Second time’s a charm

Congratulations to Dana Murphy, who succeeded in her second try to become a member of the Oklahoma Corporation Commission. Murphy, a Republican, lost to Jeff Cloud in the GOP runoff in 2002. On Tuesday she defeated incumbent Commissioner Jim Roth, who had been appointed last year by Gov. Brad Henry to replace the departed Denise Bode. Murphy will now serve out the final two years of the term. She displayed her mettle during this campaign, first beating state Rep. Rob Johnson in a tight primary race, and then prevailing in the general election in another close finish. Roth’s departure from the commission is the state’s loss. His work ethic, at the Corporation Commission and previously as an Oklahoma County commissioner, and his commitment to public service should be models for all elected officials. Murphy, an oil-and-gas attorney with experience at the Corporation Commission, is qualified for the job. Our hope is that she is able, as she told us, to work with Cloud and that she follows through on her goal to “empower the people around us to do better … I think I can make a difference.”

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