Dana Murphy, one of three members of the Oklahoma Corporation Commission and a candidate for Oklahoma lieutenant governor, attended two events in Alva Friday. The first was a come-and-go reception at Bill and Billie Buckles house in the afternoon, and then later a dinner meeting of the Woods Mineral Owners Association, attended by about 40 people.
Murphy was born in Woodward, and grew up on a family farm within Ellis County. She is a geologist and an attorney having attended Central State University, Oklahoma State University and later Oklahoma City University. Her mother still lives on the family farm, and her brothers live in Woodward. She still helps with the farm/ranch operation where they raise red Angus cattle.
When asked about her qualifications to be lieutenant governor, she described her urban and rural background, having been to college three times to obtain a geology degree, and then after a ten-year geology career, her law degree. After her ten-year Corporation Commission experience, she said, “I've been able to collaborate and work with fellow commissioners whom I was not elected with to handle such issues as earthquakes, pipeline safety and keeping electricity prices low.
“Most people don't realize the Corporation Commission is the most economically powerful agency in the state. If it travels by truck, train, pipeline or fiber, we regulate it in some way.
“I think that has given me a good bird's eye view about what is going on across the state and I think that helps me be well-qualified to run for lieutenant governor,” she said.
She mentioned that she has a lot of experience working under stress. Murphy had a brother who died unexpectedly of a heart attack, and then within a six-year period her two surviving brothers and her mother underwent six heart surgeries. All at the same time, she was at the Corporation Commission with a lot of earthquakes going on, and the big OGE scrubber case continuing. “I also was going back and forth the the farm/ranch,” she said. “I got to know the inside the heart hospitals very well.
“So I figure I was tested personally and professionally. When I now look at the problems our state has recently faced, we need people in office who have handled difficult issues and who are willing to collaborate with others. I'm willing to step out and do this.”
Murphy believes the role of the next lieutenant governor should expand into working more closely with the governor, legislators and state business leaders in helping coordinate cooperation and efficiencies between various state agencies.
You can hear Dana Murphy's answers to issues at the newspaper website, http://www.AlvaReviewCourier.com, by clicking on the video tab at the top of the page.
Issues covered in the video include her views on: Department of Corrections, higher education and common education (consolidation proposals on either), rural hospitals and water shortage issues.
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