A Republican race between a former administrative judge and a State House representative is the only one apart from federal races on the state ballot.

The Corporation Commission deals with utility rate hikes, oil and gas exploration, gasoline pump regulation and a host of other business activities.

Dana Murphy faces Rep. Rob Johnson on July 29. The winner of the primary faces Democrat Jim Roth – the only openly homosexual elected official in Oklahoma – for a short term caused by the resignation of Denise Bode.

 “We are facing a time when consumers everywhere are dealing with high fuel prices, high food prices, high energy prices,” Murphy said. “I think the challenge is to try to find ways to keep costs down and reduce them.

“I think it’s a challenge to all elected officials to not just give lip service but to do something. We need to take some action.”

Murphy was born in Woodward and her family made a living through agriculture. She attended Central State University in Edmond but got her undergraduate degree from Oklahoma State. She graduated in the top 10 percent of her class with a degree in geology. Murphy worked as a geologist for 10 years but then earned her law degree after attending night school at Oklahoma City University.

“I’m just a really committed Oklahoman,” Murphy said. “I’m a fifth generation Oklahoman. All my family lives here.

“I’m not a career politician. That’s not my aspiration. I just want to help all Oklahomans and be a watchdog for everyone.”

A recent news report said as many as 10 percent of the gasoline pumps in Texas are not accurately delivering a gallon of gas.

“We have to make sure the consumers and regulated entities are treated fairly,” Murphy said.

She served as an administrative law judge for the Oklahoma Corporation Commission for about six years. She was named co-employee of the year in 1997 and received the Commissioners’ Public Servant Award in 2001.

At the end of 2001, Murphy left her position as an administrative law judge and began working as a consulting geologist in order to run for the statewide office of Corporation Commissioner.  In her first run for the Corporation Commission, she got more than 40 percent of the primary vote.

Murphy returned to private law practice in 2003 with an emphasis in oil and gas title, transactional and regulatory work. She serves on the Board of Farmers Royalty Company. She is also a personal fitness trainer and is active in the Oklahoma Bar Association, Edmond Chamber of Commerce and American Association of Petroleum Geologists. Murphy previously served as a trustee and is currently a care chaplain for the Church of the Servant United Methodist Church in Oklahoma City.

Public Service Company, which is regulated by the Corporation Commission, recently asked for an 11 percent increase in electric bills. “PSO is going after a fuel adjustment increase,” Johnson said. “That’s due to the cost of natural gas. They are trying to pass through the cost of the natural gas.”

“One of the problems I have with our state is that we have to be diversified in our fuel supplies. The Corporation Commission doesn’t determine that, but I think they can be leading advocates in saying we need to look at all different possibilities.”

OG&E in Western Oklahoma is getting involved in wind power.

“The problem is that if we are completely reliant on natural gas, which by the way is great for our state, we are completely subject to the price of natural gas,” Johnson said.

Johnson, a Kingfisher native, was elected to the Oklahoma Legislature in November, 2004.  After two brief years of service, Johnson was selected by former Speaker Lance Cargill to serve as Majority Whip, one of the highest ranking leadership positions in the House of Representatives. 

He currently serves as a member of the Judiciary and Public Safety Committee, Agriculture and Commerce Sub-Committee, the Rules Committee, and the Energy and Technology Committee, where he was appointed as a freshman because of his expertise in federal and state energy issues.

Johnson is a member of  Leadership Kingfisher County, Leadership Oklahoma, and the American Council of Young Political Leaders.

Johnson and his wife of 10 years, Michelle, have two daughters, Kensington and McKellyn. Their family resides in Kingfisher County where five generations of the Johnson family have made their home.

He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Oklahoma State University and a law degree from the University of Oklahoma College of Law.

Johnson served as a legislative assistant to former U.S. Rep. Wes Watkins and Legislative Director to Rep. Tom Cole.

The original article can be found here.