Istook's gubernatorial bid will shake up state's GOP

[Judi Lynn]

Published: October 04, 2005 12:15 am

Istook's gubernatorial bid will shake up state's GOP

The Norman Transcript

An Oklahoma political newsletter, published a week ago today, said that if Congressman Ernest Istook decided to leave Congress for a run at the Oklahoma governor's seat in 2006, "political dominoes will fall like rain."

The forecast indeed calls for rain this week and it was partly cloudy when Mr. Istook made his formal announcement at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum. The Republican congressman, in his seventh term of office, faces a field that already includes two announced GOP candidates and at least two others that were giving it some attention. His announcement came after former U.S. Rep. J.C. Watts said he had no interest in running for the seat.

Sen. James Williamson, R-Tulsa, and Robert Sullivan, a Tulsa oilman, previously announced campaigns. Gary Richardson, a Tulsa lawyer who ran in 2002 as an independent, may run again as a Republican. House Speaker Todd Hiett was reported to be testing the campaign waters.

The Hill Report newsletter had its scenario of a GOP shakeup: Lt. Gov. Mary Fallin will announce she is seeking the seat being vacated by Mr. Istook. Corporation Commissioner Denise Bode announced she also would seek the Congressional seat. Her fellow Corporation Commissioner Jeff Cloud and state Rep. Kevin Calvey of Del City are also reported to be looking.
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http://www.normantranscript.com/cnhi/thenormantranscript/opinion/local_story_277002723?keyword=secondarystory

[OKNancy]

1. Happy to see him go, and he won't win as

governor either. I think Brad Henry (D) will be re-elected.
Watts didn't run because he knows he would get beat.