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By Helen Barrett
Dana L. Murphy made a sweeping tour of Woods County Friday
as she began her campaign for Oklahoma Corporation Commission.
Murphy visited Waynoka and Freedom before coming to Alva to
tour the NWOSU campus, the city of Alva
and greet citizens at a special reception in her honor held at McDermott Real
Estate Agency Friday afternoon.
In her honor, DeVine Water lined the entry wall with
personalized bottles of water bearing Murphy’s name and photograph.
This is Murphy’s second attempt to become a member of the
OCC. After working as an administrative law judge at the OCC, she left her
position in late 2001 to begin working as a consulting geologist and run for
the statewide office.
In 2003 Murphy returned to private law practice with an
emphasis in title, regulatory practice and oil and gas litigation.
Murphy is well acquainted with the plight of mineral owners
in northwest Oklahoma
having grown up in the Woodward area. As a fifth generation Oklahoman, she is
very familiar with agriculture and petroleum issues.
Murphy believes Oklahoma’s
energy is a “Successful Past, Bright Future.”
“In one hundred years, Oklahoma has gone from being the new kid on
the block to being a leader in Energy,” Murphy said.
Based on 2006 data, Oklahoma
ranked third in natural gas production and fifth in oil production in the United States,
Murphy said.
“In an era of declining oil and gas resources, alternative
fuels are becoming more vital to our future,” she said. “Currently, we’re
developing wind power, solar energy, hydrogen power and bio fuels.”
Coal, once a staple of energy, is being reinvented through
improving technology as a source of cleaner, increasingly efficient power,
Murphy said.
“Challenge and excitement lie ahead for the energy industry
and consumers alike,” Murphy said. “Oklahoma,
with its rich tradition of leadership in the energy industry, is poised to
continue that greatness in the coming years.”
Currently Murphy lives in Edmond. She is a member of the Oklahoma Bar
Association, American Association of Petroleum Geologists and the Oklahoma
Geological Society.
She is also a part-time personal fitness trainer. She
continues to be actively involved with her family’s farm and ranch in Ellis County.
“Oklahomans need to know that I am someone who understands
both rural and urban areas and the impact of energy on both family and business
budgets and ways of life,” Murphy said.
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