stealing and lying as well. Both of which Dana Murphy admitted to in her divorce proceedings. And, it also says there is no difference in sins, all are just as bad. So, get off your pulpit until you are ready to accept what the Lord said "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind and spirit and your neighbor as yourself."
Deann, Crescent - Nov 5, 2008 at 1:24 pm
You vote your morality. It is so sad that America showed their morality in the national election. Shows how far this country has slipped. It looks like God gave us what we deserve.
Larry, Walters - Nov 5, 2008 at 1:22 pm
Obviously the immoral lifestyle of Jim Roth is what made the difference in the voting. If you don't know what I am talking about, just read the bible. The subject is quite clear in there.
Benjamin, Oklahoma City - Nov 5, 2008 at 1:04 pm
Jim Roth actually bucked the trend and got more votes than many other Democrats so I don't think you can blame his loss on prejudice. There might have been a few votes due to prejudice, but in reality I think a lot of people who might have normally voted Republican rejected Murphy and voted for him instead.
John, Oklahoma City - Nov 5, 2008 at 12:17 pm
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I know Roth, don't care that he is Gay. The right person won. Jim is not the man he portrays.
Jeff, Mustang - Nov 5, 2008 at 11:05 am
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I guess all of that out-of-state money and smear tactics couldn't help Brad Henry's pitiful appointee. Go count some more paper clips loser.
Buzz Lightyear, OKC - Nov 5, 2008 at 10:16 am
The candidates BOTH accepted money from corporations that it should be unethical for them to receive. I did not for *for* Murphy so much as I voted *against* Aubrey McClendon, knowing that Murphy also accepts money and favors unethical sources. It was merely time to vote in a new gang of crooks.
Kevin, Oklahoma City - Nov 5, 2008 at 9:33 am
Believe it, Edwin and Deann.
Gary, Oklahoma City - Nov 5, 2008 at 9:26 am
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R -prejudice is alive and well in Oklahoma because we voted for McCain and 'outed' Roth? No, common sense is alive and well. I'm proud to be an Oklahoman this morning with both the state senate and house now being in Republican hands along with our returning a Republican U. S. Senator in Jim Inhofe and four of our five congress people being Republicans. McCain carried every county in the state as did Inhofe. I am proud that Oklahoma is becoming known as one of the most conservative states in the nation.
Gary, Oklahoma City - Nov 5, 2008 at 9:17 am
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edwin, prague said it best. I cannot believe people voted for an admitted forger.
Deann, Crescent - Nov 5, 2008 at 9:16 am
"cream rises to the top, Larry..." AND as the old saying goes $%^&'s float to the top too Kent :)
Ron, Oklahoma City - Nov 5, 2008 at 8:25 am
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The better, smarter, more ethical public servant was not elected last night.
edwin, prague - Nov 5, 2008 at 8:18 am
I'm just glad to see prejudice is alive and well in Oklahoma. It's why we overwhelmingly voted for McCain and why Roth was not elected.
R - Nov 5, 2008 at 8:03 am
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Dana is in OG&E's pocket you nimwits. Duh! We know why the better person in this race lost. Larry, you are wrong about Roth. Just because he had the oil industry support doesn't mean he was owned by it. That OGE Coal plant was and remains a bad idea. I feel confident you don't know anything relevant about energy.
The Plainsman, Oklahoma - Nov 5, 2008 at 7:52 am
cream rises to the top, Larry................
kent, oklahoma city - Nov 5, 2008 at 6:58 am
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No surprise here....the person in the pockets of special interest groups was sent a clear and concise message by the people of this state. Why does an out of state gay rights group try to get a corporation commissioner elected in Oklahoma? Are they going to purchase our energy? Great job Oklahoma.
Justin, Moore - Nov 5, 2008 at 5:58 am
Agreed, Danny.
Molly, Oklahoma City - Nov 5, 2008 at 5:49 am
Danny, post an address so that tissues can be sent.
Bobby, Edmond - Nov 5, 2008 at 5:39 am
the better person lost this race. sucks.
Danny, Oklahoma City - Nov 5, 2008 at 5:22 am
To be honest, I almost left this race blank on my ballot.

I had voted for Mr. Roth as County Commissioner to replace his corrupt predessor. Mr. Roth did an admirable job as County Commissioner and earned my re-election vote.

Shortly after being re-elected as County Commissioner, Mr. Roth decided to break the most basic of promises ANY elected official makes when running for office: the promise to serve for the entire term of the office they have been elected.

Mr. Roth lost my vote when he decided to turn his back on his constituents and accept the Governor's appointment to the Corporation Commission. While it is indeed an honor to have the Governor appoint you, if he was a man of character and ethics, he would have respectfully told the Governor:

"While honored, I have to respectfully decline. I already have a job serving the people of Oklahoma County. By re-electing me to office, they have placed their trust and faith in me and I will not violate that trust."

Unfortunately, Mr. Roth accepted the appointment, violated that trust and is now out of a job.

While Mr. Roth didn't start the chain of events (Corporation Comm. Denise Bode when she violated that same trust, and resigned for a private sector job). He should have paid (out of his own pocket, no campaign funds) the cost of the special election to replace his County Commissioner seat. In turn, Willa Johnson (who after winning re-election to the OKC City Council, violated the trust when she ran for the vacated County Commissioner seat) she too should have had to pay for the special election to replace her as well. After serving on the Council for how many years(?) she claimed she thought someone could just be appointed (tonight's election now allows that to happen); she didn't know her constituents would go without representation and that a special election will have to be called.

The problem with these elected officials isn't if they will be good in the job or not, but if they will stay in the job and do the job as promised. Or will they be there just until something better comes along? Mr. Roth and Ms. Johnson have indicated it will be the later.

And yes, this applies on the national level. Once Senator's Clinton, Obama, McCain, Biden and Gov. Palin announced they were running for a different office, they should have made abject apologies to their constituents and resigned from their current office. Now that the election is over, Sens. Clinton, McCain and Gov Palin are all still employed (at the taxpayer expense of course).

ALL elected officials have made a term defined contract with the voters and it needs to be honored.
Larry, Oklahoma City - Nov 5, 2008 at 3:53 am
Absolutely insane.
Ryan, Norman - Nov 5, 2008 at 1:58 am
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