Published: November 06, 2007 10:17 am      

Local woman seeks office in 2008

EDMOND — Republican leader Dana Murphy of Edmond has announced she is running for the Oklahoma Corporation Commission seat vacated by former Commissioner Denise Bode.

“This state has been incredibly good to me and all my opportunities have come here and I want to give back,” she said.

Bode’s seat currently is filled by Democrat Jim Roth, whom Gov. Brad Henry appointed to the interim position. The election will be Nov. 4, 2008.

Murphy has served as an Administrative Law Judge at the commission and has experience in the oil and gas industry as a geologist and attorney. She also has volunteered her time as vice chairwoman of the Oklahoma Republican Party.

Gary Jones, the state GOP chairman, said Murphy’s experience will help her in the race.

“I think she will be a very formidable candidate and would make a very good corporation commissioner if she is elected,” he said. Murphy ran a campaign for the commission in 2002. Roth announced this morning that he would seek re-election for a full term at the commission.

Murphy believes that by encouraging energy development and innovation, the commission can help lead Oklahoma into the future.

“I think so many more Oklahomans are aware of energy issues now based on what they are hearing about coal-fired plants, natural gas, CO2 emissions. Even if they don’t fully understand it at least they have heard it,” she said.

She said she would like to have a closer look at a proposed coal-fired power plant that the Corporation Commission turned down by a 2-1 vote in October.

“I would have been open to considering going forward on using coal to power the plant, but again I would have to look at the testimony that was presented on the economics.”

OG&E and project partners Public Service Co. of Oklahoma and Oklahoma Municipal Power Authority were rejected in their bid to build the 950-megawatt plant. OMPA, which provides Edmond’s power, would have owned 8 percent of the Red Rock plant.

“They met the first hurdle and that is the need for additional power. Then it came down to whether they should recoup their costs back at the time it was built,” she said.

Murphy’s campaign has established a Web site at www.danamurphy.com.