Dana Murphy grew up in Woodward, the daughter of parents who came from small towns, and she wants to bring that type of thinking to the Oklahoma Corporation Commission.

“I want to bring a perspective that’s not there. I have both a rural and an urban background as well,” she said.

She has 20 years experience in the energy sector and experience in the private sector as well as government. Murphy said she understands the oil and gas business and also knows the problems of families. Her experience includes six years at the corporation commission as an administrative law judge.

“I am the only candidate who has testified as an expert witness before the corporation commission, presented cases as an attorney and heard cases as an administrative law judge,” she said.

Murphy was in Enid Monday for a fundraising event at the home of oilman Lew Ward. Ward introduced U.S. Rep. Mary Fallin, who introduced Murphy.

“We’re having times in the nation we haven’t seen before,” Fallin said.

She credited Oklahoma with diversifying its economy after the oil bust of the 1980s. However the rest of the world is seeing stressful times and Fallin said Oklahomans are fortunate to live where they do.

One of her friends in Congress from Michigan said there are severe economic problems in that state and in Las Vegas one in four homes is in foreclosure.

“Oklahoma revenues are strong, banks are solid and stable and the oil and gas industry has helped keep Oklahoma strong,” she said. “Americans should be proud producers of America’s energy.”

In her introduction, Fallin said Murphy will win the election be-cause she is in the right place at the right time with the right knowledge of the job. Murphy has been active in the Oklahoma Republican party and has run for office before. She has both a law degree and a degree in geology.

“She supports things Oklahoma stands for, traditional values. She is the perfect candidate and the perfect next corporation commissioner,” Fallin said.

She said Murphy will be ready to step in the first day without on-the-job training. Her opponent is Democrat Jim Roth, who was appointed by Gov. Brad Henry.

Fallin said Roth is well-financed.

“I don’t need this job, I want it,” Murphy told the enthusiastic crowd.

She said the race is about “us” and where we go as a nation. It is about where America finds leaders to take decisive action.

“This is about giving everything I have to the job,” she said.

The corporation commission has not planned ahead and, Murphy said short-term, mid-term and long-term planning is needed. The state also needs those who will step up and tell the truth, she said.

“This is about everyday Okla-homans. We should be the energy mecca of the United States,” she said.

Murphy repeated the statute defining what the corporation commission does, saying it affects the lives of every Oklahoman, every day, and that it matters who is making the decisions.

“We need to return to a World War II mentality when we all dug in and to bring this country back to basics the founders intended,” she said
Mentioning the fundraising event, Murphy said television commercials are about to start and money is important. Repeating another Oklahoman, she said “I have all the money I need, it’s just in your pocket.”

The original article can be found here.