Pauls Valley Democrat Tuesday, January 21, 2014 Page 5A OKLAHOMA NEWS BRIEFS Needed. Sean Murphy Associated Press OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Republican U.S. Rep. James Lankford announced his candidacy Monday for the U.S. Senate seat left open by Sen. Tom Coburn who said last week he would resign the post at the end of this congressional session. Lankford said Monday that reduc- ing the nation’s deficit and long-term debt and pushing for states’ rights will continue to be among his top priorities in office. “Conservatives have increasing- ly grown more and more frustrated and caustic when we should grow more committed and more focused,” Lankford said to a group of support- ers during a press conference at the Oklahoma History Center. “The prob- lems we face today and the gridlock in Congress will be solved with a clear set of conservative solutions, a com- mitment to do the work, and a Senate transformation.” A longtime director of one of the nation’s largest Christian youth sum- mer camps, Lankford was a political unknown when he emerged from a crowded Republican primary field in 2010 to win the U.S. House seat. He won re-election in 2012 and was the only member of Oklahoma’s House delegation to not face a GOP primary opponent that year. Lankford also has risen quickly among the GOP leadership in the House, and is currently the chairman of the Republican Policy Committee. He also landed a spot on the House budget committee. The decision by Coburn, who is bat- tling a recurrence of cancer, to resign the seat two years early has turned a somewhat predictable election year in Oklahoma on its head. The special election will coincide with the regular election cycle in 2014, meaning there will be two U.S. Senate seats on the ballot in Oklahoma as U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe seeks re-election. “A week ago we were talking about a concern for voter intensity. I think this takes care of that,” said Dave Weston, chairman of the Oklahoma Republican Party. It’s the first time since 2004 that Oklahoma has had an open Senate seat, and Republicans will be heavily favored to maintain it. Oklahoma has not elected a Democrat to the U.S. Senate since David Boren in 1978. Among Democrats expected to consid- er the race are former Gov . Brad Henry and former Attorney General Drew Edmondson. Telephone messages left Monday for Henry and Edmondson were not immediately returned. Other Republicans considering run- ning for the open Senate seat are U.S. Rep. Jim Bridenstine of Tulsa and state House Speaker T.W. Shannon of Lawton. “No one can replace Tom Coburn, but someone will succeed him,” Shannon said in a statement Monday. “I am praying with my family about whether to enter the race to do just that, and I know the Lord will clearly place on my heart what my assignment is.” Bridenstine spokeswoman Sheryl Kaufman said the first-term congress- man is considering a run, “but he’s not inclined to make a rushed decision.” Lankford has the advantage of a hefty campaign account. He reported having more than $450,000 in cash on hand at the end of September, the most recent report available, and that money can be used for a Senate campaign. Bridenstine reported having about $180,000 in cash at the end of September. Lankford declined to say how much he currently has raised, but the next campaign finance report is due next week. On Sunday, Attorney General Scott Pruitt and U.S. Rep. Tom Cole, R- Okla., both said they would not run for Coburn’s seat. Gov. Mary Fallin also has said she won’t run for the seat. The timing of the special election means most officeholders who run for the seat, including Lankford, will not be able to run for re-election to their current positions. His announcement is expected to trigger another wave of candidates seeking to replace him in the 5th District. Republicans consider- ing a race for Lankford’s seat include Corporation Commissioner Patrice Douglas, state Sen. Clark Jolley, for- mer state Sen. Steve Russell, and state Rep. Paul Wesselhoft. Lankford said Monday he has no plans to endorse a candidate in the primary race for his open seat. “I’ll stay out of it,” he said. Retired University of Central Oklahoma professor Tom Guild, who ran unsuccessfully for the post in 2010 and 2012, already has announced his plans t o run again for the 5th District in 2014. US Rep. Lankford announces run for US Senate seat Chickasaw Nation’s gov won’t run for US Senate OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — The longtime gov- ernor of one of the state’s most powerful Native American tribes says he has no plans to run for Oklahoma’s open U.S. Senate seat this year. Chickasaw Nation Gov. Bill Anoatubby (AN’-uh- tuh-bee) released a statement Monday that said while he’s honored to be mentioned as a potential candidate, he doesn’t intend to run. Anoatubby says he hopes to continue in his role as head of the tribe “if it is the will of the Chickasaw people.” Anoatubby has been governor of the tribe since 1987. U.S. Sen. Tom Coburn announced last week that he was foregoing the last two years of his term amid another battle against cancer. Republican U.S. Rep. James Lankford said Monday he planned to run for the seat. Master plan to be unveiled by Okla. university TAHLEQUAH, Okla. (AP) — Northeastern State University is scheduled to unveil its master plan this week at its three Oklahoma campuses. The plan represents the school’s long-range strat- egy for building the physical resources to support the university’s mission and vision. It was developed after 16 months of research, discussion and review. The school says goal of the process is to provide a single, unified master plan for the university while retaining the unique identity of each of the three cam- puses in Ta hlequa h. Musko gee and B roken Arrow. Organizers say the process is designed to encour- age consensus-building by providing outreach oppor- tunities for both students and residents. For more information about the master plan, go to www.nsuok.edu/masterplan .