Tulsa World: Six incumbents in Congress draw 17 opponents

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Six incumbents in Congress draw 17 opponents

By RANDY KREHBIEL World Staff Writer
Published: 6/8/2008 2:50 AM
Last Modified: 6/8/2008 4:02 AM

The June filing period is to politics what opening day is to baseball — eye-catching prospects, reliable old veterans, optimism all around.

Every team is a contender on opening day.

Every candidate has a chance in June.

So it is for this year's lineup for congressional races. All five representatives drew opponents. No fewer than six candidates filed against senior U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe, including three from his own party.

In all, the six incumbents drew 17 challengers.

The most prominent is probably state Sen. Andrew Rice, D-Oklahoma City, who has been campaigning against Inhofe since last year.

The most intriguing, though, may be Georgianna Oliver, one of two Democrats taking a run at Republican 1st District Congressman John Sullivan.

Oliver, 41, is a Sapulpa High School and Oklahoma State University graduate who returned to Tulsa about a year ago after building a successful business in Washington, D.C. Although largely unknown in local political circles, she is not without assets, financial and otherwise.

Oliver worked for then-U.S. Rep. Bill Brewster of Oklahoma in the 1990s, specializing in housing and tax issues, and for a national affordable housing association. Her company, Evergreen Solutions, has a national client base and she serves on several trade association boards.

"I'm running because I know I can make a difference," Oliver said in a telephone interview this week. "I'm not a do-nothing person."

Still, she concedes that beating an incumbent 1st District Republican is a tall order. To even get that far, she'll have to win the July 29 Democratic primary.

Her opponent, Mark Manley, an ardent advocate of impeachment for President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney, is an aggressive, grassroots campaigner.

Oliver readily admits she's new to the game, but thinks her energy and business experience qualifies her for Congress.

"So many of the people I went to high school with live out of state and never came back," she said. "But the truth is, they want to come back. What I have to say is, we want them back. All roads lead back to Oklahoma. It is truly unique."

Sullivan actually has a primary opponent of his own, Tulsa insurance broker Fran Mo-ghaddam, who ran against Sullivan in 2006, too.

Filing against Democratic 2nd District Congressman Dan Boren were Democrat Kevin Coleman, a Grove real estate investor, and Okmulgee Republican Raymond Wickson, who lost the GOP primary to Patrick Miller two years ago.

Republican 3rd District Congressman Frank Lucas also drew two opponents, Medford Democrat Frankie Robbins, a retired engineer, and Cherokee independent Forrest Michael.

Challengers to 4th District Congressman Tom Cole are Pauls Valley Democrat Blake Cummings, an independent oil and gas consultant, and independent David Joyce of Wynnewood. Neither seems to have any political experience.

Republican 5th District Congressman Mary Fallin's opponents, by contrast, include Bert Smith, a Vietnam veteran and school teacher who ran for Congress in 2004 and 2006. A second Democrat, Steven L. Perry, also filed.

Randy Krehbiel 581-8365
randy.krehbiel@tulsaworld.com
By RANDY KREHBIEL World Staff Writer

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	Report Comment Graychin, Eucha (6/8/2008 8:54:47 AM) I've never heard of Ms. Oliver, but how could she be anything but an improvement over John Sullivan? Has Sullivan accomplished anything other than sending out an election flier two years ago about illegal immigration? Talk is cheap.
	Report Comment KJNOKIE, (6/8/2008 1:47:59 PM) Inhofe could probably be eliminated, if he were given a mental competentcy exam.
	Report Comment Kryptonite, Sand Springs (6/8/2008 1:49:58 PM) James Inhofe: A national embarrassment for Oklahoma. John Sullivan: A apprentice national embarrassment for Oklahoma.
	Report Comment AnotherActivist, Collinsville (6/8/2008 3:53:42 PM) Mark Manley has not only been a principaled Impeachment activist, but is running his campaign to make a point, give government back to the people. He is offering people a REAL choice, government for the people, by the people, and not for the wealthy by the rich and powerful. Mark will run a campaign with little or no money and hopes to mount an effective grassroots campaign based on peace and accountability. It apparently has already excluded him from even a phone call from the author, will the press even give him a fair shake given that he is not one of the rich and powerful?
	Report Comment Zinn2002, Lindsay (6/8/2008 7:08:19 PM) Mark Manely should have received coverage in the articel equal to that of Georgianna Oliver. Had he, readers would have found out that not only is he a principaled Impeachement activist, but is running a grassroots campaign based on the fact that our House and Senate were formed to be run for the PEOPLE by the PEOPLE...Not for the people by the RICH AND POWERFUL. Mark may not have "assets, financial and otherwise", but he is an honest, hardworking, progressive and REAL democrat with the best interest of Oklahoma and our nation at heart. Further, Blake Cummings of Paul's Valley may lack "political experience," but it is necessary to mention that he, too, is running a grassroots campaign becuase he did not see it fit that Tom Cole gets a free pass back to the House in January. We need to embrace these "ordinary citizens" as they symbolize, with heart and sould, what our government is really supposed to be about.
	Report Comment John BA, (6/9/2008 9:55:00 AM) James Inhofe is a Global embarrassment for Oklahoma.
	Report Comment angelaforpeace, Stillwater (6/9/2008 3:46:18 PM) I am wondering how we as a Nation are going to move our country forward in a progressive matter coming up with real solutions for the people by the people if money, power and the press controls who and what we know. I am so hopeful that we are going to have some options for replacing our current leaders. I am sorry though that equal attention to all who have put themselves out there to help our state in replacing Oklahoma’s leaders are not being given equal time. How can we change things if money stands in the way of real leadership, government accountability and progressive policies that could benefit the majority not just the rich and powerful? Mark Manely deserves the same attention and our thanks for running to make a difference. Activist, Angela Stillwater

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