State commission seats draw bevy of candidates: Some incumbents want to keep their positions. [Tulsa World, Okla.]

July 21--OKLAHOMA CITY -- Former Insurance Commissioner John Crawford wants his job back.

Crawford, of Oklahoma City, faces fellow Republicans Mark Croucher, of Jenks, and John Doak, of Tulsa. The primary is Tuesday.

The winner of the Republican primary and possible runoff will face Incumbent Kim Holland, a Democrat, in the Nov. 2 general election. She was the only Democrat to file.

In the race for Labor Commissioner, Republicans Mark Costello and Jason Reese, both of Oklahoma City, are vying for the nomination to face Lloyd Fields, the Democratic incumbent, on the Nov. 2 ballot.

Republican Tod Yeager of Del City wants to unseat Republican Corporation Commissioner Dana Murphy, of Edmond, the incumbent. The race will be decided in the primary.

Crawford served as Insurance Commissioner from 1995 until 1999. He lost his bid for re-election.

Crawford has a bachelor's in business administration and served as chief actuary of the Oklahoma Insurance Department. He was with the agency for 14 years, the last four as commissioner. He is semi-retired.

Crawford said that for him the consumer or policy holder comes first, followed by the agent and then the company.

"You have to get them all balanced and working together," Crawford said.

Croucher is an independent insurance agent. He has been in the business for 14 years.

Croucher said the federal health care reform law must be stopped. He also believes that the

state needs to get a handle on premium rate increases. Insurance, he said, needs to be simplified so people understand what they are getting.

Doak has been in the insurance business for 20 years. He has a bachelor's degree in political science.

He believes that the state should join a lawsuit challenging federal health care reform. The workers' compensation system and rising insurance rates for property and casualty also need to be addressed, he said.

Costello is chairman of USA Digital Communications. He has a bachelor's degree in humanities from the University of Kansas.

He will work on job creation and retention and will try to reduce waste and duplication in government.

Reese holds a bachelor's degree in letters and has a law degree. He worked for the Oklahoma House and is now in private practice.

"I am running to improve the business climate for companies specifically engaged in workers' compensation disputes," Reese said.

Murphy, a geologist and attorney, is seeking her first full six-year term. She was elected in 2008 to fulfill the unexpired term of Denise Bode, who resigned. She defeated Democrat Jim Roth, who was appointed by Gov. Brad Henry to fulfill Bode's unexpired term.

Yeager could not be reached for comment.

Barbara Hoberock (405) 528-2465

barbara.hoberock@tulsaworld.com

To see more of the Tulsa World, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.tulsaworld.com.

Copyright (c) 2010, Tulsa World, Okla.

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.

For more information about the content services offered by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services (MCT), visit www.mctinfoservices.com, e-mail services@mctinfoservices.com, or call 866-280-5210 (outside the United States, call +1 312-222-4544)