Published: July 28, 2008 09:07 pm      

Roth looks for larger state role in energy

EDMOND — When Gov. Adlai Stevenson of Illinois accepted the Democratic nomination for the presidency in 1952 he delivered an address to the convention that electrified the assembled delegates. “Let’s talk sense to the American people,” he said. “Let’s tell them the truth, that there are no gains without pains, that we are on the eve of great decisions, no easy decisions, like resistance when you are attacked, but a long patient, costly struggle which alone can assure triumph over the great enemies of mankind — war, poverty and tyranny — and the assaults upon human dignity which are the most grievous consequences of each.”

And Stevenson went on to run a presidential campaign in which he eschewed gimmicks and personal attacks and talked about the issues that confronted the American people. He would lose that election to Gen. Dwight Eisenhower.

Despite his defeat, Stevenson inspired many residents with his sincerity, decency, intellect and dedication to public service. Decades later, Washington Post columnist Mary McGrory would recall fondly Stevenson’s 1952 campaign, saying that “Politically speaking, it was the Christmas morning of our lives.”

There is currently an Oklahoma political figure, Corporation Commissioner Jim Roth, who has a somewhat similar effect on his supporters. Roth, like Stevenson, prefers serious discussion about issues over political gimmickry, and he also is not known for making personal attacks on his opponents.

Roth, who is a graduate of Kansas State University and the Oklahoma City University School of Law, began his political career when he was elected to the Oklahoma County Board of Commissioners in 2002. As county commissioner, Roth sponsored an ambitious program to raise home ownership in the central part of Oklahoma City that was part of his district. Legal title to many houses in blighted areas in the city was often held by Oklahoma County due to non payment of taxes. Roth’s program allowed low and moderate income individuals in Oklahoma City to acquire title to houses that were owned by Oklahoma County and to finance their renovation through low-interest loans that were financed by bonds issued by the county.

Roth also brought a new degree of professionalism to the Oklahoma County Courthouse, and worked to ensure that the county’s employees were not subject to political interference as they performed their official duties. He also developed a good working relationship with the Oklahoma City business community. Roth won re-election to the Oklahoma County Commission in 2006 with more than 60 percent of the votes cast.

In 2007, Gov. Brad Henry appointed Roth to the Corporation Commission to fill the position that had become vacant when Denise Bode resigned from that body. Roth is running for the position this year.

In recent months he has made appearances throughout the state in support of his candidacy. And the attendees of those events receive from Roth a virtual tutorial on Oklahoma’s possible energy future. He speaks of the role that Oklahoma has played in the nation’s energy production and estimates that the state has historically produced more than 10 percent of the nation’s domestic energy in the form of fossil fuels.

Roth believes that Oklahoma can play a larger role in the production of clean energy in the years to come. He cites studies that show that Oklahoma has double the wind power of Texas, and that if Oklahoma’s wind power was properly harnessed that it could produce enough energy to satisfy more than 9 percent of the nation’s electricity needs. He also sees the fields of the Sooner State as a potential source of biofuels, and points to research currently being done at Oklahoma State University on how to convert hay and crop residues to clean energy.

Roth believes that the Oklahoma Corporation Commission should encourage the development of those sources of clean energy.

The winner of today’s Republican primary between Dana Murphy and Rob Johnson will face Roth in the Nov. 4 general election.



WILLIAM F. O’BRIEN is an Oklahoma City attorney. His views are his own.