SD 18: Easley Faces Wofford Challenge

Senate District 18 in Mayes, Tulsa and Wagoner counties should be safely Democrat. The voter registration is lopsided (21,452 Democrats, 14,721 Republicans, 3,778 Independents) and the seat historically has been in Democrat hands. The current occupant, Mary Easley, succeeded her son, Kevin Easley, when he resigned to become head of the Grand River Dam Authority in 2004. Yet Republicans have this race on their list of half a dozen Senate races where they believe their candidates can win and thus, give them control of the Senate for the first time in history.

Republican optimism is rooted in their nominee, Wagoner lumber company owner Mark Wofford, 42, and in what they say is the 70-year-old Easley's lackluster campaign. Democrats may share the concern about Easley's campaign; recently, Governor Brad Henry was rushed into the district to headline an Easley fundraiser on short notice. The reaction may have been prompted, in part, by the surprising victory of Republican Mike Schulz in a special election earlier this year over the widow of Democrat Robert Kerr in southwestern Oklahoma; Schulz defeated Robbie Kerr to make it a Republican seat. Republicans say the younger Schulz simply outworked the older Kerr and presented a much more energetic appearance.

Campaign finance reports filed in early August show Easley with a commanding lead in donations. She listed $71,800 in donations and $37,580 in expenditures, including $3,100 to consultants. Her largest donors are political action committees, including OKIE PAC, which gave her $5,000.

Wofford's August report shows he'd raised only $13,695 and spent $10,409. His largest donor is Senator Mike Johnson, Kingfisher Republican, who gave him $2,000. Others include a Wagoner optometrist, Dawn Teel, and Tulsa realtor Joe Robson, $1,000. Wofford's supporters say his fundraising has picked up as word about the perceived closeness of the race has spread. Wofford ran for the House District 12 seat two years ago and lost by just 239 votes to Democrat Wade Rousselot.

Easley served in the State House from 1996 to 2004 after 27 years as a public school teacher. She is talking about education and her opposition to abortion, plus tax cuts for middle and working class citizens. Wofford is talking about immigration, education (his wife was a school teacher for 15 years), affordable health care, workers compensation system reform and traditional family values.

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