State Sen. Paul Rosino issues statement after testing positive for COVID-19

Senator Paul Rosino Statement on COVID-19

OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma Senator Paul Rosino on Tuesday said he is recovering and doing well after testing positive for COVID-19. Rosino was not present at the Senate last week, nor was he among the senators or Senate personnel who underwent testing on Tuesday, March 17, after a Senate staffer tested positive for COVID-19.

Rosino, R-Oklahoma City, said as soon has he began feeling unwell Sunday (March 15) he strictly followed the recommendations of public health officials to stay home, self-isolate and contact a doctor. Testing done by Rosino’s private physician later confirmed the senator’s diagnosis. Rosino said he was last at the Capitol on Thursday, March 12, and he felt well at that time.

“I want to thank everyone who has reached out to inquire about me. I am doing well and feel much better. I’m glad I followed the health professionals’ advice to the tee. That’s what we all need to do now:  stay home if we feel sick, isolate and seek care from a doctor. Doing that, we can all be well, let the health care heroes focus on the critically ill, and do our part to stop the spread of COVID-19,” said Rosino, R-Oklahoma City.

Rosino said he plans to continue working remotely from his home. He encourages residents of Senate District 45 to reach out to his office for help with any issues.

“I’m following the doctor’s guidelines and will continue to do so. While I’m at home, though, I’m still working to take care of issues for Senate District 45 residents. I’m also collaborating with Senate colleagues and state government partners as we address health care issues and other important topics related to this health care crisis,” he said.

Democrats flip SD37, GOP holds HD76 and SD45

Three legislative special elections were held today - House District 76 (vacated by Rep. David Brumbaugh's death), Senate District 37 (vacated by Sen. Dan Newberry resigning for a private sector job), and Senate District 45 (vacated by Sen. Kyle Loveless' resignation over campaign finance violations).

All three seats were Republican-held. Democrats last won SD37 in 1996 (although Nancy Riley switched from Republican to Democrat in the middle of her final term in 2006), SD45 in 1976, and never in HD76.

In HD76 (Republican District Rating of 61.9), Republican Ross Ford won with 68.35% of the vote . In SD45 (RDR of 59.5), Republican Paul Rosino got 56.78% of the vote.

In a nailbiter of a race in SD37 (RDR of 57.6), Democrat Allison Ikley-Freeman defeated Republican Brian O'Hara by 31 votes, 2234 (50.35%) to 2203 (49.65%). The vote was close enough that O'Hara might seek a recount; either way, due to Newberry's resignation date being January 31st, 2018, the winner won't be sworn in until February 1st, 2018.

Ikley-Freeman (a therapist at a nonprofit mental health agency) defeated O'Hara (a former Jenks city councilor and district director for Cong. Bridenstine) by virtue of receiving 60 more votes on election day, while O'Hara led the absentee and early voting total by 29. Ikley-Freeman becomes the third openly homosexual individual (she is married to another lesbian) to be elected to the Oklahoma Legislature, and the first outside of the HD88/SD46 area in Oklahoma City.

Democrats have now won 4 of the 7 special elections held this year (HD46, HD75, SD37, SD44).

Rosino gains GOP nomination in SD45, Ford in HD76

Primaries were held today for the special elections in House District 76 and Senate District 45.

In HD76, vacated by the death of Rep. David Brumbaugh, Republican Ross Ford eeked out a 19-vote victory over Rep. Brumbaugh's widow Shelley, winning 30.76% to 29.85%. A third candidate received 28.52%, with two others in single digits. Democrat Chris VanLandingham took 54.18% in a two-way Democratic primary.

In SD45, vacated by Sen. Kyle Loveless, Paul Rosino emerged victorious out of 7 GOP candidates, gathering 32.61% to the nearest competitor's 21.12%. He will face Democrat Steven Vincent, who defeated his one opponent with 92.22% of the Democratic primary vote.

The general election for both races will be held on November 14th.

Brian Walters Announces for Senate District 45 Seat

Republican Businessman Brian Walters Announces for Senate District 45 Seat

South Oklahoma City businessman Brian Walters announced today that he will be a Republican candidate in the special election to fill the vacant Senate District 45 seat.

“Given the financial problems our state government faces, we need people with real-world experience dealing with large-scale financial forecasting and budgeting,” Walters said. “I have an extensive background in financial planning and business development. That quality is glaringly lacking at the Oklahoma Capitol, which is one reason the state keeps generating huge shortfalls year-in and year-out.”

Walters is owner of an estate settlement service company, helping families deal with the challenges of addressing business and estate issues after losing a loved one. Prior to that, Walters was Director of Finance and Administration for a farm equipment company, overseeing more than $100 million in revenue. In that position, he developed analytics and benchmarks for monthly operating results and financial reviews including budgets, revenue and inventory forecasts. Throughout his career, he has been responsible for financial operations at several business organizations.

“I don’t agree with politicians who claim Oklahomans are undertaxed,” Walters said. “I believe state government’s fiscal problems are primarily the result of our politicians’ poor financial practices and the failure to match spending with revenue. I know what it takes to develop budgets for large operations and produce results, not deficits. I will work to do the same thing for state government.”

A lifelong Republican, Walters believes his strong core conservative values – pro-life, pro-Second Amendment, pro-free enterprise – strongly match those of District 45 voters.

Walters previously served on the Oklahoma City Council from 2007 to 2011, giving him an understanding of government finance and processes as well as his extensive private-business expertise.

Walters is active in the community, serving as president of his home owners’ association and treasurer of the Westmoore High School Boys Soccer Booster Club.

Walters earned both his undergraduate business degree in finance and MBA from the University of Oklahoma. He is actively working toward becoming a Certified Public Accountant.

Walters, 41, and his wife, Kindell live in south Oklahoma City. Walters has two teenage children: Alex and Ashton. They attend LifeChurch.

Another resignation: State Sen. Kyle Loveless steps down

State Sen. Kyle Loveless (R-OKC) abruptly resigned today, amid investigations by the Oklahoma Ethics Commission and Oklahoma County District Attorney's office into possible campaign finance violations.

Loveless was first elected in 2012, and had made civil asset forfeiture reform his primary mission in recent years, getting major opposition from some in the law enforcement community.

This becomes the fifth resignation in the legislature since the 2016 general election; State Rep. Tom Newell (for a private sector job), State Rep. Dan Kirby (sexual harassment allegations), State Rep. Scott Martin (for private sector job), State Sen. Ralph Shortey (child prostitution arrest). State Rep. David Brumbaugh's sudden passing creates another vacancy requiring a special election.