June election to narrow GOP field in commissioner's race

For Cleveland County Republicans, the contest to see who will be the party’s nominee for District 1 county commissioner has become a Moore vs. Norman thing.

Four men — two from Moore and two from Norman — are seeking the GOP nod for the seat.

Glen Cosper and Ted Ryals are from Moore; Randy Rogers and Rod Cleveland are from Norman.

The primary election is schedule for Tuesday, June 12, polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. The winner of Tuesday’s contest will face James Earp, a Newalla Democrat in the general election, scheduled for July 10.

And while vote registration would seem to give the winning Republican candidate the edge in the contest, all four men say they are leaving nothing to chance.

Cosper said his experience as a member of the Moore-Norman Technology Center board of directors makes him the ideal candidate for the commission.

“My experiences on educational and civic boards, combined with professional background provides the skills necessary to assume the duties of a County Commissioner,” he said, earlier this year.

“I firmly believe we need conservative leadership to continue Commissioner Graves' legacy of fighting to reduce the size of county government and work diligently to limit property tax increases.”

A Realtor with Keller Williams, Cosper is a fromer member of the Moore School Board. He and his wife, Beth, have been married 32 years and have two children.

A member of First Baptist Church of Moore, Cosper also belongs to the South Oklahoma City Rotary Club and the South Oklahoma City, Moore and Norman Chambers of Commerce.

For Rogers, the contest is his second attempt at the District 1 seat.

Rogers, the owner and operator of Central Oklahoma land Maintenance and Construction, ran for the office in the 2006 primary.

“As a lifelong conservative Republican, I believe I bring the necessary skills and understanding of county government to hit the ground running after the special election takes place this summer,” Rogers said in April. “My expertise directing operations in land maintenance, managing and training personnel, and experience with contracts and bidding will ensure a smooth transition in the Commissioner's Office if I am elected,” he said.

A native Oklahoman and member of the Chickasaw nation, Rogers holds bachelor's and masters degrees from the University of Oklahoma. He was a varsity letterman on the OU Men’s Tennis team.

Rogers and his wife of 18 years, Susan, are members of First Baptist Church in Norman.

Ryals, an attorney, was the GOP’s candidate against Cleveland County Treasurer Saundra DeSelms in 2006. In that race, DeSelms defeated Ryals with 55.64 percent of the vote.

Ryals also served as a delegate to the state Republican Party Convention in 2005 and 2007.

“My biggest issue is accountablity,” Ryals said. “I’m going to be a real stickler on being accountable to the taxpayers.”
That, he said, means audits of county government.

“One of the statutory provision of the commissioner’s office is to audit the offices of the county,” he said. “And I think that also includes not only financial audits, but physical assets. An audit means more than financial paperwork. We’ve got to know where the money is going.”

Cleveland said he wants to serve the county in a “positive and professional manner” and, at the same time, continue to raise his family.

“As a husband, father and business owner in Norman, I feel that I am uniquely qualified to serve in his position,” he said. “I have a lifetime of experiences in this district to help guide my decisions and efforts.”

A graduate of Lexington High School and the University of Okahoma, Cleveland holds a bachelors degree in Economics. Cleveland and his wife, Christine, are member of the Eagle Heights Baptist Church in south Oklahoma City.

The owner of PostNet Postal and Business Services, Amazing Grace Inspriational Gifts and Experienced Golf Balls, Cleveland is a graduate of Leadership Norman.

In 1996, he captured the Republican primary for the State Seante District 15 contest.

About 50,000 voters are registered in District 1; of that figure, 5,470 are Independent, 17,740 are Democrats and 27,371 are registered as Republican.

The District 1 became vacant following the death of long-time incumbent commissioner, Bill Graves, who died from complications due to surgery in early April.