Terrill, Stiles, Wesselhoft winners in GOP primary

By M. Scott Carter

MOORE -- Calling his primary win the equivalent of "surviving an assassination attempt," an angry Randy Terrill blasted his Republican opponent and an "Oklahoma City oligarchy" which tried to defeat him Tuesday evening.

"Obviously, in the Devon Energy, Chesapeake, Express Personnel primary, it's Randy Terrill one, them zero," Terrill said. "Tonight my re-nomination, particularly in the wake of the huge sums of money that were spent against me in the primary, is the equivalent of surviving an assassination attempt. It failed miserably."

Terrill said the assassination attempt "wasn't on my life, but on my character" and described his win as "vindication for the ordinary, working people."

With all 17 precincts reporting, Terrill defeated GOP challenger Curtis Bruehl with 2,109 votes to Bruehl's 724 votes.

"This a vindication for the ordinary, working people over the Oklahoma City oligarchy. If you dare to advance an agenda of cracking down on illegal immigration or establishing English as the official language, then they will do their best to punish you, not only politically but personally. This is the type of sleazy smear campaign that is typical in the waning days of a race."

Terrill said the campaign was never about his opponent, but instead, a referendum on his legislation.

"This race had nothing to do with my opponent," he said. "It was about my attempt to crack down on illegal immigration and making English the official language."

He said he was "humbled" voters had placed their confidence in him once again.

"I won because of my hard work," he said. "I think the vast majority of my district and the vast majority of Oklahomans agree with my message."

Terrill's win sets up a rematch with Democratic candidate Troy Green in the November general election.

Tuesday evening, Green said he was ready.

"I think it will be a tough race," Green said, after defeating Democratic challenger Charles Barnes by about 200 votes, 706 to 505. "Mr. Terrill ran a tough race."

Green attributed his Democratic primary win to hard work.

"We worked a hard campaign this time," he said. "We knocked on every door and really talked about the issues like our wasted billion dollar surplus, education and roads and bridges. I think a lot of people understood that."

House District 45

In Norman, Aaron Stiles, a 28-year-old political newcomer, slipped past three other candidates to capture 51 percent of the Republican vote and earn the party's nomination for Norman's House District 45 seat.

Stiles defeated former Norman Mayor Ron Henderson, ex-Norman city councilman David Hopper and candidate Les White.

With all of the city's 15 precincts reporting, Stiles had 1,061 votes, Henderson earned 337, Hopper captured 627 and White pulled 49.

Stiles said he felt "blessed" by the support.

"I have great friends," he said. "And I think this vote is a testament to what my friends think about me."

Voters, he said, responded to his message and his style of campaigning.

"I think it was our message and the support," he said. "I had lots of people out on street corners knocking doors and we were outspent 3-1."

Despite his loss, Henderson said he was "relatively happy" with the results.

"I guess I have to say, when you consider they outspent me 10-to-1 and I got in a day or two before filing, I did OK," he said. "Yeah, I would love to be in a runoff, but this was one election that I just had absolutely no feel for what was gonna happen."

Hopper praised Stiles for his "strong campaign."

"It looks like the voters are responding to him," he said. "He started early, back in the fall before any of the rest of us, and he established his base. He's done a very good job. I congratulate him on a strong race."

With Tuesday's win, Stiles will face incumbent Wallace Collins in the fall general election.

"Our strategy won't change," Stiles said. "I don't think I'll be able to raise tens of thousands of dollars, and I don't plan on pandering to any special interest groups to get money. I'm going to stick with my grassroots campaign and going door-to-door.

House District 54

In Moore, voters also returned Rep. Paul Wesselhoft.

Wesselhoft defeated GOP challenger Dustin McGowen 1,659 votes to McGowen's 541.

Wesselhoft said he was successful because voters were "pleased" with his work. "I think my district is pleased by the hard work I've done," he said. "And the vote also reinforces the fact that you can win races without going negative. I ran a very positive campaign."

Wesselhoft said voters responded to his accessibility. "I work very hard, I'm visible and I'm accessible," he said.

McGowen, said he tried to "show some truths to House District 54."

"We put out a good campaign and a lot of people were receptive," he said. "Hopefully this will cause more accountability in our state representative."

McGowen said one reason for his loss was a lack of funds.

"Money drives a lot of stuff in campaigns," he said. "We got out- fundraised about 15-to-1 and outspent by about 6-to-1," he said.

Still, even with his loss, McGowen said he hasn't given up on public service.

"I'm going to spend some time with my family, go to college, finish my degree and consider my options," he said. "I don't think this is the last time you'll see me in the political arena."

Since no Democrat filed in the race, Wesselhoft reclaims his House 54 seat.

Senate District 45

The crowded five-person field for Senate District 45 was narrowed by three Tuesday evening as Steve Russell, a retired Marine, and Kyle Loveless, a former aide for ex-Congressman Ernest Istook, defeated Jerry Foshee, Melinda Daugherty and Marty Gormley in the five-way GOP primary.

With all precincts reporting, Russell earned 2,307 votes to Loveless' 1,526. Fosheee captured 1,127 votes, Daughtery had 549 and Gormley, 130.

Because no candidate earned more than 50 percent of the vote, Russell and Loveless will face each other in an Aug. 26 primary-runoff election.

Tuesday evening, Loveless said he was pleased by the results.

"Always remember, Rocky didn't win the first bout," Loveless said. "But he took the second."

Loveless said was successful due to "lots of hard work."

"We didn't get an infusion of cash like Russell did," he said. "We didn't have commercials on channels 4, 5 and 9. I believe it was my message of lower taxes and better roads and bridges resonated with people. I think they appreciated me talking with them at their doors, as opposed to being talked at."

And while he acknowledged he still has "a difficult campaign ahead," he said his grand strategy is to "get people out to vote."

"If I can get all my people out to vote again, I win," he said. "This isn't a race about money, it's a race about the people of Senate District 45. They want someone who's conservative and that someone is me."

Russell could not be reached for comment.