Gay man eyes bid for Congress in Oklahoma
Democrat Jim Roth, the first gay person to hold statewide elected office in Oklahoma, is considering a run for Congress.
Roth said he will consider seeking the 5th District seat, which is being vacated by Republican Rep. James Lankford. Lankford, who is rabidly anti-gay, is running for the Senate seat being vacated by Tom Coburn, who is retiring at the end of this year.
Roth, an attorney, served as an Oklahoma County Commissioner from 2002 until 2007, when he was appointed to the Oklahoma Corporation Commission. After Roth lost his bid for re-election to the OCC in 2008, Gov. Mary Fallin appointed him to the State Election Board, but Republican lawmakers blocked his nomination. Last year, Roth was attacked in an apparent hate crime outside an Oklahoma City bar.
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“It’s so early that I don’t want to lead you on with the notion that there’s a decision,” Roth said. “Obviously, I’ve thought about it. The recent performance of Congress, probably everybody thinks about it.”
More at http://www.lonestarq.com/gay-man-eyes-bid-congress-oklahoma/#more-2610 .
