Democrats, Republicans vie for control of Legislature

Wednesday, August 28th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ Republicans pointed toward the ousting of a veteran Democratic state senator as proof the GOP has a chance this year to win a majority in the House for only the second time in state history.

Sen. Dave Herbert, who introduced the right-to-work legislation that went to a successful vote of the people a year ago, lost his seat Tuesday night after a vicious, union-funded attack campaign. The AFL-CIO spent $200,000 smearing Herbert, who came up with 47 percent of the vote compared to Midwest City electrician Joe P. Smith's 53 percent.

Smith will go up against Republican Cliff Aldridge, a Midwest City insurance agent, in the Nov. 5 general election.

``I think the biggest shocker tonight was on the Democratic side,'' said Chad Alexander, state Republican Party chairman. ``I think it's an indictment on the state Democratic Party that they did not stand up for one of their state senators who has worked for them. We're very united behind our nominee.''

Republicans last controlled the House in 1922.

Now the 101-member House is split 52-49, close enough that Republicans think they have a shot to turn things their way. The party is hoping their primary hopefuls can build on the successes of two years ago, when the GOP picked up eight seats in the House and three in the Senate.

But Democrats say they've assembled the finest group of primary candidates in a dozen years. They plan to increase their majority in the House and Senate, where Democrats have it 30-18 over Republicans.

``The primary night was very good to us,'' said state Democratic Party Chairman Jay Parmley. ``We nominated good candidates across the board. I feel very good about where we are.''

Two other state senators, both Democrats, easily defeated their opponents in winner-take-all primaries.

Sen. Gilmer Capps of Snyder received 71 percent of the vote in District 26 over Kiowa County commissioner Wayne Barker. In District 44, Sen. Keith Leftwich of Oklahoma City won with 85 percent of the vote, compared to 15 percent for his challenger, restaurant manager George Violette.

Former legislative staffer Jay Paul Gumm won the District 6 primary race with 52 percent of the vote, compared to 48 percent for former state Sen. Roy Boatner.

In the District 20 seat vacated by Sen. Paul Muegge, Republican David Myers defeated Ralph Meade with 68 percent of the vote. Myers narrowly lost to Muegge four years ago. He now faces Democrat Tom Leonard, mayor of Ponca City, and independent Den Coates in the general election.

In the open seat for District 40, being vacated by Republican Sen. Brooks Douglass, Oklahoma City businessman Cliff Branan and Oklahoma City businesswoman Tina Majors faced a Sept. 17 runoff in the Republican primary.

In the House, Jerry Ellis of Valliant defeated four other candidates seeking the Democratic nomination for the District 1 seat of retiring Rep. Terry Matlock of Garvin. Ellis had 52 percent of the vote over Larry Taylor, Doc Sarratt, Kerry Woolly and Gerald Huckleberry.

He will face Republican Wenda Blankenship and independent Bill Kysar.

In the vacant District 18, Terry Harrison and Ron Gragg faced a runoff in the Democratic primary. Rep. Lloyd Fields, D-McAlester, is leaving the post to run for labor commissioner. The winner will face Republican Angela Hendrix.

Another vacant seat, up for grabs because Rep. Jim Dunegan ran unsuccessfully for governor, went to County Commissioner Quinton Jones of Calera. He defeated Chuck Downs and John Carey with 46 percent of the vote and faces Republican Todd Sisk in the District 21 general election.

Republicans Gus Blackwell, director of the Baptist Student Union at Panhandle State University, and Shawn Lepard, a Guymon resident in public relations, advanced to a runoff in the District 61 seat of retiring Rep. Jack Begley, D-Goodwell. The winner will face Democrat Rick Kibbe, a school superintendent.

Neil Mavis won with 66 percent of the vote to get the Republican nomination in the District 66 seat of retiring Rep. Russ Roach, D-Tulsa. Mavis will face Democrat Lucky Lamons, a Tulsa police officer.

In District 63, David Butler defeated Richard T. Lockhart with 57 percent of the vote in the Democratic primary for the seat being vacated by Rep. Loyd Benson, D-Frederick. The winner will face Republican Don Armes.

In winner-take-all primaries, Sallisaw Democrat Glen ``Bud'' Smithson beat restaurant owner Dana Stites with 68 percent of the vote in District 2. Neil Brannon defeated Bart W. Rogers with 68 percent of the vote in District 3.

Representatives who hung onto their seats included Fred Stanley, D-Madill, Frank Davis, R-Guthrie, and Ray Young, R-Yukon.