Oklahoma Fifth C.D.: Commissioner Patrice Douglas says she will fight federal overreach in Congress

Oklahoma Corporation Commissioner Patrice Douglas wants to leave her current position to become the new Fifth District member of Congress.
In the competitive Republican primary for those seeking to replace U.S. James Lankford, R-Oklahoma City, who is running for the U.S. Senate, Douglas stresses three themes:
Number one, we need to repeal ObamaCare. We cannot sit back and let the federal government take over our healthcare as Americans. Free market solutions are the best choice. From recent news events concerning the Veterans Administration hospitals, it is clear that the federal government is not the solution for our healthcare.
Second, fighting federal overreach. Whether it’s healthcare or the Environmental Protection Agency, the federal government is overreaching into our lives in ways that Americans should not permit. We do not want unelected bureaucrats taking over the roles of state and local governments.  Local regulation and resolution provide better answers, and do not conform to the “one size fits all” mentality of federal bureaucrats.”
As her third top issue, Commissioner Douglas combines “Debt and Deficit. The Obama Administration’s lack of fiscal discipline and failure to balance a budget has left our children and grandchildren with the responsibility to pay our debts.
“What we need is a strong conservative business leader that will rein in spending, balance the budget and work to find pro-growth solutions that create jobs for American families.”
Gov. Mary Fallin appointed Douglas to the commission in 2011; she then ran unopposed to win election in 2012.
Previously, Douglas served as mayor of Edmond, in north Oklahoma County. Prior to entering politics, Douglas worked as an attorney and in her family’s sheet metal business.
Asked to make the case for her election over her mix of opponents, Douglas told CapitolBeatOK, “Simply put, my strong business experience. I am the only conservative Republican candidate in the race with broad experience in the private sector with my family’s small business and in community banking, as well as having served as mayor of one of Oklahoma’s largest cities during one of the most challenging fiscal times in recent history.
“I have served as chairman of the Oklahoma Corporation Commission, and led efforts to reform the Lifeline Program (Obamaphones), and recover taxpayer dollars resulting from fraud and abuse.
“I have worked, and will continue to work diligently to stop the overreach of the EPA.  No other candidate in this race has the breadth and depth of experience.”
Douglas faces five male opponents in the June 24 primary. If no one candidate secures a majority, there will be a runoff election on August 26 to select the party nominee.
On the Democratic side, state Sen. Al McAffrey of Oklahoma City is contending with Emeritus Prof. Tom Guild, the party’s 2012 standard-bearer, for the nomination.
You may contact Pat: patrick@capitolbeatok.com .