Open seats sprout jammed primaries
Capitol Spotlight for weeklies for week of June 11, 2006
By Jim Campbell
OPA Capitol News Bureau
The primary election tradition of staging firing squads in the round that was familiar to Oklahoma Democrats in their heyday as a solid majority could happen this year in some Republican races as well.
Six Republicans are seeking their party's nomination for the 5th District congressional seat vacated by Rep. Ernest Istook, now one of four GOP candidates and one Democrat hoping to take on Democratic Gov. Brad Henry in November.
The lieutenant governor race, with big names among four Democrats, three Republicans and an Independent candidate, promised to be as fiery as any.
In the Democrats' glory days, when an oft-repeated cliché pronounced the Democratic nomination "tantamount to election," crowded primaries could spill blood from the spring through the usual runoff in September.
If Republicans have anything close to "tantamount to election" this year it is in congressional races including the nomination in heavily conservative Oklahoma County plus Pottawatomie and Seminole counties. Istook represented the 5th District for seven terms and his departure produced a ballot loaded with deep-pockets candidates. Ably-produced commercials largely directed at a conservative base started early.
Fireworks started early, too.
Lt. Gov. Mary Fallin, Corporation Commissioner Denise Bode and state Reps. Fred Morgan of Oklahoma City and Kevin Calvey of Del City joined in blasting a radio commercial and campaign Web site by Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett.
A late entry in the race, Cornett was quickly considered a good bet to make a runoff based on Oklahoma City's growing downtown glitter and the luring of New Orleans' homeless Hornets. 
In a joint statement, the four branded as "demonstrably false" the commercial's claim that Cornett "took on the liberals and made sure that our libraries would not allow children to have access to books that promote the gay agenda."
"In fact, Mick Cornett played no significant role in the effort to keep homosexual-themed books away from children," the statement said. 
The four said that effort was led by Rep. Sally Kern, R-Oklahoma City, and quoted Kern as saying Cornett "could have taken a stand. But he didn't." They also alleged a "pattern of deception" and "cat-and-mouse" game when Cornett was running for mayor and saying he would be a full-time mayor.
Cornett issued a written statement rejecting a demand that he withdraw the commercial.
"I'm very comfortable being attacked by four career politicians who are basically alleging that while accomplishing real policy change I didn't grandstand enough," the statement said. 
The sixth GOP candidate is Dr. Johnny Roy of Edmond.
A physician also is in the race on the Democratic side. Dr. David Hunter, former chief of surgery and chief of staff at Oklahoma City's St. Anthony Hospital, received the endorsement of Oklahoma County Clerk Patricia Presley as she bowed out of the race. Bert Smith of Oklahoma City, the 2004 nominee, filed again.
Henry drew token primary opposition in Andrew Marr, Jr. of Norman, last among three candidates in the 2002 GOP primary. Marr said he is the inventor of oil production equipment.
Istook's opponents are state Sen. James Williamson of Tulsa, businessman Bob Sullivan of Tulsa and Jim Evanoff of Mustang.
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Three of the Democratic lieutenant governor candidates and one of the Republicans made their cases at a post-filing summit sponsored by the Oklahoma Press Association.
Pete Regan of Oklahoma City was there with his mentor, former Gov. George Nigh, saying Nigh "brought me under his wing and taught me what public service was all about." Among his goals, Regan said, would be education, infrastructure and tourism.
House Minority leader Jari Askins, D-Duncan, proposed creating a "Children's Cabinet" in the lieutenant governor's office, lamenting Oklahoma's lead in childhood poverty. She also again proposed that the Legislature go to a two-year budget cycle, devoting a session every other year to budget issues alone.
House Speaker Todd Hiett, R-Kellyville, and Sen. Scott Pruitt, R-Broken Arrow, were not there, but Democratic Sen. Cal Hobson of Lexington made it clear again that Hiett is his chief target.
"This race is not about my friends in my party who are also seeking this office," Hobson said. "It's not even about Sen. (Nancy) Riley, who is a candidate of the other persuasion. It is about Speaker Hiett and his abysmal, and I underline abysmal, leadership."
Hobson listed programs he had sponsored that Hiett opposed, adding, "Government is education; government is health care, including mental health care; government is public safety and infrastructure. That's government. I guess he's against all of that."
At the time of his filing, Hiett said Hobson "sees government as the answer. I see government as the problem."
Pruitt, in filing, urged further changes in worker's compensation and lawsuit legislation. He also said he is for the Taxpayers' Bill of Rights that could be on the November ballot.
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