Posted on 10/14/2009 9:17:03 AM PDT by LdSentinal
A Republican businessman cruised to an easy victory Tuesday in an overwhelmingly Democratic state House of Representatives district.
• Todd Russ, Republican: 3,029 (55.9%)
• Larry Peck, Democrat: 2,388 (44.1%)
Results are unofficial until the state Election Board certifies them next week.
Todd Russ garnered 55.9 percent of the votes to win the House District 55 seat, which has been held by a Democrat since 1965. He was opposed by Democrat Larry Peck, who recently retired as an agriculture education instructor and FFA adviser at Sentinel High School.
Russ’ victory increases the Republican majority in the House to the highest in Oklahoma’s history.
About 31.5 percent of registered voters turned out. House District 55 covers Washita County and parts of Caddo, Canadian and Kiowa counties.
Russ, a member of the Cordell City Council, is a former banker who management consults for banks and small businesses.
Russ said he may be sworn in later this week or early next week.
He will first resign his city council post.
He attributed his victory to "a lot of hard work from a grassroots effort from good and local people that really believe in what I believe in.”
Democrats outnumber Republicans by a 2-1 margin in the western Oklahoma district. It has 10,812 registered Democrats and 5,065 registered Republicans, according to the state Election Board. It also has 1,332 independents.
Republicans have made steady gains in the House, claiming the majority after 2004. Their margin has increased from 57-44 after Republicans won the majority in the 2004 elections to 61-40 after the 2008 elections. The victory by Russ gives Republicans their highest number in the House, 62.
Several House members, including House Speaker Chris Benge of Tulsa and Speaker Pro Tempore Kris Steele of Shawnee, campaigned for Russ.
Russ, 48, succeeds Ryan McMullen, who resigned in July to take a federal post. This is the second time that Peck and Russ sought the same office. Russ lost the Senate District 26 general election race in 2006 to Tom Ivester, a Democrat from Elk City; Peck lost to Ivester in the primary election.
I can only hope that in areas where Republicans begin taking back their majorities that they immediately enact draconian punishments for fraudulent voting and registration. And I mean make it painful to even attempt to try it!
This is good news
This goes along with the KY state house seat (wasn’t that the first time ever a Republican got that seat?) and the Albuquerque NM mayor (1st time in 30 years). We know there will be a GOP wave in 2010. The question is, how big? Big enough?
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find only things evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelogus
What about the one in TN? A republican won that too!! GOD please favor us!
Also the GOP picked up a Tennessee State House seat. House seat number 62, which I believe hasn’t gone GOP since Reconstruction. I think the good people out there are starting to see the light. Let’s hope that it’s not too late.
All of these pickups are good news, and I also hope the MSM keeps ignoring them. The more they keep thier head in the sand about what is going on at the grass roots level the better.
I want to see the same looks of shock and disbelief on the network bozos faces as I did in 1994 on election night 2010.
The more the trend keeps up of R’s picking up long time D seats, and the longer the MSM does not report it, the sweeter the tsunami is going to be.
Dang!if it was just a bit warmer year round this New York City Yankee would be right out there. Love ya Okies!
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