House District 45 race draws candidates, money

House District 45
race draws candidates, money

A campaign to unseat an incumbent Norman lawmaker is drawing both candidates and money, documents filed with the state Ethics Commission show.

With less than two weeks remaining before candidates can officially file for office, the House District 45 race had already drawn three Republican candidates -- David Hopper, Aaron Stiles and Ron Henderson, who announced for the seat earlier this week. A fourth GOP candidate, Les White, also is expected to announce candidacy for the office.

The winner of the primary election will face incumbent Democrat Wallace Collins this fall.

Those candidates, Ethics Commission documents show, have raised a total of $42,140 for their various races.

So far, Collins leads the group in generating money.

According to Collins' campaign contributions and expenditures report, Collins raised $10,364 this quarter for this re-election bid.

Collins reported carryover funds -- from either a previous report or previous campaign -- of $14,329. He reported $8,464 in personal contributions for the quarter and $1,900 in contributions from political action committees during the same period.

Collins also reported spending $1,725 for the quarter.

Those contributions bring Collins' total to $26,762 -- $18,884 in personal contributions, $6,450 in contributions from political action committees and $1,428 in other receipts.

Total expenditures for Collins' campaign stand at $9,264. Collins listed $23,031 in remaining funds.

Collins said he was pleased by the results.

"Fundraising is always one of those tasks you have to do," he said. "I don't necessarily enjoy it, and I think you always wish you were doing better, but, at the same time, I feel comfortable with where I am."

Collins said he expected contributions to increase after the legislative session.

"I feel like some people are holding off until after the session is over," he said. "Right now I haven't been real focused on fundraising, I've been spending time on the bills and issues which are a passion for me. But starting next Saturday, I'm sure I'll be devoting more time to it."

Collins' contributors included former Gov. David Walters, $100; former House member Danny Hilliard, $250; the Chickasaw Nation, $1,000; former state Senate Pro Tempore Cal Hobson -- $100; and Democratic Party activist Betty McElderry, $300.

Republican David Hopper reported a total of $8,645 raised for his campaign. That figure, Hopper's report said, was from personal contributions made to his campaign from Jan. 1 through March 31 of this year.

Hopper listed $743 in expenditures and $7,910 in remaining funds.

Hopper said he felt comfortable with where his fundraising was.

"I feel like I'm doing fairly well," he said. "I haven't reached my target yet, but I've raised enough money to do what I want to do so far."

Hopper, a former Norman city councilman, said he hasn't had to aggressively raise money for several years and that raising funds for a legislative race involved a different strategy.

"The last time I ran for council I was unopposed," he said. "So it's been about four years since I've really had to raise money for a race. But, like I said, I feel comfortable with where we're at."

Those giving to Hopper's campaign include Thomas Sherman, a banker, $250; G and G Development of Norman, $588; Harold Heiple, a Norman attorney, $500; and developer James Adair, of Adair and Associates, $1,000.

The Stiles campaign reported a total of $4,145 raised during the first quarter of the year.

Stiles also reported carryover funds -- from last fall's report -- of $1,248, personal contributions of $1,845 and $2,300 in loans during the Jan. 1-March 31 reporting period.

Total funds for Stiles were listed at $6,733, including $88 in in-kind contributions.

Stiles reporting spending $575 during the first quarter of 2008 and total expenditures of $1,827. He listed $4,817 in remaining funds.

Stiles' contributors include Republican activist Charlie Meadows, $50; state Senate candidate Steve Russell, $250; Norman physician Karl Langkamp, $150; retired military officer Don Link, $100; and Norman resident Joanne Klusmeyer, $150.

Stiles said his contributions have come from "the voters in the district."

"I think I've got a good message and people are responding to it well," he said. "I've never been a candidate for office before, and I don't have the political background that some of my opponents do."

X-Norman Mayor announces candidacy for House District 45

Henderson announces candidacy for
House District 45

Former Norman mayor Ron Henderson, Republican, announced his candidacy for State House District 45 Saturday, stating he believes Oklahoma needs legislators who understand it is time for government to be on the side of the people they represent and quit wasting money.

"Government is getting carried away with its own needs without concern for careful spending. I am seeing what people are dealing with daily... gasoline increases and the corresponding increase in goods and services. It is time for government to be on the side of the people. I have never seen government spending so out of touch with what people are facing.

"I believe we should be cutting taxes but also controlling spending. I'm concerned my party has created their own special interests that want as much money as the Democratic special interests. All this at a time our roads and bridges are crumbling and huge expenditures on education that never make it to the classroom."

Henderson cited numbers from expenditure data from the U.S. Census which showed annual growth in spending per capita growing 8.1 percent from 2000-2005 (compared to 6.3 percent for the rest of the nation) and expenditures in 2006 up 10.1 percent.

"We need legislators who understand the impact of new laws ad mandates on business and families. There are not enough small business owners in the legislature. We have too many people who have made their living in government or as lawyers but very few who have worried about making payroll or surviving in a tough business climate."

Henderson has owned the Mr. Shortstop convenience stores in Norman for more than 35 years.

"Everyday I'm out talking to people and purchasing items for my stores. I know how much things cost. My job is to get quality for less and I'd like to take that same experience to the legislature. We must start sending people who have real world experience of getting more out of a limited budget or else our state government will continue to get more expensive and provide less service to the citizens."

Henderson served on the Norman City Council from 1991 until 2001 and as mayor of Norman from 2001 to 2004.

"I think it is important for voters to understand what I learned during my years serving on the city council. We must work together, government and the people. We must spend every dollar carefully. Cut back where we have to, just like every family must do during these times.

"My commitment to the citizens of House District 45 is to be a diligent and bold citizen leader for them at the State Capitol," Henderson said.

Henderson wanted to make sure the voters knew where he stood on important issues facing the state.

"I support HB1804, last years immigration reform bill that has begun to stem the flow and cost of illegal immigration. I'm pro-life and will support the sanctity of human life and dignity. I believe taxes should be out. I believe in low broad-based taxes so every citizen has a stake in the funding of government. I believe we will attract more business and industry in the state if business taxes are low."

House District 45 includes east Norman and Little Axe. The Republican primary will be July 29.

Cleveland County Republican Women's Club to host House 45 forum, This Tuesday

Cleveland County
Republican Women's Club meeting

Tuesday, May 20th at 6:30 PM
Olive Garden Restaurant in Norman

The event is open to the public.

Speakers: HD45 candidates

Announced Republican candidates for
Oklahoma House District 45,
David Hopper, Aaron Stiles and Les White

This will be an opportunity for
voters to find out where the candidates
stand on issues.

More information is available from
Sharon Caliendo, CCRWC president,
at 314-8655 or skcalien@aol.com.

Republicans who plan to run but have
not announced their candidacy for the
District 45 seat should contact Caliendo
to be added to the list.

Details for The Grillfest & Ice Cream Social
will be given out at the meeting.

Meeting is open to all Republicans,
not just the ladies!

Cleveland County Republican Women's Club meeting

Cleveland County
Republican Women's Club meeting

Tuesday, May 20th at 6:30 PM
Olive Garden Restaurant in Norman

Speakers: HD45 candidates

Details for The Grillfest & Ice Cream Social
will be given out at the meeting.

Meeting is open to all Republicans, not just the ladies!

David Hopper announces for House District 45 race

Norman David Hopper, a 6-year member of the Norman City Council, announced this past week that he is a candidate for the Republican nomination for State House District 45.

House District 45 is currently held by Democrat Wallace Collins.

While on the City Council, Hopper served on the Community Involvement Committee, the Planning Committee, the Oversight Committee, and was the Chairman of the Norman Centennial Committee, the organization that led Norman's observance of the Oklahoma Centennial.

Hopper has lived in Norman for 35 years and is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma Law School.

His wife, Linda is finishing her 34th year of teaching in the Norman Public Schools; two of Hopper's daughters went to Norman Public Schools and graduated from the University of Oklahoma.

Hopper served five years in the U.S. Air Force during the Vietnam War, and then served another 23 years as an Air Force reservist, retiring from the Air Force Judge Advocate General Department as a Lt. Col.

Hopper is a member of the First Baptist Church in Norman and the Norman Rotary Club.

He was one of the incorporators of the Norman Public School Foundation in 1984 and served on the Board of Directors for eight years. In addition to his service as a Councilmember he has served on the Cleveland County Citizens Advisory Committee, the Cleveland County Jail Committee (twice), the Cleveland County Youth and Family Services Committee; and the Cleveland County Cerebral Palsy Committee.

Hopper said his platform will promote strong families, strong schools, and responsible leadership.

"The family is the foundation of our society, and we will only be as strong as our families," he said. "Strong families will also help us build strong schools. Parental involvement in the schools is critical to how well our children perform."

Hopper said he intends to bring responsible leadership to the Legislature.

"For too many years the Legislature has underfunded state pension systems, the Corrections Department and the critical infrastructure of our roads and bridges. We can no longer ignore these critical needs. He will work to insure that the State uses sound fiscal management to provide the services that our citizens desire at the lowest possible cost."

For more information about Hopper's campaign, call 360-3591.