Gene Stipe's name erased from McAlester street

McALESTER, Okla. (AP) -- Gene Stipe Boulevard is now known as Electric Avenue.<br/><br/>The McAlester City Council voted Tuesday night to remove the name of the former state senator from the street and

Wednesday, December 28th 2005, 8:51 am

By: News On 6

McALESTER, Okla. (AP) -- Gene Stipe Boulevard is now known as Electric Avenue.

The McAlester City Council voted Tuesday night to remove the name of the former state senator from the street and restore its original name.

The vote occurred after the council narrowly defeated a motion to let voters decide whether Stipe's name should be stripped from the street.

Mayor Don Lewis says the action wasn't about trying to erase Stipe's contribution to the city.

Stipe served more than 50 years in the Legislature before resigning during a federal election investigation. Stipe pleaded guilty in January 2004 to conspiracy and perjury charges stemming from illegal contributions to the unsuccessful 1998 congressional campaign of Walt Roberts.