Dan Arthrell, Katie Henke win District 71 primary, will meet in April 3 general election

BY RANDY KREHBIEL World Staff Writer
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
2/15/12 at 9:47 AM

Related story: Unofficial election results.

Democrat Dan Arthrell and Republican Katie Henke were runaway winners in the state House District 71 special election primary Tuesday.

The two each drew a large majority in the Brookside-based district and will meet in an April 3 general election to fill the vacant seat.

Henke, a primary schoolteacher, won a five-way GOP primary with more than 75 percent of the vote. Attorney Gerald Lovoi finished a distant second.

Arthrell took more than 85 percent of the vote in defeating attorney Robert Walpole in the Democratic primary. Arthrell is vice president of the Community Services Council, a nonprofit organization.

Through odd circumstances, Arthrell and Henke will be campaigning while the Legislature is in session. More than usual, legislative issues are likely to be at the forefront of voters' thinking.

The two candidates seem to offer differing positions on those issues.

Henke, 31, has indicated support for Gov. Mary Fallin's agenda, including a large initial cut and gradual elimination of the income tax.

Arthrell, 65, opposes the governor's plan.

Henke said: "The issues are probably going to be what the governor laid out in the State of the State. The income tax. Health-care mandates. What can we do to keep ourselves competitive."

"My view is pretty simple," Arthrell said. "Until we take care of education and roads and bridges, we don't need to be doing anything else."

Arthrell said he is "becoming addicted" to knocking on doors and talking to people in the district.

"What I hear is that people are tired of the fighting and squabbling and want to solve the state's problems," he said.

Henke said her margin of victory was "overwhelming."

"I'm thrilled with the turnout and excited to get started on the general election," she said.

Historically, the district has heavily favored Republicans but has become more competitive for Democrats over the past decade.

Three other legislative special elections were held Tuesday.

In southeastern Oklahoma, Democrats won back a House seat they lost in 2010, as Smithville High School Principal Curtis McDaniel easily outdistanced three other candidates, including the daughter of the late Rusty Farley. Farley's death last year created the vacancy in HD 1.
In the Senate, Guthrie nonprofit administrator Ann "A.J." Griffin edged out evangelist Wayne Murphey, father of state Rep. Jason Murphey, and two other candidates in a Republican primary. Griffin will be a heavy favorite against Democrat Magnus W.T. Scott Sr. of Langston.
And Democratic state Rep. Al McAffrey won the Senate District 46 seat vacated by Democrat Andrew Rice with a convincing victory over Republican Jason Reese.

Candidate	Votes	Percentage
Katie Henke	819	77.26%
Gerald J. Lovoi	135	12.74%
Lydia M. D'Ross	43	4.06%
Bonnie Huffines	41	3.87%
Evelyn L. Rogers	22	2.08%
TOTAL	1,060	100%

Candidate	Votes	Percentage
Dan Arthrell	581	85.57%
Robert J. Walpole	98	14.43%
TOTAL	679	100%

Original Print Headline: Arthrell, Henke win primaries

Randy Krehbiel 918-581-8365
randy.krehbiel@tulsaworld.com

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Dan Arthrell and Katie Henke: They won their respective primaries handily in their bids to represent the Brookside-based state House District 71.