Ben Odom Seeks Democratic Party Chair

Ben Odom, Norman attorney, former congressional candidate and now vice chairman of the Oklahoma Democratic Party, is set to announce he will seek to become chairman when the party meets this spring.

Lisa Pryor is now party chair; there's been no word on her plans. She was elected two years ago after making an unsuccessful bid for the State Senate.

Odom, who has emerged as a key spokesman for the party in the past two years, is a longtime party activist and former radio talk show host in Norman.

Odom sought the Democratic nomination for Congress in 2002 and forced Darryl Roberts of Ardmore into a runoff; Odom, however, withdrew from the race and helped Roberts. Roberts was defeated by Congressman Tom Cole. Odom was state director for Florida Senator Bob Graham's 2004 presidential effort and has been active in numerous Democratic campaigns. He's also held numerous party leadership positions.

"The elections last fall proved that it takes more than money and slick ads to win,” said Odom in his official announcement. “You must have people who believe in your message and will work tirelessly for you. We were united around our candidates and we won up and down the ballot.”

Odom plans to campaign extensively to hear what direction Democrats across Oklahoma believe the party should take for victory in 2008.

“This won’t be a ‘top down’ operation,” said Odom. “I want to energize Democrats statewide who feel that they may have been shut out of the process in the past.” Odom continued, “I believe in the power of putting people in charge. Good leaders don’t lecture, they listen. Together, we will develop the battle plan for victory in the next election.”

Odom, a native of McAlester and an attorney in Norman since his graduation from the University of Oklahoma law school which he attended on a Truman scholarship, has the most extensive resume of anyone who has recently sought the Chairmanship, his announcement said. In addition to serving as Vice Chair, he has been a Congressional District Chair and Co-chair, County Chair, Precinct Chair, State President of the Young Democrats and a club President within the Democratic Party. He has served on the State Central Committee in every decade since the 1970’s.Odom has also been a federal and state candidate for public office and was the 1998 Democratic nominee against then Congressman J.C. Watts. In the 2002 Fourth District congressional primary, he received enough votes to win a second place spot in a run-off election with former State Senator Darryl Roberts. Putting the interests of the Democratic Party ahead of his own, he bowed out of the race and endorsed Roberts, the first Democrat to do so in a federal race in more than 50 years.

“My entire career has been one of devotion and loyalty to the Oklahoma Democratic Party,” said Odom. “Whether it was helping Speaker Carl Albert or President Bill Clinton, I have always and will always do what is best for the Party, and the future of our state and country.”

Odom’s political experience in campaigns is extensive; he served as campaign manager for a U.S. Senate race, legal counsel for President Bill Clinton’s campaign and as Vice Chair of Howard Dean’s presidential Oklahoma campaign. For three years he was the host of “The Ben Odom Program”, a political radio talk show and his own Norman television show “Progress” for 7 years.

Odom is a regular guest speaking up for Democrats on many other television and radio programs and is well known in political circles for his debating skills. Noting the effectiveness of the internet, Odom said he is building a website where Democrats can come together and have a “conversation” about the future of the party. He plans to unveil the site in the next week.

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