GUTHRIE — This primary election season is shaping up to be a repeat of what voters had in 2004 in the House District 31 race.
Two years ago, the incumbent, Rep. Dale DePue, a Republican, was forced into a runoff with Republican Jason W. Murphey. DePue won his first term with 53 percent of the vote. Murphey is running again this year, hoping he can pull out a win this time.
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Landscaper Wayne M. Hlinicky also is running again, hoping to shake up the race as well.
The winner of the three Republicans vying for the nomination will face Democrat Thomas R. Cook, an attorney, in November. Cook also ran in 2004, losing to DePue with 25 percent of the vote.
The mostly rural district includes Guthrie and goes into north Edmond, with Interstate 35 running through it. Republicans boast almost 12,500 registered voters in the district, while Democrats have about 8,200.
Eliminating the state income tax would be a priority for Murphey, coupled with reducing the state budget. Illegal immigration also is a topic on the minds of a lot of voters in his district, he said, and more reform at the state level is needed to combat the problem.
Hlinicky stressed the need for improving the district’s roads and bridges, and bringing more jobs to the area. He also would support legislation furthering the development of alternative fuels in Oklahoma and has pledged to not spend any new taxes or fees if elected.
In his first two years in office, DePue said he began work on improving the state’s education system, bringing more economic development to Oklahoma and making government more efficient. He is seeking another term to continue working on those issues, along with reducing taxes and improving the state’s health care system.
If no Republican candidate gets a majority of the vote this month, a runoff will be Aug. 22 with the top two vote-getters.
