Former Opponents Endorse Steve Russell

Three of Steve Russell's opponents in the Republican primary in Senate District 45 endorsed him today.

Jerry Foshee, Melinda Daugherty and Marty Gormley all offered endorsements of Russell, whose runoff opponent is Kyle Loveless.

Jerry Foshee, a South Oklahoma City attorney and former Oklahoma City councilman, said, “Before this campaign began, I had immense respect for Steve Russell’s service to our country. After the race, I respect him even more. He was a man of his word, ran a positive campaign and refrained from lawyer bashing. He has the highest integrity and unquestioned character. I gladly offer my endorsement of his candidacy.”

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Jerry Foshee Leads Dollar Race In Senate District 45 Republican Primary

Attorney and former Oklahoma City Councilman Jerry Foshee is the top fundraiser in the Republican primary in Senate District 45, Ethics Commission reports show.

Foshee has raised $117,000 and spent $75,000, leaving him with about $40,000 on hand.

Retired Army Lt. Colonel Steve Russell, an Iraq war veteran who received the endorsement of former Governor Frank Keating, has raised about $80,000 and spent $46,000, leaving him with about $33,000 on hand.

Political consultant Kyle Loveless, endorsed by the Oklahoma Conservative Political Action Committee, has raised about $29,000 in cash and spent $24,000, leaving him with about $4,000 on hand. Loveless reported about $20,000 in in-kind contributions, putting his total raised at about $49,000.

Observers say the race is a tough one to call; they foresee a runoff. Foshee's advantage, they say, is his name ID after years in the spotlight. Loveless' advantage, they add, is his ground-game approach, during which he's walked the district and knocked on doors. Russell's advantage is said to be his networking and personal contact with voters. All three candidates, they say, bring something to the table that makes the race one to watch next Tuesday.

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OCPAC Endorses Loveless

The Oklahoma Conservative Political Action Committee has endorsed Senate District 45 Republican candidate Kyle Loveless.

"I am thrilled to have their seal of approval," said Loveless. "This group is the conservative’s conservative, and when going door to door, I get asked what makes me more conservative than the other guys, well now it is official," Loveless said.

OCPAC Chairman Charlie Meadows said, "It takes a majority of votes to get our endorsement, and the members are not even required to endorse someone at all, but it was obvious, with his understanding and clarity on positions along with his strong convictions, Kyle Loveless is THE most conservative of the candidates and won our endorsement with overwhelming support."

Other Republicans in the race are Jerry Foshee and Steve Russell.

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Foshee Files; Loveless, Russell Expected

Former Oklahoma City Councilman Jerry Foshee filed for the Senate District 45 seat today. He is expected to be joined in the Republican primary by consultant Kyle Loveless and retired Army officer Steve Russell.

Foshee, 61, held the Oklahoma City Council's Ward 5 seat for 14 years before choosing not to run last year so he could seek the seat, now held by term-limited Kathleen Wilcoxson, R-Oklahoma City.

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Steve Russell Makes It Official

Retired Army Lt. Colonel Steve Russell today officially announced he will seek the Republican nomination for the State Senate in District 45, the seat being vacated by term-limited Senator Kathleen Wilcoxson.

Former Oklahoma City Councilman Jerry Foshee and consultant Kyle Loveless also are candidates in the GOP race.

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Istook 'Of Counsel' To Foshee Law Firm

Former Congressman Ernest Istook, it was announced today, has joined the Foshee & Yaffe Law Firm in Oklahoma City in an "of counsel" capacity.

“Congressman Istook is a welcomed addition to our firm,” said Jerry Foshee. “Congressman Istook has been a friend for a long time and is an outstanding attorney.”

Blake Yaffe is enthusiastic about Ernest Istook being a part of their growing law firm. “Congressman Istook’s experience and knowledge are exceptional assets to our firm.”

Istook practiced law in Oklahoma for 15 years, handling a wide diversity of legal matters of all type. As required by general congressional ethics rules, he placed his law practice on hold during his years in Congress.

Istook was the Republican Party’s nominee for Governor of Oklahoma in 2006. He also served in the Oklahoma Legislature, on the Warr Acres City Council, headed a state agency, and served on the staff of former Oklahoma Governor David Boren.

As well as resuming the practice of law, Istook has resumed his former career as a radio broadcaster and has become a Distinguished Fellow at The Heritage Foundation in Washington.

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Foshee Honored By South OKC Chamber

State Senate candidate and former Oklahoma City Councilman Jerry Foshee recently was recipient of the South Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce's "Ambassador of the Year Award" as a result of his work helping the South Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce promote and develop South Oklahoma City.

Foshee's also been recognized with the "Bulldog Award" as well as the "Champion of South Oklahoma City Award."

The Foshee for Senate Campaign, a spokesman said, has added dozens of volunteers who are more than familiar with all of the candidates as well as the issues relevant to Senate District 45 and the Foshee campaign will be announcing key endorsements within the next 30 days.

The spokesman said, "Jerry continues to focus on issues of importance to the residents of Senate District 45 - infrastructure improvements, accountability for the Department of Human Services, preserving parks and dramatic reductions in government spending."

Foshee is one of three seeking the Republican nomination in the district. The others are political consultant Kyle Loveless and retired Army officer Steve Russell. The incumbent is term-limited Kathleen Wilcoxson.

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Steve Russell Defends 'Surge,' Troops

Steve Russell, the retired Army officer and Iraq war veteran who is a candidate in State Senate District 45, has been making headlines across the country recently defending the troops and the surge.

"The latest attacks in newspapers and magazines about the failure of the surge and returning veterans as criminals are shameless," Russell said.

"They must be countered," added Russell, whose latest opinion piece on the war in Iraq appeared in the New York Daily News with a second piece published in over two dozen papers across the country.

He has also been invited to appear on the Montel Williams show in February and has done dozens of radio spots across the nation in the last week. "Everywhere you turn it seems that the media wants to assault our integrity and honor," said Russell, who is running for Senator Kathleen Wilcoxson’s open Senate seat. "With our own National Guard deployed, our state has an even greater stake in this debate. My sister’s son is there now with the 45th Brigade."

In his Senate campaign, Russell said, he's been meeting voters at the door, making calls and raising money. His campaign announced that it had reached the $30,000 dollar mark shortly after the fourth quarter of 2007.

After retiring from the Army and returning to Okahoma City, Russell founded and chairs "Vets for Victory" to put the soldiers’ voice into the national debate about the war.

Other Republicans seeking the Senate seat are Jerry Foshee and Kyle Loveless.

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Loveless Knocks SD 45 Doors

Republican State Senate candidate Kyle Loveless says that by month's end, he will have knocked 10,000 doors in Senate District 45.

The consultant-turned-candidate said, "Going door-to-door is one of the oldest, most conservative, most effective, and most interactive forms of campaigning."

Also seeking the GOP nomination in the district are attorney Jerry Foshee, former Oklahoma City councilman, and retired Army Lt. Colonel Steve Russell.

Senate District 45 encompasses parts of Yukon, Mustang, Southwest Oklahoma City, and parts of Moore.

The Republican primary is July 29th.

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Foshee Tops Senate Race Fundraising

Former Oklahoma City Councilman Jerry Foshee is the top fundraiser in the 3-way race for the Republican nomination for the State Senate District 45 seat, Ethics Commission records show.

Foshee reported he raised $26,100 in the reporting period that ended September 30th; he reported spending $26,466 and has $18,830 in cash on hand. He has raised a total of $45,296 for his campaign, including a $19,000 loan from himself.

GOP consultant Kyle Loveless reported he raised $6,426 in the 3-month period and $16,231 in total, including $8,300 in-kind, much of it from himself. He reported he spent $3,639 in the period and has $2,482 in cash on hand.

Retired Army Lt. Colonel Steve Russell reported he raised $10,204 in the first three weeks of his campaign (he announced in early September) and spent $8.50, leaving him with $10,091.50 on hand.

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Steve Russell Files In Senate District 45

Retired Army Lt. Colonel Steve Russell, as expected, has filed as a Republican candidate for the State Senate in Oklahoma City's District 45.

Russell's statement of organization was filed with the Ethics Commission on September 1oth.

Veteran Oklahoma County Republican leader Al Snipes is listed as campaign chairman. Julian McNeely is listed as treasurer.

Other declared Republicans in the race are former Oklahoma City Councilman Jerry Foshee and consultant Kyle Loveless.

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Russell Ready To Enter Senate District 45 Race

UPDATED ~ Retired Army Lt. Colonel Steve Russell, head of "Vets For Victory" and best known for leading the unit in Iraq that captured Saddam Hussein, will enter the Republican primary for the Oklahoma Senate in District 45 soon.

He will join former Oklahoma City Councilman Jerry Foshee and GOP consultant Kyle Loveless in the race. Foshee and Loveless have announced, formed committees and are raising money. Loveless has embarked on a walking tour of the district.

Russell, a graduate of Del City High School, was honored by the Oklahoma Legislature as its first "Veteran of the Week" earlier this year.

The District 45 seat is now held by Republican Kathleen Wilcoxsen, who is term-limited.

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Foshee, Loveless File Finance Reports

Jerry Foshee and Kyle Loveless, Republicans who want a southside Oklahoma City State Senate seat next year, have filed their initial campaign finance reports.

Foshee reports he's raised $19,196, $14,000 of it in personal loans and $5,000 of it from a political action committee.

Loveless reports he's raised $9,805, $5,225 of that from in-kind contributions and $1,200 of it from family members.

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Switzer To Endorse Foshee

Jerry Foshee, Republican candidate for the State Senate District 45 seat, apparently has the endorsement of Democrat Barry Switzer. Invitations to a Foshee fundraiser contain the following information:

"You are cordially invited to attend a fundraiser for JERRY FOSHEE:
Uniting Oklahoma in 2008
Featuring University of Oklahoma Coach Barry Switzer
Also: Members of the OU National Championship Team

"When: Thursday, July 12, 6:00 p.m.
Where: Willow Creek Golf & Country Club
Cost: $250 per person
Hors d'oeuvres and drinks provided
Please RSVP 405-632-6668

"Coach Switzer and distinguished Republican and Democratic speakers will discuss Jerry Foshee's leadership, experience and ability to build a strong future for Oklahoma."

Foshee and GOP political consultant Kyle Loveless in the race thus far.

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Foshee Says If Barriers Go Up, He'll Pull Out

By Jerry Bohnen, NewsRadio 1000 KTOK ~Former Oklahoma City Councilman Jerry Foshee is so dead set on his project to get cable barriers installed in the median of I-44 in south Oklahoma City, he is offering to withdraw from the campaign for a legislative seat. He made the offer in three separate statements in reference to Oklahoma Transportation Department Director Gary Ridley, telling the KTOK Gwin Falconer-Lippert show Sunday night, "I'll tell ya what, if he would start, and you can publish this, if he would start putting those barriers up tomorrow, I will withdraw from running for the Senate."

Foshee went public last week in assisting the family of Oklahoma City Fire Department Lieutenant Mike Tiderman who along with his eleven year old son and two other individuals was killed in a cross-over accident last month on I-44 near SW 119th street.

"If he would start putting the barriers up tomorrow---or I'll even give him a week---if he'll start in one week of putting the barriers up on I-44, I'll withdraw from the Senate seat," he repeated in the interview with KTOK's Gwin Falconer-Lippert.

Foshee still wonders why the Oklahoma Department of Transportation installed the cable barriers on the median of the Lake Hefner Parkway but not on South I-44 where last month's deadly accident occurred: "If he thinks it's political or he thinks I'm doing it for political--I'll give him a week to start work on the project by putting the posts up, and I'll withdraw from that Senate race," he vowed a third time.

Foshee left the city council earlier this year and became a declared candidate for a State Senate seat that represents south Oklahoma City.

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Foshee Files Campaign Finance Report

Former Oklahoma City Councilman Jerry Foshee, now a Republican candidate for the State Senate in District 45, reports he's raised $14,250 and spent $9,000.

Foshee's first campaign finance report lists a single donation, $250 from an insurance company executive as the only individual donation. He shows $5,000 received from the Fraternal Order of Police. He loaned his campaign $9,000. He reports he's spent $9,000, $7,400 of it going to a "campaign consultant" for the months of February and March. The report was filed Monday.

Republican political consultant Kyle Loveless has announced he also is seeking the seat. His report shows he's had no reportable fundraising activity. He announced his campaign just 10 days ago.

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Walters Upsets Washington; O'Neil Defeats Pettigrew In Edmond Mayoral Race

Oklahoma City Councilman-elect Brian Walters pulled off what could easily be classified as the upset of the year on Tuesday, defeating front-runner George Washington, who "went from being within just a few votes of winning the whole banana to losing in a run-off to a virtual unknown," in the words of blogger and political analyst Ron Black.

As Black observes, "Having Rep. Mike Reynolds knocking doors for him didn't hurt Walters one single bit and the negative letter sent by the legendary Al Snipes helped as well. As I told The Oklahoman, that race was to be won on the ground and Walters did just that. Southern Hills Baptist Church truly got out the vote and this is one example of a church making a significant difference in a local election."

Washington, who missed winning the southside council primary outright by just 12 votes, had the strong support of outgoing Councilman Jerry Foshee, while Walters benefited from an alliance orchestrated by political consultants Neva Hill And Company, members of which also designed and executed Walters' "ground game."

In Edmond, Dan O'Neil defeated former State Rep. Wayne Pettigrew easily in a race that apparently hinged on views about development of the bursting-at-the-seams city.

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Foshee Tosses Hat In Senate Ring

Ward 5 Oklahoma City Councilman Jerry Foshee today announced his candidacy for State Senate District 45 and said he won't seek reelection to the Oklahoma City Council. His announcement came via his campaign consultant, Ron Black.

Foshee, who has only had one election, has run unopposed in the last 14 years for City Council, will be running for the State Senate Seat being vacated by Republican Senator Kathleen Wilcoxson due to term limits in 2008.

“Over the holidays, my family and I discussed our future and the future of South Oklahoma City and came to the prayerful conclusion that the time has come for me to move on, to be a voice for the people of South Oklahoma City, Western Heights, Mustang, and Yukon in the State Senate,” Foshee said. “I have been a voice of the people in Ward 5, and I will continue to be a voice for the people in the State Senate when elected in 2008.”

Foshee, a small business owner and conservative Republican, has served on the Oklahoma City Council for 14 years and has a record of being an advocate for government reform. Foshee believes his record, his goals, and his experience make him the ideal candidate for Senate District 45.

“Senator Wilcoxson has set the bar very high for anyone interested in serving in that Senate Seat, and I consider it an honor to run and will not disappoint her or her constituents – many of whom are my City Council constituents,” Foshee explained. “I have been an advocate for education reform, I have been an advocate for eminent domain reform, and I will push for those reforms while serving the people.”

Foshee, though serving on the City Council for 14 years, does not consider himself a politician, but is an outsider, a small business owner who serves as a voice of the people, rather than a voice for special interests.

“Oklahoma City Council is a non-partisan position and has afforded me the opportunity to work with men and women from both sides of the aisle to accomplish great things for Oklahoma City and my reputation stands on its own merits. The only special interest I serve are the interests of my constituents,” he said. “I’m not a professional politician, I am a small business owner, an outsider – something we need more of in the legislature.”

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