Coverage of local candidates at "Meet the Candidates" forum

Corporation Commissioner (Short Term)

The Farm Bureau also extended an invitation to candidates running for Corporation Commissioner (OCC), in both the short term and full term seats. Only one candidate out of the five running for office chose to be represented at the forum.

Dana Murphy

OCC short term candidate Dana Murphy did not attend the forum, but was represented by campaign member Jaylyan Richardson. Murphy is running as a Republican candidate, and will face off against fellow Republican challenger Rob Johnson on Tuesday’s primary election. The winner will run against Democrat incumbent Jim Roth in November. Richardson briefly addressed the crowd. “First of all, when we go and talk to groups about the Corporation Commission, a lot of times people say, ‘What does the Corporation Commission do? I know it has something to do with energy, and it probably has something to do with oil and gas and wells,’” she said. Richardson said that Murphy often tells people the easiest way to sum up the OCC’s involvement in different fields is to remember the acronym TOPP. Broken down, TOPP stands for Transportation, Oil and gas, Petroleum storage tanks and Public utilities, all areas that the OCC regulates.

Richardson described Murphy as the most unique candidate, because she has worked with the Corporation Commission previously from three different areas. “She was a geologist for 10 years, and even gave expert witness at the Corporation Commission because of all she new in her area of expertise,” Richardson said. “She was an attorney representing clients at the Corporation Commission. And she was an administrative law judge for six years at the Corporation Commission. So she’s seen it from three different angles and she gives it a very unique perspective.”

Currently Murphy is an oil and gas attorney who specializes in representing mineral owners and producers, Richardson said, giving her over 20 years of experience in the energy industry.

Richardson closed by encouraging everyone to visit Murphy’s Web site, www.danamurphy.com.

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