Published: October 29, 2008 10:17 am      

Henry on the stump for Lerblance, Roth; visits McAlester

Gov. Brad Henry stopped in McAlester Tuesday to address a crowd of about 80, endorsing his appointee to the state’s Corporation Commission and a local senator.

Commissioner Jim Roth and state Sen. Richard Lerblance, D-Hartshorne, both spoke to those gathered at the downtown session, hosted by the Pittsburg County Democrat Club. Each also enjoyed an abundance of commendations from the governor.

“I take a great deal of pride in all my appointees,” Henry said. “None have worked harder for the state of Oklahoma than Corporation Commissioner Jim Roth.”

Roth was appointed to the post by Henry in June 2007 after former commissioner Denise Bode resigned.

(Other commissioners are Jeff Cloud and Bob Anthony. Cloud also appears on the ballot for re-election to another six years in office.)

Roth is opposed in the election, his first since his appointment, by Republican Dana Murphy.

If elected, he would serve the remaining two years of a six-year term.

“For the past 18 months, I’ve been a voice for the citizens of Southeast Oklahoma,” Roth said when asked by the News-Capital how he would represent the area.

He said he would continue to ensure the commission “is not focused on corporations, but on citizens.”

For instance, he said his vote against a new power plant saved taxpayers in the state about $8 a month on their utility bills. Instead, he said he favors use of existing power plants as well as wind energy.

“Rodgers and Hammerstein got us right,” Roth said, referring to the authors of “Oklahoma!” and its refrain, “When the wind comes sweeping down the plains ...”

“That’s who we are.”

Roth said he also supports exploring opportunities with switchgrass. Ethanol, on the other hand, “was a mistake.”

The governor said Roth’s integrity and honesty are “unquestioned,” and that especially in a time of economic and energy crisis “it is important to have a corporation commissioner of the highest ethical standards.”

The governor’s stop in McAlester “to recognize your delegation” was brief — he left the podium for a telephone conference — but he made reference to his frequent visits to the region while growing up. His family, he said, visited Lake Eufaula and McAlester often on weekends.

“I think this is the most beautiful area in Oklahoma, in the nation,” he said. “Absolutely, this is God’s country.”

Sen. Lerblance, who is opposed in his race for office by local rancher Kenny Sherrill, was also endorsed by the governor.

“He is one of the brightest minds, if not the brightest mind, in the state Senate right now,” Henry said of the senator.

“Here is someone who understands how to get things done.”

Lerblance, of Hartshorne, has served as Oklahoma’s District 7 senator since 2003.

“I sincerely believe it would be a travesty and a disservice to not send him back” to the Senate, the governor said.

Early voting for the election begins Friday.

“It is so critically important,” Henry said, to be active in the election, and he urged the audience to go home or back to work and call family, friends and neighbors.

“Make sure people get to the polls and vote right,” the governor said.