Tuesday’s special election for Oklahoma’s Senate District 27 features six Republicans and one Democrat vying for former Sen. Bryce Marlatt’s northwestern Oklahoma seat. Marlatt resigned in September after he was charged with sexual battery of an Uber driver.
Because only one Democrat filed to run in this special election, Tuesday’s primary will pit just the half-dozen GOP candidates against one another in a no-runoff contest.
The towns of Woodward, Guymon and Alva anchor the largely rural district‘s nine-county territory.
The general election will be held Feb. 13, 2018, between Democratic candidate Amber Jensen and whomever emerges victorious from Tuesday’s contest.
And now, the candidates:
Jeff Hall, 47, Mooreland
Profession:Â Small-business owner and cattle rancher
Experience: Hall devotes much of his bio page to his experience in the U.S. Army.
Platform: Claiming the “not a politician” mantle, Hall mentions education and the budget in a video on his campaign site. A Dec. 6 Facebook post discusses criminal justice reform.
Links: Website | Facebook
Carolyn McLarty, 67, Mutual
Profession: Retired veterinarian
Experience: McLarty has served in various capacities for Oklahoma Republicans, including the Woodward County Republican Party, Oklahoma Federation of Republican Women and the Republican National Committee.
Platform: McLarty champions “guiding faith” while also emphasizing education and state’s rights as central to her campaign’s focus.
Links: Website | Facebook | Twitter
Michael Medill, 60, Woodward (no photo appears available online)
Profession: Medill formerly served as director of a youth sports program out of Woodward called Kids, Inc., according to the Woodward News.
Experience: This is Medill’s first campaign for state office, also according to the Woodward News.
Platform: Online information about Medill remains scant as of Sunday afternoon, although one could surmise children’s issues would concern the candidate based on previous experience.
Links: Website (n/a) | Facebook (n/a)
Casey Murdock, 47, Felt
Profession: Rancher and State Representative
Experience: Currently occupying a House seat for District 61, Rep. Casey Murdock (R-Felt) has served in this position since 2014.
Platform: Murdock cites rural schools and conservation districts in his About section. During the 2017 session, he authored eight bills, including the Blue Lives Matter in Oklahoma Act of 2017.
Links: Website | Facebook
Tommy W. Nicholson, 66, Mooreland
Profession: Farmer, rancher and retired military
Experience: Nicholson ran against Marlatt’s re-election efforts in 2012 (as an Independent) and 2016 (as a Republican).
Platform: Also claiming the “not a politician” position, Nicholson’s specific intentions are nebulous if elected, though he promises “to serve” and make his constituents “proud.”
Links: Website (n/a) | Facebook
Travis Templin, 44, Seiling
Profession: Teacher and coach at Seiling Public Schools
Experience: Templin’s primary professional career has consisted of coaching and education positions for the past 20 years.
Platform: In favor of agency audits and rural investments, a teacher pay raise also features prominently for this 2016 Teacher of the Year.
Links: Website | Facebook
