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Wednesday, November 7, 2012 •
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state senator » District 43
state representative » District 20
Senate District 43 goes to Republican Corey Brooks Brooks defeats Democrat Mike Fullerton in landslide victory Max Janerka
Campus Reporter
Paighten Harkins/The Daily
Bobby Cleveland (right) stands next to a cake and banner during his watch party Tuesday night at Libby’s Cafe in Goldsby, Okla.
Republican Cleveland wins District 20 race Cleveland’s platform includes reducing government spending, job creation Paighten Harkins and Emma Hamblen Campus Reporters
An explosion of applause p re d i cate d Re pu b l i ca n Bobby Cleveland’s victory speech in which he thanked his family and the people that voted for him as District 20 State Representative. “The people in District 20 are just awesome people,” Cleveland said. “They all, whether you’re a Democrat, independent or Republican, they were all interested in doing better and getting help for Oklahoma.” Cleveland defeated Democrat Matt Branstetter in a landslide victory Tuesday night. Victory was announced about an hour and a half after the polls closed. Both candidates had to cut through a swath of primary challengers before meeting up in the general election.
“The people in District 20 are just awesome people. They all...were all interested in doing better and getting help for Oklahoma.” Bobby Cleveland, District 20 Representative Cleveland beat out three other GOP hopefuls during the Republican primaries, getting 799 votes, which accounted for 53.6 percent of the total votes, according to election results. B ra n s t e t t e r d e f e a t e d Rodney Johnson, taking 69 percent of the total vote in the Democratic primaries, receiving 557 total votes.
C l e ve l a n d’s p l at f o r m includes reducing g ov e r n m e n t s p e n d i n g , lowering taxes and creating private industr y jobs, according to his website. Cleveland is also an advocate for schools and will call for education reform. He opposes Obamacare and socialized medicine. The atmosphere at the Republican Watch party at Libby’s Cafe in Goldsby was loud and noisy filled with the sounds of people greeting friends and conversation about the fate of the election. Although the victory was solid, Cleveland remarked that the campaign was a tough, year-long experience. “It feels like you’re getting an albatross taken off your shoulder,” Cleveland said. “It’s really a good feeling. I’ve been working at this for a little over a year.” Long-time friend and campaign supporter Ginger Tinney was at Cleveland’s watch party.
“He’s a good man, and I think he’ll do a great job in the [State House of Representatives],” Tinney said. “He’s pretty fiery.” Branstetter and his supporters were at Step Brothers in Norman. It’s tough running as a Democrat in Oklahoma, Branstetter said. He considered running again in a few years but his experts warned him that beating an incumbent would be difficult. “It’s very tough to work hard for months, to put your life on hold, to put everything toward the election and lose,” Branstetter said. “Nobody likes to lose.”
Republican Corey Brooks handily defeated Democrat Mike Fullerton for the State Senate seat in District 43, which is to the south of Norman. Brooks’s victory was announced about an hour and a half after the polls closed at 7 p.m. Cake was served as Brooks gave his victory speech at his watch party at Libby’s Cafe in Goldsby, Okla. At press time, Brooks held 70 percent of the vote, with 52 of 54 precincts reporting, according to the Oklahoma State Election Board’s website. “I am ver y happy to hav e b e e n g i v e n t h i s “I am very happy to opportunity ...” he said. “I thank the voters of District have been given this 43 for coming out in such opportunity... I thank numbers to support us.” Brooks and Fullerton the voters of District emerged in the general 43 for coming out election after battling in such numbers to through primary support us” opponents. Brooks had to compete in a run-off cory brooks, election in August as district 43 senator well. Brooks said education is the best way to improve Oklahomans’ quality of life, and he plans to direct more funds into the classroom. He also will take his opposition to Obamacare, abortion and gay marriage with him to the state Senate. He also said he wants to expand and protect Oklahoma’s gun laws. The state’s open carry policy went into effect Nov. 1. Brooks graduated from Oklahoma Baptist University and the U.S. College of Naval Command and Staff, receiving his master’s in strategic planning at the U.S. Naval War College before serving in the U.S. Navy . The U.S. Navy intelligence officer worked as an intern and staffer in George W. Bush’s administration and spent six years in the Department of Defense. Max Janerka max.janerka@ou.edu
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