The Duncan Banner

Local News

February 12, 2012

Candidates lining up for new District 43 position

Ed Darling The Duncan Banner

DUNCAN — Nothing is official yet, but it appears likely the reapportioned District 43 seat in the Oklahoma Senate will have a Republican primary in June.

Duncan businesswoman Peggy Davenport has announced she will seek the new position, opposing Clark Southard of Duncan and Ron Magar of Newcastle. Both previously announced their intention to seek the office.

Newcastle resident and Duncan native Mike Fullerton is the lone Democrat to express an interest in the seat thus far. Fullerton is an Empire High School graduate and his wife Lisa (Lord) graduated from Bray-Doyle.

The actual filing period isn’t until April 11-13, but candidates can officially file a Statement of Organization that enables them to raise campaign funds and record campaign expenses.

Primary elections are June 26 with an Aug. 28 runoff where necessary. The general election is Nov. 6.

Incumbent Greg Childers, a Republican from Del City, was elected last October, defeating Democrat Kenneth Meador for the seat left vacant when former Sen. Jim Reynolds resigned to become Cleveland County Treasurer.

Residency issues preclude Childers from seeking re-election in the district that was realigned because of population changes in the 2010 census. He missed an October deadline to move into the new district.

The new district encompasses all of McClain County, most of Stephens County and parts of Grady and Garvin County. The old district centered on Oklahoma and Cleveland counties.

The reapportionment also shifts Sen. Anthony Sykes, who currently serves much of Stephens County, into a new district.

Davenport, 63, is married to Duncan accountant Claud Cook and owns an insurance agency.

She touts 20-plus years as a successful businesswoman, suggests her conservative values will carry on the legacy of Sen. Sykes, realizes the importance of being a voice for small business and stresses the need for protecting existing freedoms.

She has been following closely state leadership efforts to live within the budget and to address tax efforts, noting a move to reduce income taxes sounds good initially, but requires further and deeper study.

Davenport is working on her Statement of Organization and expects to file it soon.

She was born in Collinston, La., attended public schools there, graduated from West Texas State and is completing her second term on the Duncan Municipal Planning Commission.

Fullerton was born and raised in Duncan. He attended Western Heights Baptist Church and was an Eagle Scout.

He graduated from the University of Central Oklahoma with a bachelor’s degree in Industrial Technology and began his career with Howle Engineering, where he helped develop the North Industrial Park in Duncan, the Duncan airport extension and the Plato Road improvement.

He works for the Triad Design Group in Oklahoma City, designing bridges and roads for more than 20 years.

The Fullertons live Newcastle, where son Trevor attends Newcastle public schools and son Tyler is home-schooled. His family owns and operates Elaine’s Beauty Shop and at one time owned Fullerton Plumbing, both in Duncan.

He also expects to file a Statement of Organization soon.

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