Oklahoma's Top Five Political Stories Of 2008
From a historic change in legislative power to the disgrace and subsequent downfall of two top elected officials, 2008 brought controversy and change to Oklahoma's political landscape.
An Analysis By Mike McCarville
Measuring the impact of the changes is subjective; there's no magnetic north to point to the most important political events of the year. However, with input from numerous consultants and observers, here's one list of the year's Top Five Political Stories:
1. Republican Control Of The State Senate ~ The Republican Party's march to parity with perpetually-dominant Democrats in the Legislature peaked in November, when voters elected enough additional Republicans to turn control of the Senate to the GOP for the first time. GOP leader Glenn Coffee, who shared president pro tem duties in 2008 with Democrat Mike Morgan given the even numbers in the Senate, became the pro tem and immediately made it clear he's in charge. With the House already in GOP hands, padded by four additional pickups in November, the 2009 legislative agenda now is in their almost-complete control and that's sure to engender controversy and an agenda different than any proposed by Democrats in the past.
2. House Speaker Lance Cargill's Resignation ~ Harrah Representative Lance Cargill went from one of the state's golden boys to relative obscurity in record time. Caught in the glare of repeated reports about unpaid personal and business taxes and an Ethics Commission probe into the handling of donations, Cargill resigned as speaker in an unexpected move that elevated Tulsan Chris Benge to the speaker's post. Cargill, a popular GOP speaker when he took that seat, was viewed by many as on the fast track to higher elective office before melting in the hot glare of his personal shortcomings. He did not file for reelection to the House.
3. Auditor & Inspector Jeff McMahan's Conviction ~ Federal prosecutors nailed McMahan and his wife on multiple corruption charges as part of the lengthy, wide-ranging probe into the nefarious affairs of former Senator Gene Stipe and his former business partner, Steve Phipps. Their convictions proved that McMahan's two-time opponent, Republican Gary Jones, was on target with his allegations about McMahan beginning in their first race in 2002.
4. John McCain's 77 County Win ~ The Republican presidential nominee carried every Oklahoma county against Barack Obama as Obama defeated McCain nationally. McCain's walk-away Oklahoma win is viewed by many as a rejection of liberal Obama more than an embrace of McCain, although there's continuing speculation on that point. Some believe race played a role in McCain's huge win, but there's been little evidence to substantiate that belief.
5. Jim Roth's Defeat By Dana Murphy ~ Democratic Corporation Commissioner Jim Roth, appointed by Governor Brad Henry when Republican Denise Bode resigned, had all the money he needed and seemed headed to election. But Republican Dana Murphy edged the incumbent, returning the commission to all-Republican status. Roth, the state's first openly-gay elected official, received kid glove treatment from the news media and his close association with Aubrey McClendon of Chesapeake Energy Corp., an entity Roth helped regulate, was for the most part ignored.
1. Republican Control Of The State Senate ~ The Republican Party's march to parity with perpetually-dominant Democrats in the Legislature peaked in November, when voters elected enough additional Republicans to turn control of the Senate to the GOP for the first time. GOP leader Glenn Coffee, who shared president pro tem duties in 2008 with Democrat Mike Morgan given the even numbers in the Senate, became the pro tem and immediately made it clear he's in charge. With the House already in GOP hands, padded by four additional pickups in November, the 2009 legislative agenda now is in their almost-complete control and that's sure to engender controversy and an agenda different than any proposed by Democrats in the past.
2. House Speaker Lance Cargill's Resignation ~ Harrah Representative Lance Cargill went from one of the state's golden boys to relative obscurity in record time. Caught in the glare of repeated reports about unpaid personal and business taxes and an Ethics Commission probe into the handling of donations, Cargill resigned as speaker in an unexpected move that elevated Tulsan Chris Benge to the speaker's post. Cargill, a popular GOP speaker when he took that seat, was viewed by many as on the fast track to higher elective office before melting in the hot glare of his personal shortcomings. He did not file for reelection to the House.
3. Auditor & Inspector Jeff McMahan's Conviction ~ Federal prosecutors nailed McMahan and his wife on multiple corruption charges as part of the lengthy, wide-ranging probe into the nefarious affairs of former Senator Gene Stipe and his former business partner, Steve Phipps. Their convictions proved that McMahan's two-time opponent, Republican Gary Jones, was on target with his allegations about McMahan beginning in their first race in 2002.
4. John McCain's 77 County Win ~ The Republican presidential nominee carried every Oklahoma county against Barack Obama as Obama defeated McCain nationally. McCain's walk-away Oklahoma win is viewed by many as a rejection of liberal Obama more than an embrace of McCain, although there's continuing speculation on that point. Some believe race played a role in McCain's huge win, but there's been little evidence to substantiate that belief.
5. Jim Roth's Defeat By Dana Murphy ~ Democratic Corporation Commissioner Jim Roth, appointed by Governor Brad Henry when Republican Denise Bode resigned, had all the money he needed and seemed headed to election. But Republican Dana Murphy edged the incumbent, returning the commission to all-Republican status. Roth, the state's first openly-gay elected official, received kid glove treatment from the news media and his close association with Aubrey McClendon of Chesapeake Energy Corp., an entity Roth helped regulate, was for the most part ignored.
posted by Mike McCarville @ 12:03 PM
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