Are Cargill, Adkins Next To Quit?

Republicans may face the prospect of losing two more sitting members of the House, Capitol sources say as rumors fly today about the reelection plans of former House Speaker Lance Cargill of Harrah, and Dennis Adkins of Tulsa.

An informed House source says Cargill and Adkins likely are to announce soon they do not plan to seek reelection.

If that's true, they will join Reps. Rob Johnson, Ron Peterson, Greg Piatt, Susan Winchester and Trebor Worthen in forgoing reelection bids. Four of them have said they will return to private life, while Johnson is running for the Corporation Commission. None of them are term-limited.

Cargill, an attorney who resigned as speaker after disclosures that he had failed to pay multiple taxes, once was touted as a future GOP candidate for governor. He was elected speaker in 2006 as Republicans took control of the House for the first time in history, and launched an ambitious public relations and legislative program. His "100 Ideas" initiative drew on ideas submitted by citizens and many of those ideas have been implemented.

Adkins' use of campaign funds put him in the news in September 2006, when the Tulsa World's Mick Hinton reported Adkins was using donations to pay for an Oklahoma City condo he purchased. Adkins subsequently repaid his campaign the $15,596 it spent for rent on the condo. Hinton also reported that Adkins said he reimbursed the campaign to "get this behind me." Adkins said he had asked the Oklahoma Ethics Commission to determine if he followed the law in making the rent payments from his campaign fund. Director Marilyn Hughes said that when Adkins asked her about the payments, he did not mention he owns the condo.

Adkins, 43, was elected to the House in 2000; he's not had a serious opponent since and in 2004 and 2006, was unopposed. Earlier this year, he had the largest campaign warchest of any House member, $192,236, and that's after he spent almost $54,000 in the last reporting period. He has yet to comment on rumors he may run for the Corporation Commission seat now held by Democrat Jim Roth.

If Cargill and Adkins do opt out, the number of House Republicans not seeking reelection this year will total seven so far; Worthen announced at the beginning of this year's session and Johnson is running for the Corporation Commission.

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King Of The House: Dennis Adkins Knee Deep In Energy Industry Campaign Contributions

Republican State Rep. Dennis Adkins of Tulsa apparently has parlayed his chairmanship of the House Energy & Technology Committee into a huge campaign war chest, one larger even than Speaker Lance Cargill's and one that makes him king of all House members going into the 2008 election year. That, despite the fact Adkins hasn't had an opponent since 2002 and even in that year, his "opponent" was a no-name Independent who wasn't a factor.

Adkins, his latest Ethics Committee report shows, is sitting on a campaign fund of $192,236 and that's after he spent almost $54,000 in the last reporting period.

His total cash on hand swamps Cargill, at $120,297. Cargill, however, spent almost $115,000 in the first nine months of 2007 and shows his total cash amount raised as $208,543.

Only Senator Johnnie Crutchfield tops Adkins among all legislators, Crutchfield showing $251,320 in his campaign fund.

Adkins' donors include executives of OG&E, Public Service Company of Oklahoma, Devon Energy, Chesapeake Energy, Phoenix Coal Sales and others, including lobbyist Andrew Skeith, who gave him $5,000 in the first quarter of the year; Skeith lobbies for Phoenix Coal Sales, Chaparral Energy and other firms. In that same period, committees donated about $18,000; included were the Devon Energy Political Action Committee, $5,000, and the OG&E Employees Political Action Committee, $2,500.

In the second quarter, city officials and energy company leaders donated $14,150, most of it coming on June 27th. David Chernicky (pictured) of New Dominion Oil LLC in Tulsa donated $5,000; a present member and former chairman of the Grand River Dam Authority's board of directors, Chernicky heads the GRDA Coal Committee and has become one of the state's top donors to candidates. Committees added $11,400 to Adkins' war chest in the period, with $5,000 from Energy For Oklahomans, $2,500 from the Spectra Energy Corporation Political Action Committee and $1,000 from the Friends of Oklahoma Coal Political Action Committee.

For the year, including the transfer of about $153,000 from his previous campaign, Adkins has banked $246,018 and spent $53,782.

His expenditures show repeated amounts for unspecified "unreimbursed expenses" in addition to unspecified listings for travel, lodging and meals. He paid $12,000 for "campaign plan development" and lists $3,825 in unspecified consulting costs.

In the third quarter, Adkins' war chest earned $2,194 in interest.

Adkins' use of campaign funds put him in the news in September 2006, when the Tulsa World's Mick Hinton reported Adkins was using donations to pay for an Oklahoma City condo he purchased. Adkins subsequently repaid his campaign the $15,596 it spent for rent on the condo. Hinton also reported that Adkins said he reimbursed the campaign to "get this behind me." Adkins said he had asked the Oklahoma Ethics Commission to determine if he followed the law in making the rent payments from his campaign fund. Director Marilyn Hughes said that when Adkins asked her about the payments, he did not mention he owns the condo.

Adkins, 43, was elected to the House in 2000; he's not had a serious opponent since and in 2004 and 2006, was unopposed. He has yet to comment on rumors he may run for the Corporation Commission seat now held by Democrat Jim Roth.

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Corporation Commission: Possible '08 Candidates Await Henry's Replacement For Bode

Capitol sources say some Republican politicians are preparing to run for the Corporation Commission seat being vacated by Republican Denise Bode, but the possible candidates are waiting to see what Democrat Henry names to replace her before they talk openly about their plans.

Bode has resigned effective May 31st to take charge of a new energy industry association in Washington. She's been a commissioner since she was appointed by then-Governor Frank Keating.

While there are 3-1/2 years remaining on Bode's term, the person Henry names to replace her will serve until the 2008 election.

Sources say two ambitious GOP legislators, House members Dennis Adkins and Rob Johnson, are talking to some about their possible candidacies.

Adkins, 43, is chairman of the House Energy and Technology Committee. The Tulsan has been in real estate and is term-limited in 2012.

Johnson, 33, is majority whip. He is an attorney and is term-limited in 2016. He served as a legislative expert for former Congressman Wes Watkins and for Congressman Tom Cole.

Meanwhile, speculation continues to swirl about those Henry might name to replace Bode. The resignation of former State Treasurer Robert Butkin as dean of the Tulsa University School of Law prompted rumors Butkin is in the running. But in resigning the top TU post, Butkin said he wanted to spend more time with his wife and three children. That was essentially the reason he gave for resigning as state treasurer; his family lived in Tulsa and he grew weary of the commute and absences from the family. It seems unlikely he now would take on an equally-demanding Oklahoma City job unless he plans to move to the city, and those who know him say that is unlikely.

The names most heard are those of Oklahoma County Commissioner Jim Roth and Oklahoma City Councilman Pete White. Roth has let his interest in the post be known and has met with Republican Commissioner Bob Anthony. He reportedly has the support of Capitol lobbyist Pat Hall and others. White, a former Democratic Party chairman, also has support from numerous legislators and, it is said, from many in the energy industry.

Henry has given no indication yet of who he will name; he has said he hopes to have an announcement before Bode's official resignation date the end of this month.

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Adkins Testifies On Carbon Emissions Regulations

A rush to pass burdensome federal regulations on carbon emissions could lead to severe financial consequences for the nation, the state House's Energy chairman testified on Thursday in Washington, D.C.

"There does not seem to be agreement on the issue of climate change, and yet there seems to be a great rush to action," said Rep. Dennis Adkins (R-Broken Arrow). "Without the facts, I think it would be very possible to pass federal legislation or legislation in the states that might cost people substantially."

Adkins, chairman of the Oklahoma House Committee on Energy and Technology, testified before the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works. Senators in the committee held a hearing Thursday on state, regional and local perspectives on global warming. Adkins pointed to advances in renewable energy in states like Oklahoma, where utilities are becoming leaders in wind power. But he said while states like Oklahoma continue to lead the way in areas like biofuels and wind power, these can only provide limited power supply for the nation.

"Oklahomans realize we need a diverse energy supply making use of clean coal, natural gas and renewable sources with limited constraints on development and economic impacts," said Adkins. "But regardless of investments in renewable fuels, these will only provide a small part of total electric power to our nation."

Adkins made it clear in his testimony that he is not a scientist or an expert in the debate over climate change. As a state lawmaker, he told senators he is concerned about burdensome regulations that could harm the economy without actually addressing climate change. "I do not wish to be misunderstood and simply labeled a naysayer, but a rush to pass legislation addressing climate change may simply put more burden on the economy without solving climate change," said Adkins.

Adkins contended that regulations could drive up the cost of energy prices across the nation, creating a hidden tax in the form of higher home utility bills, higher gasoline prices, and increased costs of consumer products and services. "We should carefully weigh the proposed benefits of any action to the impact it will have on our citizens' pocketbooks and our economy, as well as the environment," he said.

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