Two new Oklahoma City-area state legislative seats up for grabs in primary election
Local voters will weigh in on representatives for two legislative districts new to the Oklahoma City metro area in next week's primary elections.
A shift in population confirmed in the 2020 Census prompted the move of two legislative seats from eastern Oklahoma to the metro area. House District 36 now includes the cities of Luther, Jones, Harrah and Choctaw, while Senate District 18 now mostly envelopes the city of Yukon.
Only Republicans are running in the races, and The Oklahoman has compiled their reasons for seeking the seat and the issues they would like to tackle at the state Capitol.
The primary election is Tuesday, June 28.
Who is running for Oklahoma's new Senate District 18?
Jack Stewart
Jack Stewart, 72, has been a Canadian County commissioner for more than 12 years, after a career as a civil engineer.
With Canadian County being the fastest-growing county in the state, Stewart said there are a lot of needs to address for the new Senate district. Stewart points to his experience working for the constituents at the county level, and said he feels poised to do so at the state level, as well.
"Experience is the bottom line," Stewart said. "As a county commissioner, I am involved in just a little bit of everything."
Stewart has raised $29,000, including $2,500 from political action committees.
Some of Stewart's priorities if elected include:
Improving infrastructure, including water systems and broadband.
Ensuring public safety organizations are fully staffed.
Listening to teachers and mental health professionals to find gun safety solutions.
Hunter Zearley
Hunter Zearley, who turns 28 Friday, is the appointments and leadership assistant for House Speaker Charles McCall. He has lived in Yukon for about a year and a half, having decided to settle there with his wife.
Zearley decided to run for the Senate seat to "give back to the community" by using the knowledge he has gained through his time at the Capitol to get things done for his district.
"I would be an advocate day in and day out on a variety of issues my constituents want me to address," Zearley said.
Zearley has raised $52,000, including $8,000 from political action committees. Zearley has been endorsed by organizations including the State of Oklahoma Fraternal Order of Police, the Professional Firefighters of Oklahoma and the Oklahoma State Chamber.
Some of the issues Zearley would like to tackle at the state Capitol include:
Continued investment in public safety.
Investing in the district's infrastructure needs.
Pushing back against federal overreach.
Who is running for Oklahoma's new House District 36?
Charles De Furia
Charles De Furia, 71, is a Vietnam veteran who lives in Luther. He was a delegate for the state GOP convention in April 2021, where he was asked to leave after shouting during Sen. Jim Inhofe's speech on his decision to certify President Joe Biden's election win.
De Furia decided to run for the House seat after becoming frustrated when he and one of his daughters faced losing their employment if they didn't receive a COVID-19 vaccine. De Furia was working for the IRS, and his daughter is a nurse; both received religious exemptions.
De Furia said he felt he had "to do something," and running for the newly created seat seemed like a good way to start.
De Furia has raised $680 from supporters and $1,500 in in-kind contributions.
Some of the issues De Furia would like to tackle at the state Capitol include:
Increase "election integrity."
Raising the homestead and personal income tax exemptions.
Banning abortion with no exceptions.
Banning public schools from teaching about transgender or LGBTQ+ people.
John George
John George, 54, recently retired as president of the local Fraternal Order of Police union, ending a more than 30-year career with the Oklahoma City Police Department.
George announced his campaign last June, and said he's been knocking doors since August.
"Everybody says politics is all about timing," George said. "With a brand-new seat and no incumbent, it was kind of like now or never."
A resident of Newalla, George said the district has seen a population boom with no increase in resources. He hopes to change that, if elected.
George has raised $89,000, including $44,000 from political action committees.
George's priorities at the state Capitol would include:
Shoring up medical marijuana laws.
Criminal justice reform, without decriminalizing more things.
Supporting the elimination of the state grocery tax.
Finding ways to help with inflation and cutting taxes.
Donald Paden
Donald Paden, 64, is a graduate of Harrah High School and an Air Force veteran.
Paden said he is running because he's tired of representatives who aren't from the area.
"Our district is growing because of the turnpike," Paden told The Oklahoman via text. "We need to have a voice so we don't get ran over like we did on the turnpike."
Paden has raised nearly $2,000 from supporters.
Some of the issues Paden would work on include:
Road resurfacing and repairs.
Improving school security protocols.
Outlawing chaining up dogs and requiring pet owners to place microchips in their animals.
Anita Raglin
Anita Raglin, 62, is a business owner in Harrah, the city she has called home for 44 years.
Raglin said she wants to focus on local issues rather than national political talking points. She said, if elected, she would work to serve the needs of all parties in her district.
"Somebody who really cares and is from here has to get in the fight to get the money we need to keep up with the growth, or else it's all going to be backwards," Raglin said.
Raglin has raised nearly $12,000 from supporters.
Some of Raglin's priorities if elected include:
Fixing roads left in disrepair after construction of the Kickapoo Turnpike.
Investing more in public education.
Figuring out a compromise on the school choice issue.
Wade Roberts
Wade Roberts, 41, served over 21 years in the Oklahoma Army National Guard and lives in Harrah.
Roberts said he has a proven leadership track record and hopes to bring more accountability and transparency to the Legislature. He also said he wants to be hones with voters on what kind of representative he would be.
"If I'm not the best person to represent you, don't vote for me," Roberts said. "I'm not going to lie to somebody to get a vote, it's my job to project exactly who I am."
Roberts has raised $1,600 from supporters.
Some of Roberts' priorities if elected would include:
Banning abortion with no exceptions.
Investing more in rural infrastructure and ensuring replacing old roads.
Ensuring the retainment of Oklahoma's constitutional carry gun law.
Editor's note: This story was updated to reflect that George said he would hope to avoid decriminalization, not criminalization, of more things.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: New Oklahoma state legislative seats part of June 28 primary election
