The new House speaker is already showing his differences in leadership style

The new House speaker is already showing his differences in leadership style

By MICK HINTON World Capitol Bureau
2/10/2008

OKLAHOMA CITY — Two days after Republican Rep. Chris Benge of Tulsa took over as House speaker, he invited Democratic minority leader Danny Morgan to meet with him.

Morgan said he had only one face-to-face meeting with Benge’s predecessor. Time will tell whether there is a new spirit of bipartisanship in the Legislature.

“So far it looks very good,” said Morgan, D Prague. Democratic Sen. Johnnie Crutchfield, cochairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, said he had not been inside the speaker’s office since a Democrat held the post. But Crutchfield, D-Ardmore, said he was warmly greeted when he went over to congratulate Benge.

Benge noted that every House member comes to the Capitol to represent more than 30,000 constituents, so their voices deserve to be heard.

“At the end of the day, we may well disagree,” Benge said, but it is still important to hear both sides.

Benge spent time last week inviting Republican members to meet with him individually in the speaker’s office. Rank-and- file members are expecting that they will have more of a voice than they had with former Speaker Lance Cargill.

Cargill had a specific agenda including merit pay for teachers and more tax cuts.

But Benge is viewed as a consensus builder who will adhere to what the GOP caucus wants.

At least for now, Benge does not aspire to higher office, unlike the last two speakers.

Todd Hiett ran for lieutenant governor and Cargill was thought to have his sights on the governorship down the road.

While Cargill bristled when asked a tough question, Benge pauses, then calmly responds. Rep. Lucky Lamons, D-Tulsa, whose House district adjoins Benge’s, said the new speaker is quiet in demeanor.

When Benge presides at a meeting, there is a calmness that envelops the whole room, Lamons said.

Benge’s election as speaker Monday marked only the second time in state history that a Tulsan has held the post.

Democrat Johnson D. Hill was named speaker in 1944 but resigned from office only six weeks into the session.

Benge’s immediate task as speaker is to mend his own splintered House Republicans after he narrowly edged out Rep. Dale DeWitt, R-Braman, in a closed caucus meeting.

Two weeks ago, Cargill stepped aside amid controversy over his failure to file his federal and state tax returns on time and being delinquent in paying property taxes on his Harrah law office for six years in a row.

Just days after Cargill stepped down, Speaker Pro Tem Gus Blackwell, R-Guymon, confirmed that he had been late in paying his property taxes 13 years in a row, taking him out of the speaker’s race.

Majority Leader Greg Piatt, R-Ardmore, remains in his post, although some Republicans point out that he accepted a controversial $5,000 contribution from a Texas insurance businessman after carrying a key amendment for him. Others who received contributions returned them.

Although Cargill stepped aside, his leadership team essentially remains in place.

Blackwell is still speaker pro tem, an elected position. He continues to preside over most daily sessions.

Benge has decided to stay with the same team, at least for now. On Friday, Benge announced he was adding Rep. Kris Steele, R-Shawnee, to his leadership team to assist in negotiations with the Senate.

DeWitt said he thinks Benge needs to re-examine his leadership team.

“Chris has got to look at some areas of leadership and make some tough decisions,” he said.

“Not only the caucus but the public wants to see some changes,” he said.

Benge is second Tulsan to hold post as speaker

Benge is second Tulsan
to hold post as speaker
By Staff Reports
2/10/2008

Rep. Chris Benge's election as speaker of the House marks only the second time in history that a Tulsan has held the office.

However, Tulsa's first speaker, Johnson D. Hill, resigned the post only six weeks after the start of the 1945 session.

Hill had vowed that if he did not succeed in getting the House to impeach the state superintendent of schools, A.L. Crable, that he would resign.

Hill was adamant that Crable and others had conspired in the 1930s to manipulate approved textbook lists and receive kickbacks in what early newspaper accounts referred to as the "textbook scandal." The suspected conspiracy amounted to textbook companies making only minor changes in texts, then requiring parents to buy "new" editions of textbooks for their children, with Crable and others getting a kickback. This occurred before the state started paying for students' textbooks in the public schools.

A federal court in Oklahoma City declined to hear the case. But Tulsa County District Attorney Dixie Gillmer tried to carry out indictments against Crable and others. Gillmer alleged that Dr. Henry G. Bennett, president of Oklahoma A&M College at Stillwater, was involved in the conspiracy because a textbook he had written was revised with few changes made.

However, the indictments were dismissed on jurisdictional grounds.

Hill revived the controversy when he became speaker, vowing that he would resign if he did not succeed in getting the House to impeach Crable. Hill's efforts failed, so he resigned on Feb. 15, 1945.

Hill later ran for governor and also made an unsuccessful bid for lieutenant governor. He died in 1977 at the age of 89.

Fashionably late to the party

Starting his young political life as a Democrat,
he soon realized his values were more Republican.

Fashionably late to the party
By MICK HINTON World Capitol Bureau
2/10/2008

OKLAHOMA CITY -- As soon as Chris Benge turned 18, he rushed to the election board and registered as a Democrat.

"I was very excited," he said.

Newly elected as Republican speaker of the House, Benge said he thinks hardly anybody knows he was once a Democrat and he's not about to bring it up in conversation.

"I came from a blue-collar family, and thought I had to register as a Democrat," Benge said.

That was in 1980, when Republican Ronald Reagan and Democrat Jimmy Carter were running for president.

Benge said he remembers watching a debate between Reagan and Carter. "I decided right there the person I wanted to support." He voted for Ronald Reagan.

Four years later, Benge voted the same way.

"I found through the 1980s, that the Republican Party had more of my values."

So he changed parties.

After graduating from Webster High School, Benge said he was eager to go to work and make some money. "At the time I didn't understand the value of a college education," he said. But through his mid-20s, he started to regret that he hadn't gone to college.

Benge said he had married and started a family, and worked for many years in the family business, Benge Painting.

Only last summer, Benge, 45, received a college degree, although he has served as head of the House Budget and Appropriations Committee for the past three years.

The speaker said he and his wife, Allison, like to attend their daughter Hayden's basketball games. She is 11. On Saturday, their son Garrett, 13, started baseball practice. Benge said he will have to "loosen up the ol' arm" so he can play catch with his son.

Benge hopes to work in a few rounds of golf this spring, although that might not come until after the legislative session ends.

He was on his high school's golf team and was consistently picked for the No. 1 pairing representing the school.

For the past nine years, Benge has been playing golf with colleague Tad Jones, a state representative from Claremore.

"And I beat him only once," said Jones, who is determined to keep trying. "Maybe Chris will get so busy being speaker that he won't get to play as much, and I will have an advantage."

Fellow House members say Benge is the best golfer in the Legislature.

Benge said he hears there are a couple of senators who play a good game. He's ready to take them on.

"If they want to give me the title of best golfer, I will take it," Benge said with a smile.

Chris Benge is the NEW SPEAKER part 2

Speaker Chris Benge










The election went to a second ballot in which he faced Dale DeWitt with Susan Winchester apparently running third.

The full house will take a vote later Monday.

Benge, 45, has been chairman of the powerful House Appropriations and Budget Committee.

The GOP Caucus retained Speaker Pro Tem Gus Blackwell in that position even though he withdrew as a candidate for speaker when it was revealed he'd been late in paying property taxes in Texas County.

DeWitt and Benge are in a run off after the first Vote for new Speaker

After thr first VOTE for Speaker,
Chris Benge and Dale DeWitt are in a run off !

Candidate Rep. Dale DeWitt, R-Braman


Candidate Rep. Chris Benge, R-Tulsa

Benge put Hat in ring for House speaker

Rep. Chris Benge of Tulsa, chairman of the powerful House Budget and Appropriations Committee, confirmed Friday that he will toss his hat in the ring for House speaker before a 5 p.m. deadline Friday.

Lawmakers said that Benge was calling fellow legislators Thursday night telling them that he intends to run.

The speaker's race took an unusual turn Thursday night when Speaker Pro Tem Gus Blackwell, R-Goodwell, the second-highest elected official in the House, withdrew his name from the speaker's race amid reports that he has been tardy on paying property taxes for 13 years.

Blackwell's decision to quit the race follows an announcement by Speaker Lance Cargill, R-Harrah, earlier this week that he was resigning as speaker due to continuing tax problems.

Benge would be viewed by some as a speaker who could work with various factions.

He has headed the budget committee for three years, working under two speakers and also with Democratic budget chairmen in the Senate.

Others who have filed for speaker are Reps. John Wright, R-Tulsa. who is Republican caucus chairman; Susan Winchester, R-Chickasha; and Dale DeWitt, R-Braman.

Accountancy Age - London,UK: Cargill has hung up his spurs after a tax scandal

Cargill resigns after tax storm

Fast-track Oklahoma politician
has his career derailed after
income tax and property tax issues
come to light

Written by David Jetuah
Accountancy Age

Lance Cargill, the state House speaker of Oklahoma has hung up his spurs after a tax scandal.

The former golden boy of the state's Republican party stepped down after a scandal concerning late property tax payments on his law office for six years in a row. Cargill also reportedly failed to file state personal income tax returns in 2005 and 2006.

Cargill ,who became the youngest House speaker in the US when he won the position, said in a statement: 'For several weeks, our policies heading into the session have been buried in the newspapers, while personal stories have remained on the front pages. I take full responsibility for that.'

Cargill added that he will remain a Republican Party representative despite giving up the speaker's role.

Blackwell to DROP OUT of SPEAKER RACE !

Gus Blackwell to
DROP OUT of SPEAKER RACE !



Gus Blackwell (House Dist. 61) is dropping out of the race to be the next Speaker of the Oklahoma House Representives !

New charges have bubble up that will keep him from running !








It look like most of Blackwell lock in votes are now going for Chris Benge (House Dist. 68), and it look like Benge, will be the next Speaker of the Oklahoma House Representives !

The Norman Transcript Editorial: No one is above the law

The Norman Transcript Editorial

No one is above the law
Published: January 30, 2008

House Speaker Lance Cargill's untimely resignation this week came just as his "100 Ideas" book was published and distributed and a week before Monday's opening of the legislative session. Mr. Cargill traveled the state in a series of "idea raisers" this past year. They were designed to gather the best recommendations for Oklahoma's future.

He said the best ideas don't often come from the legislators themselves. They come from average citizens. Many saw the travels as a prelude to a run for governor in 2010. Mr. Cargill pushed aside such speculation and said the program came from an annual New York Times publication that lists the best ideas of the year.

The revelation of Mr. Cargill's failure to file his personal Oklahoma income tax returns on time and pay property taxes on his law office building brought pressure on him to resign.

Mr. Cargill's resignation, the recent indictment of state Auditor and Inspector Jeff McMahan and the resignation of Oklahoma City School Superintendent Dr. John Q. Porter shows no one individual is bigger than the process itself. All three individuals have been accused of improper activities.

Mr. Cargill, who at 36 was the nation's youngest speaker when he was sworn in, retains his House seat but it's unlikely that a run for governor is in his immediate future. Oklahomans are a forgiving breed but it often takes time for that to take hold.

How Cargill's political ascent reversed course

How Cargill's political ascent reversed course
By John Greiner and Michael McNutt
Capitol Bureau
Wed January 30, 2008

A phrase in Lance Cargill's swan song as House speaker probably best describes his political career.

"This has been a very remarkable journey for me thus far,” the Harrah Republican said as he stepped down Monday as House speaker, barely a year into his first term as the No. 1 man of the House.

As Cargill put it himself, he goes from the front of the House chamber where the speaker sits to the back of the chamber where he said he will continue to pursue his ideas.

But what brought him to this point? Of all the controversies Cargill has faced, none became more personal with voters than revelations that he failed to file state income tax returns and was routinely late paying his property taxes, a Republican colleague said.

"For the most part, stuff that's been in the media with regard to Ethics Commission stuff and political kinds of things, most people kind of take that with a grain of salt,” said Rep. Gary Banz, R-Midwest City. "When it was taxes, it immediately connects with the people at an emotional level where they live.”

Rise to the top
Cargill came from the small town of Harrah and from a blue-collar background, he said.
After attending Vanderbilt University in Tennessee, Cargill came home to Oklahoma, he said, because he wanted to live here; he also aspired to be a servant of the people.

He has had a topsy-turvy tenure in House leadership positions.

After achieving the rank of Republican House floor leader, he resigned under pressure in 2006 amid members' complaints about bills being put on or left off the agenda. The floor leader usually sets the agenda.

Cargill survived that, and later that year, went on to be picked by his colleagues to be their choice to succeed Todd Hiett as speaker. The 36-year-old Cargill became the youngest speaker in the U.S. when he was formally elected to the position in January 2007.

Hard fall
The end of his leadership came quickly.
He caused some controversy shortly after becoming speaker last year when he met privately with lobbyists in an office complex near the state Capitol to raise money. He said he was leading by example by holding meetings outside the Capitol with lobbyists.

The state Ethics Commission also is believed to be investigating whether Cargill had anything to do with how checks intended for the state Republican Party instead went to the Oklahoma County Republican Party in 2004. Cargill has denied wrongdoing.

He said that stepping down as speaker puts him in a "better position to respond to and defend against the false charges that have been made against me, whether they be in the Ethics Commission or in other forums.”

An advocate of tax cuts, Cargill was stung by reports in The Oklahoman that he failed to file his 2005 and 2006 state income tax returns until getting a warning from the Tax Commission, and that he was late in paying property taxes on his Harrah law office six years in a row.

Elected officials not following tax laws or paying taxes late tarnishes the basic fundamental trust that constituents have in them, Banz said.

Banz said constituents brought up Cargill's delinquent tax payments "everywhere I went — everywhere.”

Cargill was one of five legislators who failed to file their state income tax returns, but constituents especially were irritated over Cargill's actions because he was in a leadership position, Banz said.

House Republicans also were disappointed.

"When it's the face of your caucus and it's the voice of your caucus, then that elevates it to another level,” Banz said.

Now we have 3 + 1 running for Speaker

In the last 24 hours, it look like both Greg Piatt and Chris Benge are now backing Gus Blackwell for House Speaker.


1) Gus Blackwell (House Dist. 61)













2) Susan Winchester (House Dist. 47)











3) Dale DeWitt (House Dist. 38)













+ one...
John Wright (House Dist. 76)













With less than a week to secure votes, potential candidates were seeking support Tuesday from fellow House members.

Blackwell, R-Goodwell, said the House has made "tremendous strides on several key issues" including tax cuts, education and immigration reform.

Winchester, R-Chickasha, served as speaker pro tem under Hiett, the same position that Blackwell now holds. Winchester said she is seeking fellow Republicans' support "and I would ask the Democratic members as well to expedite the leadership transition so we may begin the session united and ready to do the people's business."

Rep. Danny Morgan, the minority leader of House Democrats, said Winchester is "the only candidate that we are aware of who has extended her hand across the aisle."

Morgan, D-Prague, said, however, that DeWitt is "very respected" among Democrats. DeWitt, R-Braman, represents four rural counties.

"If the right Republican candidate is available for our members to vote for, you might see some Democrats" cross party lines and support a GOP speaker, he said.

Wright, R-Tulsa, noted that he has sought the post before but now may be the time when he can bring the factions together.

"I have a little different philosophy," he said. "I don't see individual members having to to give a stamp of approval of the speaker's policies. A speaker should advance what is the consensus policy of the caucuses."

Wright said, "Somebody has to be the cat herder," and he believes he can fill that role.

The Muskogee Phoenix Editorial: Wise move to resign

The Muskogee Phoenix Editorial
January 29, 2008


Wise move to resign

Lance Cargill did the right thing, but from his comments, he still doesn’t quite get it.

Cargill, who resigned as speaker of the House on Monday, said he was stepping down from the post rather than let the GOP agenda get buried beneath his personal problems.

Cargill, R-Harrah, who is in his fourth term as a state representative, was entering his second year as leader of the House.

But after revelations of failure to file state income tax returns and late property tax payments for six years on his business, along with a state ethics investigation into donations to his campaign, Cargill resigned as speaker.

His resignation was appropriate, but not just because of the media attention his personal problems attracted. His personal problems are the problem, and they raise questions about accountability and leadership.

Leaders are asked to follow a higher standard, and for that, we make no apologies.

Yes, people are people, and they make mistakes. However, Cargill’s mistakes, personal problems and questionable actions compounded within a short period.

Naturally, the question arises, is this a person who has the ability to inspire others and make fair decisions?

This has nothing to do with speculation about Cargill and whether he broke any campaign ethics laws.

This has to do with what we know about Cargill. While he has shown a willingness to lead and a penchant for innovation and change, his example as a leader is sorely wanting.

Panhandle Representative Running for Speaker

Oklahoma House Pro Tempore Gus Blackwell announced today he will seek the position of Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives.

As Monday kicks off the 2008 legislative session and members take their floor seats, the first measure on their agenda will be to elect a new House Speaker after the resignation of Lance Cargill (R-Harrah).

Blackwell (R-Goodwell), District 61's representative since 2001, has served as Speaker Pro Tempore, the second-highest ranked legislator in the House, for the past year. He was the first Panhandle lawmaker to hold the post since 1955. And Blackwell is also an ex officio voting member on all House committees.

"2007 was a great year to serve as a state representative and the House Speaker Pro Tempore-not only was it a significant year in Oklahoma as we celebrated 100 years of statehood, it was also a year filled with great legislation and initiatives," said Blackwell. "The Legislature was faced with the challenge of turning great ideas into effective policy and we made tremendous strides on several issues that are keys to sustaining economic development and growth ─ specifically in the areas of tax cuts, education, investing in science and technology, immigration reform and health care.

Blackwell holds a bachelor's degree in religion from Oklahoma Baptist University and a bachelor's degree in computer science from Panhandle State University. He also earned a master's degree in business administration from Southwestern Oklahoma State University and a master's degree in divinity from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas.

He and his wife, Joanna, have been married for 17 years. They have three children: Corissa, 13; Carson, 9; and, Caleb, 4.

Contact: State Rep. Gus Blackwell
Capitol: (405) 557-7384

SPEAKER CARGILL RESIGNS

I was at the Oklahoma County Courthouse
to cover the Oklahoma 3 arraignment.

About 10:00am, I begun to get Text message
after Text message, and many Cel Calls, about
how Speaker Cargill was going to step down
around 3:00pm today.

So I video the Oklahoma 3 Rally, and I was off to the
State Capitol...