Published: August 26, 2008 11:41 pm         

Sanders wins nomination

Mike Sanders won the Re-publican nomination for the state House District 59 seat Tuesday, defeating Chris Cam-eron.

With all precincts reporting in the runoff primary, Sanders had 1,458 votes, to 1,240 for Cameron. Both men are King-fisher residents.

Sanders said Tuesday night he was overwhelmed by the vote.

“I’m absolutely thankful the voters of District 59 heard our positive message of hope and real issues that matter to western Oklahoma,” Sanders said.

However, he cautioned supporters they are only halfway done and there are only 70 days until the Nov. 4 general election. Sanders will face Democrat Donald Edward Russell, of Hennessey.

The winner will replace former state Rep. Rob Johnson, R-Kingfisher, who decided not to run for re-election and lost in his bid to win a seat on the Oklahoma Corporation Com-mission.

Sanders said people res-ponded to his message about progress on road and bridge repairs, rural health care, education, tort reform and workers’ compensation re-form, along with economic development in western Ok-lahoma.

“We need economic development. When kids leave these small towns they don’t come back. We need to inject a little life and energy into western Oklahoma, and that will be my mission,” he said.

“I want western Oklahoma to become vibrant again, and I look forward to putting my experience and knowledge to work,” he said.

District 59 includes all of Dewey County and parts of Blaine, Canadian, Kingfisher, Major and Woodward counties.



House District 57



In state House District 57 race, only eight votes separated the two Republicans in the runoff primary.

Harold Wright, of Weatherford, polled 902 votes to 894 for Lyle Miller, of Clinton. The winner will face Democrat Perry Adams, of Custer City, in November.

District 57 includes parts of Blaine, Canadian and Custer counties.



Woodward County sheriff



Joe Adams came away with the Democratic nomination for Woodward County sheriff in Tuesday’s runoff primary.

Adams took almost 61 percent of the vote and won 13 of 15 precincts, beating suspended incumbent Les Morton, who was trying for a fourth term as sheriff.

Adams, who is a Woodward County deputy, will face Republican Gary Stanley in November.

Morton faces nine felony embezzlement charges accusing him of using a county vehicle and county funds to take personal trips between October 2005 and November 2007. A preliminary hearing on the charges has been set for Oct. 27-28 in Woodward County District Court.

Last month, the Oklahoma Attorney General’s Office dropped 20 felony fraud counts against Morton that had been filed in March through a grand jury indictment.

All votes will be certified Sept. 3.



Staff writer Rowynn Ricks, of the Woodward News, contributed to this story.