GOP to be listed atop November's general election ballot

Jul 30, 2010 — The Daily Oklahoman

Michael McNutt

Jul. 30, 2010 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- Names of Republican candidates will be listed first on the Nov. 2 general election ballot.

The order was determined during a drawing Thursday by the state Election Board.

The drawing applies only to political parties. Independents are on the ballot, but they will be listed after the Republican and Democrat. Drawings also were held in races that had more than one independent candidate to determine their order.

Drawings for the top location on the ballot have been held by the Election Board since 1996, when a federal court ruled the old system that put Democrats first on the ballot was unconstitutional. More than 30 Republican candidates in 1994 elections sued to get rid of that law.

State Democratic Party Chairman Todd Goodman and state Republican Party Chairman Matt Pinnell attended the drawing. Goodman said he didn't think the placement of names mattered. Pinnell called Republicans being listed first under each race a bonus.

"With their being so many choices on the ballot and so many ballot questions, being first could help," he said.

Democrats won the drawing for the gubernatorial election four years ago. Democrats fared well at the polls that year, winning eight of nine statewide positions. State Election Board Secretary Paul Ziriax said a drawing is held every two years to determine the placement of candidate names on the ballot. Republican names will be listed first for any special general election that would be necessary the next two years.

The order of candidates in races featuring more than one independent also took place to determine who would be listed first:

--U.S. senator: Stephen P. Wallace, of Tulsa, first; Ronald F. Dwyer, of Tulsa, second.

--U.S. representative, 5th Congressional District: Clark Duffe, of Edmond, first; Dave White, of Edmond, second.

--District judge, District 14, Office 9: John Eagleton, of Tulsa, first; Linda Morrissey, of Tulsa, second.

--District judge, District 14, Office 14: Jon R. Patton, of Tulsa, first; Kurt G. Glassco, of Tulsa, second.

--District judge, District 16, Office 1: Jonathan K. Sullivan, of Poteau, first; Marion D. Fry, of Poteau, second.

--District judge, District 17, Office 1: Willard Driesel, of Broken Bow, first; J.P. Longacre, of Idabel, second.

--District judge, District 20, Office 1: Dennis Morris, of Ardmore, first; Thomas S. Walker, of Ardmore, second.

--District judge, District 21, Office 3: Jeff Harley Bryant, of Norman, first; Tom A. Lucas, of Norman, second.

--District judge, District 21, Office 4: Charles L. Broadway, of Norman, first; Lorrie M. Walkley, of Norman, second.

--Associate district judge, Bryan County: Chris D. Jones, of Durant, first; Rocky L. Powers, of Durant, second.

--Associate district judge, Choctaw County: James R. Wolfe, of Hugo, first; Thomas J. Hadley, of Hugo, second.

Newstex ID: KRTB-0148-47467522