Nearly 600 endure filing steam bath
Capitol Report for dailies for week of June 11, 2006
By Jim Campbell
OPA Capitol News Bureau
They came by the hundreds. In suits, dresses, jeans and overalls they perspired beside a row of fans overmatched by the heat of the Capitol's fifth floor hall.  
A few led organized entourages wearing T-shirts bearing someone's name. Some stood hand-in-hand with spouses; others had toddlers in tow or cradled infants.
Sometimes they paused to grab a cupcake from a lobbyist group.
Many were spiffy, some a little scruffy, all sincere. Asked by reporters what brought them, they expressed confidence in righting wrongs, making a difference for Oklahoma.
Democracy in action, Oklahoma style, happens every two years.
This year, 594 candidates went through the process of filling for state, legislative, congressional and judicial offices during the three days that ended at 5 p.m. June 7.
For the incumbents it was old stuff and the last hurrah for some with just one term to serve under the 12-year rule.
Hip to the drill, Rep. Ray McCarter, D-Marlow, filed for his last two-year term wearing a polo shirt, shorts and sandals.  
Camping out most of the night, Rep. Mike Reynolds, R-Oklahoma City, assured himself the first spot in line.
Rae and Dennis Weese of Broken Arrow celebrated their 31st birthdays by filing as Democratic legislative candidates -- Rae for the House and Dennis for the Senate.
Known candidates for governor, congress and statewide office drew crowds of newspaper, TV and radio reporters. Many others remained essentially anonymous unless a story jumped from a resume. 
There were some surprises. Term-limited Sen. Frank Shurden, D-Henryetta, famous for sex offender castration and cockfighting legislation, filed for labor commissioner.
Observers speculated about a "Shurden factor" that might bring out Democratic voters the way the cockfight ban amendment did.
Three Republican state senators and one Democrat escaped without an opponent and are re-elected. In the House, 20 Democrats and 18 Republicans are home free.
Officials of both parties voiced optimism about making gains in the House and Senate.
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Statewide candidates took official first shots at a post-filing forum sponsored by the Oklahoma Press Association.
A few snapshots:
In the attorney general race, voters might hear a lot about the Ten Commandments and whether animal waste is a hazardous material.
Republican attorney general candidate James Dunn of Oklahoma City vowed to "fight the ACLU all the way to the Supreme Court" over the right to display the Ten Commandments on public property. He also said, in a remark directed at incumbent Drew Edmondson, "Don't think for one day that animal waste is a hazardous material" and called it "God's best fertilizer."
Edmondson has sued Arkansas poultry producers for polluting Oklahoma water with chicken litter.
For his part, Edmondson stressed successful prosecution of public corruption and efforts to protect freedom of information, saying seminars in conjunction with the OPA have reached more than 3,000 public officials across the state.
Gov. Brad Henry continued to emphasize bipartisanship, which he credited with creating a vibrant economy from depths of the revenue shortfall he encountered on election four years ago.
"Today, not only have we balanced the budget, we have passed the largest tax cut in state history and put more money than ever into the Rainy Day Fund," he said.
GOP hopefuls Sen. James Williamson and Bob Sullivan, both of Tulsa, challenged Henry's leadership and his claim of bipartisan success.
"Why are we in special session?" Williamson asked. "We're in special session because there is no leadership in the governor's office."
Sullivan, who served 11 months under Henry before being replaced as energy secretary, said, "I differ greatly on how I think this state should be managed."
Term-limited Sen. Cal Hobson, D-Lexington, fired a particularly sharp barb at House Speaker Todd Hiett, R-Kellyville. Both are among eight candidates for lieutenant governor.
Hobson, in remarks similar to those made at his announcement and filing, said his campaign is about "Speaker Hiett and his abysmal, and I underline abysmal, leadership."
Neither Hiett nor Sen. Scott Pruitt, R-Broken Arrow, were at the forum. The other GOP candidate, Sen. Nancy Riley of Tulsa, a former teacher, said she wanted to be "an ambassador for Oklahoma" and help the state's young people get the best education possible.
Republican candidates U.S. Rep. Ernest Istook of Warr Acres and late entry Jim Evanoff of Mustang, along with and Democrat Andrew W. Marr, Jr. of Norman, a GOP candidate in 2002, did not attend.
At filing, Istook said, "Brad Henry's goal is a bigger government and more government programs. My vision is a stronger private sector that creates more high-paying jobs and lots of opportunity."
Besides Sullivan, two other former members of Republican Frank Keating's administration were there. The former governor's brother, Dan, and Howard Barnett, Jr. of Tulsa hope to challenge incumbent Democrat Scott Meacham for state treasurer.