SD7: Lerblance Faces Sherrill Challenge
It would be among the most unlikely of upsets, a Republican defeating an incumbent Democrat legislator in an area so heavily Democrat in registration it's been said that every Republican could meet in the Sonic drive-in lobby and not worry about an elbow in the ribs.
But in McAlester's Senate District 7, Republican Kenny Sherrill (right) has the attention of Democrats, including his opponent, incumbent Democrat Senator Richard Lerblance (left), despite the 5-to-1 Democrat-Republican voter registration.
Republicans claim Lerblance is a so-so campaigner and has a voting record that makes him vulnerable. Democrats say don't believe the GOP hype; they say Lerblance is rock solid for reelection. Lerblance has demonstrated the power of incumbency in campaign fundraising; he's topped $145,000 and as of his mid-August finance report, had $80,000 still on hand. Most of his individual donations came from trial lawyers. Sherrill, meanwhile, reported having raised $66,000, including a $25,000 personal loan, with $50,000 on hand.
Republicans say Democrats are so concerned about the race they've placed a party staffer in the area to help Lerblance and they note that Jeremy Hendricks, well-known Democrat campaign consultant known for his tie to Democratic Congressman Dan Boren, is spending more and more time on Lerblance's campaign.
Some Republicans believe Boren has "loaned" Hendricks to the Lerblance campaign, but Boren himself says that's not true: "It is true that Jeremy is working for Richard Lerblance. He is a paid staffer for the Lerblance campaign as well as ours. He has done this in the past. Last cycle, I believe, he had sixteen different candidates, so we did not loan him. We operate as two separate campaigns."
Republicans don't claim this seat is one they must win to take control of the State Senate, but they do believe it demonstrates that the battle for control is a real one, and that Democrats feel the need to defend a seat that should be solidly safe for them.
Lerblance, an attorney seeking a second four-year term in the Senate, served in the state House beginning in 2003. He then won a special election to serve the final year of a term when longtime Senator Gene Stipe resigned in disgrace.
In 2004, Lerblance defeated Sherrill, then a Democrat, to win the seat. Lerblance beat Sherrill by 604 votes, and Sherrill's campaign then consisted mostly of putting out signs, insiders say.
Sherrill, 66, a rancher in Pittsburg County, owned and operated the McAlester Union Stockyard from 1974 until 1996 when he sold it to his children.
Sherrill said that since statehood, there's rarely been a general election race for the seat because no Republicans or independents filed for the office. He said he changed his registration so everyone in the district who is registered will get an opportunity to vote.
Sherrill said there's a clear difference between him and his opponent: "I'm very conservative. He is extremely liberal."
Lerblance argues he should be re-elected because he has represented the district well.
He has said that illegal drugs are the No. 1 issue that has to be addressed.
Sherrill said he believes the district needs a senator to represent the values of the district: "I have been a workin' man all my life. I am not a lawyer. I know what it's like to borrow money."
But in McAlester's Senate District 7, Republican Kenny Sherrill (right) has the attention of Democrats, including his opponent, incumbent Democrat Senator Richard Lerblance (left), despite the 5-to-1 Democrat-Republican voter registration.
Republicans claim Lerblance is a so-so campaigner and has a voting record that makes him vulnerable. Democrats say don't believe the GOP hype; they say Lerblance is rock solid for reelection. Lerblance has demonstrated the power of incumbency in campaign fundraising; he's topped $145,000 and as of his mid-August finance report, had $80,000 still on hand. Most of his individual donations came from trial lawyers. Sherrill, meanwhile, reported having raised $66,000, including a $25,000 personal loan, with $50,000 on hand.
Republicans say Democrats are so concerned about the race they've placed a party staffer in the area to help Lerblance and they note that Jeremy Hendricks, well-known Democrat campaign consultant known for his tie to Democratic Congressman Dan Boren, is spending more and more time on Lerblance's campaign.
Some Republicans believe Boren has "loaned" Hendricks to the Lerblance campaign, but Boren himself says that's not true: "It is true that Jeremy is working for Richard Lerblance. He is a paid staffer for the Lerblance campaign as well as ours. He has done this in the past. Last cycle, I believe, he had sixteen different candidates, so we did not loan him. We operate as two separate campaigns."
Republicans don't claim this seat is one they must win to take control of the State Senate, but they do believe it demonstrates that the battle for control is a real one, and that Democrats feel the need to defend a seat that should be solidly safe for them.
Lerblance, an attorney seeking a second four-year term in the Senate, served in the state House beginning in 2003. He then won a special election to serve the final year of a term when longtime Senator Gene Stipe resigned in disgrace.
In 2004, Lerblance defeated Sherrill, then a Democrat, to win the seat. Lerblance beat Sherrill by 604 votes, and Sherrill's campaign then consisted mostly of putting out signs, insiders say.
Sherrill, 66, a rancher in Pittsburg County, owned and operated the McAlester Union Stockyard from 1974 until 1996 when he sold it to his children.
Sherrill said that since statehood, there's rarely been a general election race for the seat because no Republicans or independents filed for the office. He said he changed his registration so everyone in the district who is registered will get an opportunity to vote.
Sherrill said there's a clear difference between him and his opponent: "I'm very conservative. He is extremely liberal."
Lerblance argues he should be re-elected because he has represented the district well.
He has said that illegal drugs are the No. 1 issue that has to be addressed.
Sherrill said he believes the district needs a senator to represent the values of the district: "I have been a workin' man all my life. I am not a lawyer. I know what it's like to borrow money."
Labels: Dan Boren, Jeremy Hendricks, Kenny Sherrill, Richard Lerblance
posted by Mike McCarville @ 10:44 AM
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