By D.E.

Smoot
Phoenix Staff Writer
Kenny Payne paved his
way into the District 3
post on the Muskogee
County Board of Commis-
sioners and will take over
in January where his fa-
ther leaves off.
Payne, who served a
four-year term as Ward
IV representative on the
Muskogee City Council,
beat political newcomer
Willie Keifer for the De-
mocratic nomination in
Tuesdays runoff election.
Because there are no Re-
publicans or third-party
candidates, Payne will
succeed outgoing Com-
missioner Dexter Payne
in January.
In the District 1 com-
missioners race, Speck
Plunkett beat Deputy
Commissioner Bob
Burgess, a 25-year veter-
an with the county, for the
Democratic nomination.
Plunkett will face Repub-
lican Ken Doke in the
Nov. 4 general election for
the post left open with the
departure of longtime
Commissioner Gene Wal-
lace.
By Cathy Spaulding
Phoenix Staff Writer
Longtime educator John
Cox won the Democratic
nomination for state
schools superintendent and
in the fall will take on Re-
publican Joy Hofmeister,
who defeated incumbent
Janet Barresi in the June
primary.
Cox has worked as a
teacher, principal and su-
perintendent. He defeated
teacher Freda Deskin in a
race in which Democrats
touted both candidates as
better than Barresi, who
alienated teachers, admin-
istrators and parents in her
four-year term.
Peggs School Superinten-
dent Cox embraced his
wife, Rhonda, upon hear-
ing of his victory in the De-
mocratic runoff Tuesday.
This is about children
and public schools, he told
supporters at a watch par-
ty.
Cox said he now is fo-
cused on the next two
months when he goes up
against Hoffmeister in the
general election.
He said his strategy is
just being a public school
By Cathy Spaulding
Phoenix Staff Writer
Voters in Okay, Webbers
Falls and Lowrey school
districts passed bond issues
to improve transportation,
safety and technology.
In Okay, voters passed a
$1,245,000 building bond
issue, 230 to 53, or 81.3 per-
cent to 18.7 percent. The
bond issue pays for three
new classrooms that can be
used as safe rooms, a new
roof and bleachers for the
gym, and a more secure en-
trance for the high school.
Okay voters also passed
a $255,000 bond issue for
new buses, 231 to 55, or
80.8 percent to 19.2 per-
cent.
Okay School Superinten-
dent Charles McMahan
said the margin of victory
shows the school is com-
ing together.
I dont know if I can put
into words how excited I
am, McMahan said. I had
a good feeling going into
this election.
He said the bond issue
increases the tax rate by
70 cents for every $100 a
person pays in property
taxes.
Webbers Falls voters
passed a $1,325,000 bond
issue with 232 voters, or
By D.E. Smoot
Phoenix Staff Writer
Muskogee County District Attor-
ney Larry Moores bid for a third
term was dashed Tuesday by Orvil
Loge, a local defense
lawyer who unseated
the incumbent during
his first foray into pol-
itics.
Loge campaigned
as a tough-on-crime
candidate who will
be firm and fair with
everybody. Loge pledged to pull no
punches and said there would be
nobody he would target or try to get.
Because there were no candidates
competing for the Republican nom-
ination or as a third-party candi-
date, Loges Democratic nomination
makes him the winner. He ousted
Moore by a 6.4 percent margin,
earning 3,403 votes to the incum-
bents 2,996.
I had a lot of people respond to
my message and what I want to do
for Muskogee County, and I think
that resonated with voters, Loge
said. It feels good I am just hon-
ored and humbled by the fact the
people of Muskogee County elected
me to serve them as their next dis-
trict attorney.
Moore, who cut his teeth as an
assistant prosecutor under the tute-
lage of former Attorney General
Drew Edmondson when he oversaw
By E.I. Hillin
Phoenix Staff Writer
Both winning candidates in
the Cherokee and McIntosh
counties commissioner races
credited their victories to the
same two words, good peo-
ple.
In the Cherokee County
District 3 race, Clif Hall of
Park Hill defeated N. Dean
Martin, acting commissioner
since Mike Ballard retired
from the position on Jan. 31.
Hall won with 55.2 percent
of the vote over Martins 44.8
percent. In Junes primary
election, Martin held the ad-
vantage with 42.7 percent
over Halls 37.6 percent.
I had a lot of people helping
me, Hall said. A lot of good
people.
Hall, 48, owns Halls Ter-
mite and Pest Control. He said
the first thing he would like to
do as the county commission-
er is train the current workers
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An NHI
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Vol. 126 No. 205
20 Pages in Two Sections
Muskogee, Oklahoma
Printed on recycled newsprint.
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2014 NHI
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Special photo by John Hasler
Muskogee County District Attorney-elect Orvil Loge announces Larry Moores concession. Loges wife, Misti,
holds their granddaughter Embri.
Incumbent falls in runoff for prosecutor
Area
school
bonds
pass
Voters in Okay,
Webbers Falls,
Lowrey approve
issues
Voters elect Loge as DA
Hall wins in
Cherokee County;
Phillips in McIntosh
Plunkett to face
Doke in election
for District 1 spot
Cherokee, McIntosh
commissioner races
settled in runoff
Payne wins Dist. 3
commissioner post
Area educator will
face Republican
Joy Hofmeister
Cox in race for state superintendent
New
Classifieds
Connection
Sell your Car, Truck,
Motorcycle, RV/Camper,
Boat, Jet Ski or a Pet in the
Muskogee Phoenix.
Get it in FULL COLOR, see your
Connection in the Phoenix.
For more details call:
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(See MCINTOSH, 4A)
Staff photo by Cathy Spaulding
John Cox embraces his wife, Rhonda Cox, after hear-
ing of his victory in the Democratic runoff for Oklahoma
Superintendent of Public Instruction. (See COX, 2A)
K. Payne Plunkett
(See COUNTY, 4A)
(See BONDS, 2A)
Unofficial results
District 15 Attorney Democrats
With 33 of 33 precincts reporting
Orvil Loge, 3,403, 53.2 percent;
Larry D. Moore, 2,996, 46.8 per-
cent.
Source: Oklahoma State Election Board
(See DA, 4A)
Moore
Transportation officials
announced Tuesday a $100
million plan to improve rail-
road crossing safety, to be
subsidized by federal funds
and the $75 million sale of
a 97-mile rail line between
Sapulpa and Oklahoma
City's suburbs.
Story on Page 6A
Railroad safety
plan announced
Veterans from across the
region brought their con-
cerns to VA officials Tues-
day during a Veterans Af-
fairs Town Hall.
Story on Page 3A
Vets air
complaints