Griffin Wins Endorsements In SD20 Primary

Two Republican leaders and Kingfisher County natives announced today their endorsement of A.J. Griffin for the  GOP nomination for the Senate District 20 seat.

Longtime former Senator Mike Johnson, who represented Kingfisher for twelve years in the Senate, said he believes Griffin is the right fit for the district.

"A.J. Griffin is a leader, a longtime Republican, and a businesswoman who is dedicated to our conservative values,” said Johnson. “She is exactly the kind of senator we need to protect and defend our rural communities in Kingfisher County, and I am happy to be supporting her campaign."

Griffin is the executive director of Logan Community Services and runs a small business with her husband, Trey. She has never run for political office.

Griffin grew up working on her family’s cattle ranching operation in rural Adair County. A mother of two and former foster parent, she and her husband are deacons at First Christian Church in Guthrie.

Also announcing his support today is Senator Rob Johnson, R-Kingfisher.

"A.J. Griffin is a dynamic and professional new leader who shares our values and will fight to create jobs,” said Johnson, R-Kingfisher. “As a past chairman of her local chamber of commerce, she knows how to encourage job growth. She will be a strong conservative leader in the Senate, and I'm pleased to endorse her."

A.J. Griffin expressed her gratitude for the support, vowing to work hard to earn the support of Senate District 20 voters as well.

“I am so thankful for the support of former Senator Mike Johnson, and Senator Rob Johnson,” said Griffin. “They are both well respected leaders not only in Senate District 20, but throughout Oklahoma. They will be invaluable members of our team. I will work hard to win the support of each voter just as I did with each of them.”

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Rob Johnson Seeks Senate District 22 Seat

Former Rep. Rob Johnson of Kingfisher said today he's a candidate for the Republican nomination for the open State Senate District 22 seat that encompasses portions of Canadian, Kingfisher, Logan and Oklahoma Counties.

Johnson served four years in the Oklahoma House, where he was known for his conservative stances on taxes, spending and moral issues. He narrowly lost the Republican nomination for the Corporation Commission to Dana Murphy in 2008. He lives in Kingfisher with his wife Michelle and their two daughters, Kensington and McKellyn. Rob and Michelle have been married twelve years.

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Political People & Events

Rob Johnson: The state representative from Kingfisher who narrowly lost the Republican nomination for the Corporation Commission to Dana Murphy today endorsed her campaign and pledged to help work for her election against incumbent Democrat Jim Roth.

DNC Blog: The Democrats of Oklahoma Community Forum, http://www.demookie.com/, has been selected as an official blog from the Democratic National Convention in Denver. Representing the forum there will be Tim Reese and Calvin Rees.

Republican Optimism: Some Oklahoma Republicans are optimistic today about this fall's elections, citing liberal Barack Obama at the top of the ticket, with liberal Andrew Rice as the U. S. Senate nominee and openly gay Jim Roth seeking election as Corporation Commissioner. "We've got to be careful not to get carried away," said a GOP county chairman in southwestern Oklahoma, "but, man, this is shaping up well for us." Said a longtime Tulsa County GOP leader: "We both remember McGovern in '72 and how he killed (Democrat) Ed Edmondson against Dewey (Bartlett). I see the same thing happening this time around, and Obama probably won't do as well as McGovern did. Rice probably wouldn't run too well even without the Obama drag. Way I see it is, conservative Democrats just don't have much of a place to go on the top races except to our nominees. That, or stay home."

Bullet-Proof: Republican Rep. Randy Terrill, having survived an all-out assault in the primary over his sponsorship of the state's new immigration law, is now viewed by many as politically bullet-proof. Said a GOP consultant: "His enemies shot their wad in the primary and he killed 'em. He's got bigger bullets than they do. So what's next: Terrill for governor?"

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Murphy Wins Corporation Commission Race

Dana Murphy appears to have won the GOP primary for the Corporation Commission over Rep. Rob Johnson in today's voting.

With 2,217 of 2,234 precincts reporting, Murphy had 68,018 votes to Johnson's 65,274. That made it Murphy 51 percent, Johnson 49 percent.

Murphy now faces incumbent Democrat Jim Roth in the general election.

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Most See Close Johnson-Murphy Primary

Rob Johnson...or Dana Murphy?

Ask Republican insiders and other observers about their Tuesday primary for the Corporation Commission and the opinions fly all over the place as the two battle to win the right to face incumbent Democrat Jim Roth for the remainder of the two-year term to which Roth was appointed when Republican Denise Bode resigned.

"Well," said one of the state's most astute analysts, "I'd say Johnson but we're also waiting to see what Murphy's last minute media blitz does. These candidates have not really had the money to run effective major statewide campaigns, so there's a lot of play -- my 6:5 pick is Johnson."

"Murphy by a nose," said another. "But don't bet any money on it."

Said one of the state's top GOP consultants: "Dana began the race as a front-runner...and supposedly had the support of most in the energy industry. But she and others underestimated Rob's ability to raise funds from the OIPA oil/gas crowd, and she found herself behind in fundraising. She never caught up, despite loaning her own money to her campaign. Then, instead of hiring a campaign-tested advertising firm, she went with a downtown OKC corporate ad agency that doesn't understand political campaigns. The result of her weak-by-comparison fundraising and her poor hiring decision is unconvincing paid media and too little of it. Murphy clearly started out ahead on a statewide ballot, but Johnson has erased that advantage and, by Election Day, will have taken Dana's lead and won the nomination."

Johnson, State House member and the son of Senator Mike Johnson of Kingfisher, challenged Murphy's candidacy during the filing period; his challenge, based on a technicality, was rejected by the Election Board and was viewed by many as a trivial attack that didn't work.

Murphy, perceived by many the initial front-runner, appears to some to have lost her momentum in the paid media battle. Johnson was on the air early, and often, and remains so. Murphy's paid media has become increasingly apparent in the past 48 hours.

Said one GOP official: "This is a good race. Two good people, both qualified. Both have strengths. It looks very close to me as of right now (Saturday)."

Said a southern Oklahoma local GOP official: "Dana has some name ID from the 2002 race, so she's probably ahead based on that alone, and she's also strong with the hardcore party people. Rob's done a pretty good job building name ID. Either one of them will do well against Roth down here, but I do think it will be very close between them on Tuesday."

Said a veteran campaign observer in northwestern Oklahoma: "Both have good ads, with Johnson playing the 'family' card. It will be interesting to see how (Murphy's) long time involvement with the Party will play out. And, who will vote Tuesday? Will the guys get out as well as R women’s groups? I...would not bet" on the outcome.

Johnson began the race with a $164,000 transfer from his House campaign committee. He's raised, his Ethics Commission report shows, $224,000 and spent $241,000, leaving him with about $146,000 cash on hand as of the end of the last reporting period.

Murphy reports she's raised about $257,000, spent $210,000 and had about $35,000 on hand.

In her 2002 race for the commission, Murphy and eventual winner Jeff Cloud battled to a razor-thin margin for Cloud in the primary, 40 percent to 39.5 for Murphy. In the runoff, Cloud easily defeated her, 59 to 41 percent.

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Transcript Endorses Murphy, Rice

The Norman Transcript has endorsed Republican Dana Murphy in her primary race with Rep. Rob Johnson for the Corporation Commission and Senator Andrew Rice in his primary race for the Democratic nomination for the U. S. Senate.

The editorial: There are only two statewide offices up in this year's Primary Election. The Republican nomination for the Oklahoma Corporation Commission has generated considerable interest over the past few weeks.

The winner in Tuesday's primary election will face incumbent Democrat Jim Roth who was appointed to the commission in June 2007.

We believe Dana Murphy is the most qualified of the two Republican contenders. She has worked in the oil patch as a geologist, practiced oil and gas law and served as an administrative law judge at the Oklahoma Corporation Commission. She understands the industry and sees a pro-active role by the commission in developing Oklahoma's energy policy.

Across the aisle, we believe Andrew Rice is the most qualified Democrat in the U.S. Senate primary. Sen. Rice, an Oklahoma State Senator, has tackled issues such as hunger in the homeland, energy efficiency, veteran's insurance and health insurance coverage for patients in clinical trials.

The winner will take on Republican incumbent U.S. Sen. James Inhofe.

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38 Legislators Endorse Rob Johnson

Thirty-eight legislators have endorsed Rob Johnson for Corporation Commissioner, Johnson’s campaign announced today.

"I am humbled and honored to have such resounding support from Oklahoma’s lawmakers," Johnson said. "I have worked with these men and women for the past four years to make Oklahoma a better state and am grateful they feel I would be the best candidate to serve Oklahomans at the Commission."

Twenty-five representatives and 13 senators are among those endorsing Johnson. Included are the chairmen of their respective Energy Committees, Rep. Dennis Adkins and Senator Brian Bingman.

Endorsing Johnson: Senators Brian Bingman, Cliff Aldridge, Owen Laughlin, Patrick Anderson, David Myers, Mike Johnson, Don Barrington, Anthony Sykes, Brian Crain, Bill Brown, Todd Lamb, Harry Coates and Mike Mazzei; and Reps. Colby Schwartz, Earl Sears, Randy Terrill, Mike Jackson, Don Armes, Dan Sullivan, Tad Jones, Fred Jordan, Ann Coody, Phil Richardson, Mike Thompson, Weldon Watson, Greg Piatt, TW Shannon, Dennis Adkins, Gus Blackwell, David Derby, Shane Jett, Ron Peterson, Trebor Worthen, Charles Key, Ron Peters, Doug Cox, Mark McCullough and Terry Ingmire.

Johnson faces Dana Murphy in the Republican primary next Tuesday.

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Roth On Fundraising Roll, Report Shows

Oklahoma Corporation Commissioner Jim Roth raised more than $500,000 for his election campaign in the second quarter. That put him far ahead of his two Republican opponents, Ethics Commission reports show.

Roth, a Democrat, was appointed to fill the unexpired two years of Denise Bode's term when she resigned.

His reports show he has raised a total of about $790,000, including $537,193 from April 1 to July 14.

He reported he's spent $115,000 in the last three months and has total expenditures of $181,000. That leaves him with $589,000 cash on hand.

State Rep. Rob Johnson and Dana Murphy, a former administrative law judge, seek the Republican nomination.

Johnson reported he raised more than $116,000 during the last quarter and a total of nearly $225,000 for his campaign. He reported he's spent about $222,000 over the last three months, including $143,000 on television advertising. He has about $146,000 cash on hand.

Murphy reported she raised about $108,000, including a $10,000 personal loan, bringing her total amount raised to $257,000. Murphy also reported receiving $2,500 in last-minute contributions that came in after the reporting deadline. Murphy reported she's spent $196,000 since April 1, including about $170,000 on television and radio advertising. She reported spending nearly $210,000 total on her campaign, leaving her with about $35,000 cash on hand.

Another seat on the Corporation Commission, currently held by Republican Jeff Cloud, also is up for re-election for a full six-year term. Cloud will face Democratic challenger Charles Gray, a former state House member, in the general election in November. Neither candidate drew a primary opponent.

Cloud reported he's raised about $287,000 since April 1. He reported transferring only $2,700 from his previous House campaign. He also reported spending almost $50,000 on campaign activity, leaving him with about $240,000 cash on hand.

Gray's contributions and expenditure report has not yet been posted on the Ethics Commission's site.

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Two Tulsa Legislators Endorse Murphy

Dana Murphy, Republican candidate for the Corporation Commission, today received the endorsement of Tulsa GOP Reps. Sue Tibbs and Pam Peterson, Murphy's campaign announced.

Tibbs serves on the Legislature's Energy and Technology Committee. Peterson is the chairwoman of the Children and Families Committee and former majority whip.

Murphy faces Rep. Rob Johnson in the GOP primary next week.

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Election Board Strikes Johnson Protest

The State Election Board today ruled against Rep. Rob Johnson's protest of fellow Republican Dana Murphy's candidacy.

The board ruled Murphy did not invalidate her filing by signing her name one way when she already had signed it another way, with a middle initial. She had been instructed to do so by Election Board Secretary Mike Clingman.

Said Murphy: "This is a victory for common sense government and the people of Oklahoma."

Said Trebor Worthen, Johnson's spokesman: "We will respect the Election Board's ruling and will let the voters decide which Republican candidate is best able to beat Jim Roth in the general election."

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Chaos At The Election Board; Murphy Candidacy Challenge Delayed To Monday

The Election Board today postponed hearing a challenge to Republican Corporation Commission candidate Dana Murphy after two members of the three-member board recused themselves.

Board members Tom Prince of Edmond and Ramon Watkins of Tulsa each stepped aside Friday from hearing the challenge against Corporation Commission candidate Dana Murphy. They did not give a reason for recusing themselves from the case.

Election Board Secretary Mike Clingman said Governor Henry will appoint two interim members to hear the case with the remaining board member, Susan Turpen of Oklahoma City.

The hearing now is scheduled for Monday morning. The challenge was filed by Rep. Rob Johnson of Kingfisher, who opposes Murphy for the Republican nomination for the two-year, unexpired term on the Corporation Commission now held by Democrat Jim Roth.

Johnson claims that Murphy altered a notarized document by signing her name differently than it appeared on her filing declaration of candidacy form. A video of the filing shows Election Board Secretary Mike Clingman advising Murphy to do so, and marking through one signature after she added a second signature.

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Murphy Confident She'll Be On Ballot

Republican Corporation Commission Dana Murphy says she's confident she will remain on the ballot despite a challenge filed against her by fellow Republican Rob Johnson.

Murphy, speaking with host Reid Mullins on radio station KTOK this morning, says she simply followed the instructions of Election Board Secretary Mike Clingman in filing out and signing her declaration of candidacy.

Johnson challeged her filing, saying the signature of "Dana L. Murphy" was crossed out and replaced with "Dana Murphy." Murphy said that's what Clingman advised when he asked how she wanted to be listed on the ballot and she told him "Dana Murphy."

The Election Board is expected to rule on the matter at a hearing tomorrow.

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Video: Murphy Followed Election Board Secretary's Directions In Filing For Office

Controversy over the filing of Republican Dana Murphy for the 2-year Corporation Commission seat appears to center on advice given her by the secretary of the Oklahoma Election Board, Michael Clingman.

Video of Murphy filing for office, posted at http://www.okiecampaigns.blogspot.com/, shows a person who appears to be Clingman advising Murphy on the requirements for filing her statement of candidacy.

Murphy's Republican opponent, Rep. Rob Johnson, has challenged her candidacy because he says she signed "Dana Murphy" when her statement listed her as "Dana L. Murphy."

Murphy signs her form and hands it to the man, who scans it, then hands it back, advising Murphy her signature should appear as she wants her name on the ballot. She then uses her pen on the document and hands it back to the man, who scans it again and gives her further instructions to complete her filing.

Said Murphy: "If you watch the video of my filing, you will clearly hear the Election Board clerk ask me if I wanted to be listed as 'Dana L. Murphy' or 'Dana Murphy'. I advised him 'Dana Murphy', he requested that I sign 'Dana Murphy' and I did. The Election Board clerk then scratched out the 'Dana L. Murphy' signature."

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Johnson Responds To Murphy's Statement

A spokesman for State Rep. Rob Johnson's campaign for Corporation Commissioner said today that Dana Murphy's response to a challenge of her candidacy by Johnson is meant to distract voters from her own mistake.

"Thanks to her recent press release, Dana has confirmed exactly what we suspected: that she filed an invalid declaration of candidacy," said spokesman Rep. Trebor Worthen.

[Video of Murphy's filing has been posted by John Angier at Okie Campaigns.]

"Since she is an attorney, I would think she would know better than to alter a notorized document," said Worthen. "Someone seeking an office that is charged with interpreting laws and regulating a key part of our economy should be competent enough to follow our election laws, just like hundreds of other candidates. But given Dana's history of altering documents, I'm not surprised at this kind of behavior."

Worthen's statement said that, "In 2002, when Murphy first sought a seat on the Corporation Commission, her two Republican opponents produced evidence of document forgery involving an oil and gas lease, and accused her of other unethical behavior. Though Murphy was quick to deny the allegations, she has never fully answered the questions surrounding those issues."

"Dana likes to talk about her qualifications for office. I believe the first qualification is to have a high standard of ethical conduct," said Worthen. "Her past actions call in to serious question whether she has the proper ethics to be a public servant."

A hearing to determine whether Murphy will remain on the ballot will be held this coming Friday, June 13.

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Murphy Says Johnson's Challenge Unfounded 'Grasping at straws'

Oklahoma Corporation Commission candidate Dana Murphy said today the attempt by Rob Johnson and his campaign consultants to challenge her filing for office is nothing more than a desperate attempt to create something out of nothing.

"Rob Johnson and his consultants are grasping at straws because he can't challenge my qualifications. If you watch the video of my filing, you will clearly hear the Election Board clerk ask me if I wanted to be listed as 'Dana L. Murphy' or 'Dana Murphy'. I advised him 'Dana Murphy', he requested that I sign 'Dana Murphy' and I did. The Election Board clerk then scratched out the 'Dana L. Murphy' signature."

Murphy also stated that "In addition to this clarification, he also requested that I add either short or long term with the Commission office to the form and I added short term."

A hearing is set by the Election Board on Johnson's challenge for June 13th.

Murphy believes this ploy is just more evidence of the lackluster campaign on the part of Rob Johnson. "He has no hands-on, working experience at the Commission and little, if any, knowledge and background in matters regularly decided by the Commission affecting Oklahomans every day."

Murphy spent almost six years as an Administrative Law Judge at the Commission hearing over 5,000 cases; she owns her own energy law practice and she worked as a geologist in the oil patch for ten years. Murphy has also represented clients before the Commission and testified as an expert geological witness in cases at the Commission.

"Johnson's only apparent claim to fame is that he is a two term state legislator and worked as a congressional aide/gopher. His campaign is already stalling. This is his feeble attempt to cloud the fact that he has no qualifications for this office."

Murphy believes this to be a diversionary tactic used by Johnson's consultants before and currently in use in other races. Johnson, his consultant Fount Holland and former Representative Trebor Worthen, who is working on his campaign, are no strangers to controversy and the use of old guard politician "smoke and mirrors" tactics.

"For me, it's about serving my fellow Oklahomans. They deserve the very best," added Murphy. "What our state doesn't need is more self serving politicians who are more interested in serving themselves than serving our state."

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Johnson Protests Murphy's Candidacy

The Oklahoma Election Board's website tonight contains an entry indicating that Republican Rob Johnson has filed a protest against the candidacy of Republican Dana Murphy. Both seek the GOP nomination to fill the two years remaining on the term for the office now held by Democrat Jim Roth.

The listing shows a hearing date on the protest of June 13th.

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Roth Files To Complete 2-year Term; Johnson, Murphy Also File

Democrat Jim Roth filed today to fill the remaining two years on the Corporation Commission term to which Governor Henry appointed him when Republican Denise Bode resigned.

Republicans Rob Johnson of Kingfisher and Dana Murphy of Edmond also filed for the seat.

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Rob Johnson Files To Oppose Roth

Rep. Rob Johnson (R-Kingfisher) filed today for Corporation Commissioner to fill the unexpired term of Commissioner Denise Bode, who vacated the seat last year. The seat is now held by Governor Henry's appointee, Democrat Jim Roth. Two years remain on the seat's tenure.

“So much needs to be done to ensure we make Oklahoma the best it can be, not only today, but also for our children and grandchildren” Johnson said, “As a member of the Legislature, I was able to do so by cutting taxes, improving education, and supporting pro-life policies. As a Commissioner, I will continue work to strengthen Oklahoma’s economy, make our state more business friendly, all while fairly representing all Oklahomans.”

A fifth generation Kingfisher County resident, Johnson graduated from Oklahoma State University and the University of Oklahoma Law School. Johnson and his wife of ten years, Michelle, also a fifth generation Oklahoman, have two daughters, Kensington and McKellyn.

Johnson was elected to the State House in 2004 and currently holds the leadership position of House Majority Whip. Additionally, Johnson has worked as an aide for Congressman Wes Watkins and Congressman Tom Cole. Johnson has also owned his own law practice, worked in the oil and gas industry, and worked in the family business, Johnsons of Kingfisher.

“The decisions made at the Commission can make Oklahoma a more energy and business friendly state and that will encourage more people to invest in Oklahoma,” Johnson said.
“I have been honored to serve the state of Oklahoma, and now I’m asking for the voters’ support to join me in helping to make this state the best it can be,” Johnson said.

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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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Democrat Forum Alleges Probe Underway

The Democrats of Oklahoma Community Forum, http://www.demookie.com/, alleges in a post by administrator Tim Reese that an investigation into an aspect of the funding of Republican Corporation Commission candidate Rep. Rob Johnson is underway. No sources are named.

Read the post at http://www.demookie.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=38498.

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