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August 25, 2010

'Okie Doak' wins insurance commission runoff

Lisa Shearer The Edmond Sun

EDMOND — Tulsan John Doak ran away with the Republican nomination for state insurance commissioner Tuesday night over former commissioner John Crawford.

“I just want to thank the people around the state who supported us,” Doak said Tuesday via cell phone from his watch party.

Doak won with 84,570 votes, or 70.55 percent, according to the Oklahoma State Election Board Web site. Crawford carried 35,294 votes, or 29.45 percent.

Doak is a 21-year career insurance agent, who resigned from State Farm Insurance in Tulsa on May 31 to campaign full time for state insurance commissioner.

Crawford, who left the state office 12 years ago for consulting and retirement, entered the runoff as the primary election winner with 92,924 votes, or 41.68 percent, which was not enough to avoid the runoff with Doak, who July 27 received 87,274 votes, or 39.14 percent.

In the runoff, Doak’s numbers stayed about the same while Crawford’s significantly dipped.

Tuesday’s runoff election came the same day as a state Supreme Court ruling that a 1 percent fee on health insurance plans scheduled to take effect Friday is unconstitutional. State Insurance Commissioner Kim Holland filed the lawsuit July 20 challenging how House Bill 2437 was passed in the final days of this year’s legislative session. The fee would have generated an estimated $78 million to go toward the state’s Medicaid program.

Doak had campaigned through the primary on this issue, saying it was unconstitutional.

“We’re glad Commissioner Holland has finally stood up for Oklahomans,” Doak said Tuesday night of the ruling.

Now, he wants her to address Senate Bill 1556, which approved a fee increase from $10 to $25 for Oklahomans to obtain a copy of their driving records, making it the highest such fee of its type in the nation.

“Now she needs to file on the MVR tax, which is just as unconstitutional,” Doak said. “We need someone in office who understands these things.”

Holland issued a statement to the press Tuesday night stating that she is proud of the work she has accomplished in her term and that insurance regulation affects every family and business in Oklahoma.

“I am committed to continuing my work as the people’s trusted watchdog and advocate. I congratulate Mr. Doak on his win and hope he shares my commitment,” Holland stated.

Doak, a first-time candidate who campaigned with slogan of “Okie Doak,” attributed his strong showing in the runoff to an intense 50-county tour in the past five weeks and personally thanked the many Republican women’s groups he met with during the campaign.

“These women are just outstanding and the support which they’ve given me and their hospitality is truly overwhelming,” he said.

The Republican nominee said his next steps will be to continue to carry his message that the next state insurance commissioner needs to reflect Oklahoma values. Doak’s stated values in his campaign are that he is pro-life, pro-business, opposes federally mandated insurance and wants to increase insurance options for private consumers, including being able to buy insurance across state lines and for association health plans.

“Oklahoma wants someone who can win against Kim Holland, an Obama delegate,” he said.

“I plan on continuing to listen to the citizens of Oklahoma,” Doak said.

Doak and Holland will face each other in the Nov. 2 general election.



lshearer@edmondsun.com | 341-2121, ext. 110

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