Okie Pundit

Norman is set to have two bruising battles for state house this year. In House District 44, an open seat has officially drawn two into the race, both on the Democrat side. Emily Virgin and Isaiah McCaslin, both OU students, first announced their candidacy months ago. We have been hearing rumors that David Perry, former Cleveland County Democrat Chair, and Tom Kovach, a Norman City Councilman will join the race. As of now, we know of no Republican entering the race.

Looking at the campaign finance reports reveals some very interesting stuff. First, Isaiah McCaslin reports about -$35 on hand. Yes, that’s negative $35. All his contributions have been in-kind, ranging from IT to $400 worth of web design from a pizza shop owner. He has had no monetary contributions to date. Emily Virgin, on the other hand, appears unnaturally well off financially. For a first year OU law student who has no political experience, it’s somewhat surprising to see she’s raised nearly $35,000 so far. That includes a $7,200 contribution from herself–undoubtedly given to her by her father, Blake Virgin. Mr. Virgin made the maximum contribution.

Candidate Virgin shows she has hired long-time Democrat consultant Fenilda Rambo, who was recently a consultant in Norman’s highly negative mayoral campaign. So right now we have two OU students with opposite financial fortunes duking it out. Which begs the question: why hasn’t a Republican jumped in the race?

In House District 45, Representative Wallace Collins will be taking on either James Harvey or Aaron Stiles. Stiles was the GOP nominee in 2008 and lost to Collins by fewer than 1,000 votes. Harvey, a local patent attorney, has never run for office. Neither Stiles nor Harvey have filed campaign finance reports.

Whoever is the GOP nominee can expect a tough fight from the always hard campaigner, Wallace Collins. Collins shows nearly $25,000 left in his 2008 campaign account, which can be rolled over to 2010. Among his contributors are David Boren, Cal Hobson, Jalal Faranzeh, and the husband of Norman’s Mayor Cindy Rosenthal. Among his expenditures are nearly $2,000 for cell phone service and $3,500 to his wife, Pat Collins.

House District 46 is not discussed here because Rep. Scott Martin will either not draw an opponent or will draw an opponent who poses the threat of a roly poly.

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