Tulsa World: Congressional races a study in contrasts

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Congressional races a study in contrasts

Manley

By RANDY KREHBIEL World Staff Writer
Published: 7/23/2008 2:06 AM
Last Modified: 7/23/2008 3:10 AM

Democrats Mark Manley and Georgianna Oliver are miles apart when it comes to the financial resources they're able to put into Tuesday's 1st District congressional primary.

Manley, a patient care technician at St. Francis Hospital, operates on a shoestring and shoe leather. His campaign has been mostly word-of-mouth and knocking on doors.

Oliver, who owns a national real estate software consulting firm, is airing radio spots and putting up signs. She paid for polling and market research and hired a well-known campaign consultant.

Both candidates, however, are counting on dissatisfaction with the Republican administration and incumbent GOP Rep. John Sullivan to propel them into office.

"I'm hoping people can get together to bring about change," Manley said.

"There's no leadership here," Oliver said of Sullivan. "I think people are beginning to think that something different would be better than what we have right now."

Sullivan, elected to Congress in a 2002 special election, has a primary opponent of his own.

Fran Mo-ghaddam (pronounced "mo-GHAD-um") is an insurance broker who lost to Sullivan in 2006. Mo-ghaddam, 66, said she would work to reform the health-care system using "compassion, compromise and caring" and avoid involvement with special interests. Mo-ghaddam is a native of Iran and a naturalized U.S. citizen who has lived in Tulsa for more than 30 years.

Sullivan is a Tulsa native and lifelong resident. He has $615,000 on hand and is defending a seat not held by a Democrat in 22 years.

Oliver, 41, said the initial reaction to her, even among Democrats, has been: "Who are you and who do you think you are?"

Oliver grew up in Sapulpa and worked for two years in the Circulation Department of Newspaper Printing Corp., then the joint operational arm of the Tulsa World and the now-defunct Tulsa Tribune, before attending Oklahoma State University. After graduation, she moved to Washington, D.C., where she worked for U.S. Rep. Bill Brewster, D-Okla., and became involved in housing issues.

Her company, Evergreen Solutions, provides management technology consulting to large commercial real estate firms. Oliver moved Evergreen's headquarters to Tulsa in 2005 and moved here herself about a year ago, she said.

Manley, 58, was born in Ohio but grew up in Oklahoma and has spent most of his life in the Tulsa area. He said his work experience has led to a desire "to promote nonprofit, universal health care."

Oliver said Oklahoma should be in the forefront of new energy technology.

Randy Krehbiel 581-8365
randy.krehbiel@tulsaworld.com

Other federal races on Tuesday’s primary ballot

U.S. Senate: Incumbent Jim Inhofe is expected to have little di>culty against three GOP challengers – perennial candidate Evelyn Rogers, preacher and machinist Dennis Lopez, and attorney Ted Ryals. State Sen. Andrew Rice is favored on the Democratic side against ballot fixture Jim Rogers.

House 2nd District: Democratic incumbent Dan Boren faces token opposition from Kevin Coleman, a Grove resident billing himself as a protest candidate. The winner faces Republican Raymond Wickson in November.

House 5th District: Vietnam War veteran Bert Smith and Oklahoma City lawyer Steven L. Perry vie in the Democratic primary for the right to challenge Republican incumbent Mary Fallin in November.

By RANDY KREHBIEL World Staff Writer

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	Report Comment Graychin, Eucha (7/23/2008 8:28:29 AM) Two years ago, the focus of John Sullivan's campaign was illegal immigration. Did you get what you voted for? I'm voting for Kevin Coleman against Dan Boren. Coleman would support the entire Bill of Rights, not one of the first ten Constitutional Amendments.
	Report Comment Bunkie, (7/23/2008 9:54:11 PM) Mark Manley is a man of integrity. He has been an outspoken voice for truth, accountabilty, justice and equality for several years. Let's elect someone who works in the healthcare industry seeking healthcare for all. Did you know the U.S. ranks 45th in life expectancy in the world? There are multiple examples of Universal Healthcare that work very well. I'm sick of hearing the "stand in a line" retort at least we'd all have a line to get in.
	Report Comment Bunkie, (7/23/2008 10:13:55 PM) Boren is a blue dog Democrat and votes more with the GOP. Coleman has my vote. I'll not vote for another Blue Dog.

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