Former State Senate President Brian Bingman has some company in his attempt to win election to the Oklahoma Corporation Commission and succeed Commissioner Bob Anthony who is term-limited.
He previously was the only announced candidate and already had endorsements from Gov. Kevin Stitt and Lt. Gov. Matt Pinnell. By Friday’s end of the 3-day candidate filing period, Bingman ended up with four opponents.
Two of them were like Bingman, candidates for the Republican nomination. It means there will be a primary election for the GOP nomination as former Journal Record editor and writer Russell Ray, who also used to cover energy news for the Tulsa World became a candidate along with Justin Hornback.
Ray, 55, issued a statement regarding his candidacy and described himself as a conservative Republican.
“As Oklahomans struggle to pay skyrocketing costs for food, shelter and healthcare, many questions surrounding the fairness of energy costs being passed on to consumers have been raised,” Ray said.
(Ray with his wife)
“Rate- and- fuel-cost cases are complicated and require a lot of expert vetting and scrutiny. I have the background and knowledge to strike the right balance between consumer concerns and business concerns.”
Ray’s current position is as the communications director for the Oklahoma CareerTech system.
If Hornback’s name sounds familiar, it should because he filed for the 2022 corporation commission race which was eventually won by former Sen. Kim David.
Hornback has experience as an organizer for Local Union 798. He is also a certified welding inspector and a specialist in safety and health.
The GOP primary election will be held June 18, 2024.
Chad Williams of Choctaw is a candidate for the Libertarian party nomination. He is a former chairman of the Oklahoma Libertarian Party and also served on the Choctaw City Council.
Harold Spradling, who was interviewed by OK Energy Today and featured in a story this past week about his candidacy at the age of 89, is the only candidate for the Democrat nomination.
(Sprading is shown filing as a Democratic candidate)