Runoff races for Oklahoma Corporation Commissioner aren’t the only ones that state energy producers will watch closely on Tuesday.
They know the state Labor Department can influence their industry. Cathy Costello and state Rep. Leslie Osborn are in the runoff for the Republican nomination and it has turned nasty in recent days with Osborn’s tv ads attacking Costello for not being truthful about her business claims.
Costello finished the June primary with 43.26%, short of the 50% plus one. Osborn caused the runoff with 35.92% of the votes. Costello loaned her campaign $525,050 of her own money, giving her a total of $631,000 in campaign contributions as of mid-August. Osborn raised $627,000 for the campaign.
Costello, 58 is best known as the widow of Labor Commissioner Mark Costello who was stabbed to death by their son 3 years ago.
Osborn is 54 and a businesswoman who lives in Mustang.
The winner will go against Democrat Fred Dorrell and Independent Brandt Dismukes in the November general election.
