Oklahoma Corporation Commissioner Dana Murphy says she is going to seek re-election to a second full term in office, telling supporters in a March 1 letter, “This journey has resulted in a very clear answer to pursue re-election.”
She wrote supporters saying she remains committed to passionately serving them and the state “with the same work ethic and dedicated service you have seen during the past seven years.”
Murphy, a Republican first was elected to office in a special-election against former commissioner Jim Roth after his appointment in 2007. She beat Roth and was sworn into office in January 2009, then won election to a fill term in 2010 when she did not face either a Democrat or Independent opponent.
“These are tough economic times and I promise to be a worthy steward of your contribution,” said Murphy in the letter to contributors. She also asked their help in raising $200,000 before the start of the candidate-filing period on April 13, 2016. Were she to reach that goal, she would have more than $500,000 in her campaign treasury since she listed $362,347 in campaign contributions still in the treasury at the end of 2015.
There had been questions and speculation whether Murphy would seek re-election. In her letter, she admitted there had been personal tragedies including the death of a brother in December 2015, and life-threatening emergencies involving her mother and a middle brother.
“I can truly say that I have never faced such gut wrenching challenges in such a compressed time frame,” stated Murphy in the letter. “Against this backdrop, I have given thoughtful consideration as to whether running for re-election would be the right step for me, my family, you who have supported me, and most importantly for Oklahoma—-the state I love.”
She already has a Democratic opponent, Oklahoma City Rep. Richard Morrissette who made his announcement a few weeks ago during an earthquake forum featuring environmental activist Erin Brockovich.
Murphy has been Chair of the three-member Commission and holds a bachelor’s degree in geology as well as a law degree. She previously was an administrative law judge for six years at the Commission where she was named co-employee of the year in 1997 and received the Commissioners’ Public Servant award in 2001. Her bio states she has more than 22 years experience in the petroleum industry including owning and operating a private law firm that focused on oil and gas title, regulatory practice and transactional work as a geologist. She is a member of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners where she serves on the Energy Resources and the Environment Committee.
