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Eight candidates file for Oklahoma House District 1 seat [The Oklahoman, Oklahoma City](Daily Oklahoman (Oklahoma City) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Aug. 25--The vacant House District 1 seat in southeastern Oklahoma drew a crowd. Eight candidates -- four Republicans, two Democrats and two independents -- are seeking the seat that covers most of McCurtain County. "It shows there's a lot of interest in this special House election," said state Election Board Secretary Paul Ziriax. "I would describe it as a larger than expected number of candidates who filed for the office." The three-day filing period ended Wednesday. Candidates have until 5 p.m. Friday to withdraw or to challenge the candidacy of the other contenders. The post became vacant when Rusty Farley, who was elected last year, died July 4. Farley, 57, died after suffering a pulmonary aneurysm. Keith Bain, of Valliant, was the only contender to file Wednesday. Bain, 55, is a Republican. It's the first time he is seeking an elective office. "I ain't a country-club Republican -- I ain't never been in a country club," he said. "I identify myself more with the tea party people." Bain, a farmer who says he also is an auctioneer and shoes horses, said he wants to reduce the size of state government. "Our taxes are too high," he said. "We have too many government employees. They aren't producing. I'm a farmer by trade, and I know if you grow a crop and you have it too thick and you have too many weeds in it, it won't produce. But if you get in there and hoe it and thin it out, you produce a lot of vegetables, a lot of fruit." Other candidates Other Republican contenders are Kenny Sivard, 24, who works at a Broken Bow funeral home; Joe Silk, 53, a bed-and-breakfast inn owner from near Broken Bow; and Kevin George, 47, who owns an electronics business in Garvin. The Democratic candidates are Donald Ray, 65, a retired superintendent of Haworth Public Schools, and Curtis McDaniel, 59, principal of Smithville High School. Independent candidates are James Skipper, 20, of Smithville, a construction worker, and Bethany Farley, 28, of Idabel, who previously worked for the local office of the state Department of Human Services and is the daughter of Rusty Farley. Primary is Nov. 8 Registered Democrats outnumber Republican registered voters more than 6-1 in House District 1. Before leaving the Election Board office, Bain took a pile of forms voters can use to change their voter registration. The deadline to change voter registration is Oct. 14. "I have a lot of kinfolk that are yellow-dog Democrats," he said. "They won't be able to vote for me unless they are Republicans." The primary election for the Republican and Democratic candidates is Nov. 8. Independent candidates have no primary; their names go straight on the general election ballot. The general election is Feb. 14. The legislative session begins Feb. 6. ___ (c)2011 The Oklahoman Visit The Oklahoman at www.newsok.com Distributed by MCT Information Services |