Eleven new Republicans assume office

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ A total of 125 legislators were sworn into office on Tuesday, including 11 new Republicans and the Democrat who has served longer than any other person. <br><br>Members of both chambers

Tuesday, November 21st 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ A total of 125 legislators were sworn into office on Tuesday, including 11 new Republicans and the Democrat who has served longer than any other person.

Members of both chambers were sworn in by Oklahoma Supreme Court Chief Justice Hardy Summers.

Sen. Gene Stipe, D-McAlester, was unopposed for re-election and is looking toward his 55th year of legislative service. First elected in 1948, Stipe served three House terms before serving continuously in the Senate since 1956. At the end of his new term, he will have served 54 years spanning seven decades.

Some of his Democratic colleagues from previous legislative sessions were not so fortunate during the election.

Republicans picked up eight seats in the House, to narrow the Democratic majority to 53-48. The GOP also has three additional senators.

All 101 House posts and 24 Senate positions were up for grabs..

Senate President Pro Tempore Stratton Taylor, D-Claremore, welcomed the new Senate members. They are Jonathan Nichols, R-Norman, Nancy Riley, R-Tulsa, and Jim Reynolds, R-Oklahoma City.

``Even though Republicans are outnumbered in the Senate, the majority party will be seeking their input and counsel on all issues,'' Taylor said. ``We've always taken a bipartisan approach to solving Oklahoma's problems and that has served us well.''

Taylor did not mention last year's partisan wrangling over the right-to-work issue, which led to Republican Lt. Gov. Mary Fallin presiding over the 48-member body.

Two of the Democratic senators who were defeated in the general election, Sens. Lewis Long of Glenpool and Ben Brown of Oklahoma City, had opposed a right-to-work plan advanced by Republicans.

Despite their gains in the election, Republicans still trail Democrats in the Senate, 30-18.

The House session was presided over by Speaker-designate Larry Adair, D-Stilwell.

The official election of the speaker will occur during a one-day organizational meeting on Jan. 2. The Legislature will reconvene on Feb. 5 and must finish its work by 5 p.m. on the last Friday in May.

House Republicans will be led again by Rep. Fred Morgan of Oklahoma City. Their Senate colleagues will be led by Sen. Jim Dunlap of Bartlesville.

The new Republican House members are Lance Cargill of Harrah, Thad Balkman of Norman, Mike O'Neal of Enid, John Smaligo of Owasso, Sue Tibbs of Tulsa, Kris Steele of Shawnee, Stuart Ericson of Muskogee, Kent Friskup of Chandler, Ray Young of Yukon, Ron Peters of Tulsa, Dennis Adkins of Tulsa and Ron Peterson of Broken Arrow.

New Democratic members are Jim Wilson of Tahlequah, Ray Miller of Quinton, Paul Roan of Tishomingo and Purcy Walker of Elk City.