EDMOND — Former Insurance Commissioner John Crawford said he is running for office again to resolve the same problems he solved when he was commissioner from 1995 to 1999.

Crawford, 78, will face John Doak, 52, Tuesday in the statewide run-off for the Office of Insurance Commissioner.

Doak claims that Crawford’s understanding of the insurance commissioner’s office is not current with today’s challenges facing Oklahoma.

“We need a leader than can understand insurance, that can identify with Oklahomans,” Doak said.

The winner of the Aug. 24 Republican run-off will face incumbent Insurance Commissioner Kim Holland, 54, in the Nov. 2 general election ballot.

Crawford said he made the department more efficient and reduced workers’ compensation rates. Neither Doak or Crawford approve of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010.

“I forced the workers’ comp board into solvency and we never permitted any double-digit increases in property and casualty rates,” said Crawford, of Oklahoma City. “Today, property and casualty rates are the highest in the United States.”

Crawford said that Doak and Holland lack the experience to run the Office of Insurance Commissioner. An actuary for more than 50 years, Crawford said he has 14 years of regulatory experience. His clients have ranged from Arizona to Prussia, he said.

“I’ve done hundreds and hundreds of financial statements for these companies certified through their solvency with all of these insurance departments.”

The financial integrity of the 1,500-plus insurance companies doing business in Oklahoma is the most critical part of the race for insurance commissioner, he said.

“I will not permit an AIG failure, and that’s through my expertise as actuary,” Crawford said.

Crawford clarified what he meant by how an Oklahoma insurance commissioner could stop the multi-national corporation American International Group from failing. He said he could prevent them from operating in the state of Oklahoma.

Being an actuary enables Doak to protect consumers by understanding complex financial statements and investments, he added. An insurance agent sells a product but an actuary designs the product, Crawford said.

Since leaving the commissioner’s office, Crawford has served as an expert witness and focused on his private investments, he said.

“I am not John Crawford,” Doak said. Much has changed in the insurance business in 12 years, he said.

Being relevant to the needs of Oklahoma means being engaged in the insurance industry, he added.

“I believe whole-heartedly that you need an insurance commissioner, as Title 36 states, who can stand up and take a position and articulate it — why Oklahomans don’t want Obamacare.”

Doak said he learned to build an agency from scratch by dealing with folks across a dinner table for home, auto, life insurance and estate planning needs. He was senior vice president of acquisitions for Ascension Insurance before becoming an agent in Sand Springs.

“One of my past clients was the Port of Catoosa, so I understand the importance of international insurance,” said Doak, who lives in Tulsa.

He served as the Tulsa vice president of Marsh and later served as managing director of AON Risk Services in Oklahoma.

“I’ve insured some of the largest insurance companies in Oklahoma. I’ve been involved with companies from health care, risk management, health and welfare to property and casualty to directors and officers coverage,” said Doak, who has been in the insurance business for 21 years.

Doak said his experience is essential to take to the insurance commissioner’s office. His experience gives him an understanding to know companies need to be solvent, he said.

“The insurance department needs to be a department that will answer customer service calls promptly, help you settle claims fairly and be there when you need him,” Doak said.



TO LEARN MORE about John Doak and John Crawford, visit www.votefordoak.com or www.johncrawford.us.



jcoburn@edmodnsun.com | 341-2121, ext. 114