Councilman wants state seat

By James Beaty

McAlester resident Donnie Condit is the first one out of the chutes in a race for what is set to be an open seat for the District 18 state representative’s post.

“I want to say I am running and I will be accessible to the citizens,” said Condit.

“I will express their values at the state Capitol,” he said, adding that he wants the citizens to feel free to call him.

Condit, the current Ward 2 McAlester city councilor, is also in his fourth year as assistant principal at Puterbaugh Middle School.

Education will be one of his priorities, said Condit, as he announced his candidacy for the House seat currently held by District 18 state Rep. Terry Harrison, D-McAlester.

Harrison does not plan on filing for re-election to the House post. Instead, Harrison plans to run for the District 18 District Attorney’s office, currently held by Jim Bob Miller.

That move will leave the race for the District 18 House seat wide open in 2010.

The House district covers much of western Pittsburg County, as well as the southern portion of McIntosh County. It includes the respective county seats of McAlester and Eufaula.

Condit, who is a Democratic candidate, believes his background as a city councilor as well as an educator would serve him well as the next District 18 state representative.

“My experience on the council, my 29-plus years as an educator and 11 as an administrator has prepared me to serve as a state legislator,” he said.

“Dealing with students, parents, fellow teachers and fellow administrators has helped prepare me to serve as the District 18 state representative.

Condit’s worked at a variety of positions in McAlester Public Schools and has served on the McAlester City Council since July 2004.

“I am, and I’ve been, a good listener,” said Condit.

Condit plans on completing his current term as the Ward 2 city councilor. He said the office he presently holds on the McAlester City Council is up for election next April, and his term will end in June.

That will leave Condit plenty of time to finish his term on the council and still run in the 2010 race for the state House seat.

However, since the state Legislature meets in regular session from February through May, it would present a conflict, time-wise, with his position as assistant principal.

“I will be a full-time state legislator,” Condit said.

“When elected, I will be retiring from McAlester Public Schools,” said Condit, who is 52. “I was eligible two years ago.”

He feels it’s natural for him to be an advocate for education.

“I think our country is where it is today because of strong public education,” Condit said. “I think Oklahoma needs to continue that and when elected, I will continue that.”

Condit also addressed other issues facing the state. Referring to the economy, Condit said another of his priorities will be “getting the state to live within its means and do everything we can to give the people the services they need.”

Asked about the Department of Corrections, Condit said “The Department of Corrections is a big issue in McAlester, of course.” He considers protection of the community vital and he wants to examine other aspects of the DOC.

“I will be looking at it, especially the funding of it, and see what avenues could possibly be taken to help.”

On the personal front, Condit and his wife, Karen Condit, who is also an educator, are the parents of three adult children.

They are Dr. Amy Bax, and her husband, Ben Bax, of Edmond; son Christopher Condit, who works for the University of Oklahoma, and Brittany Condit, who is a student at OU.

Donnie Condit said he thinks Harrison has done a good job as state representative.

“That’s one of the reasons I haven’t ran until this time, out of respect to him and before him, Lloyd Fields,” Condit said, referring to the state labor commissioner from Arpelar who is also a former District 18 state representative.

“Now that I’m eligible to retire, I feel it will be as good a time as any” to run for the state House seat, said Condit.

Contact James Beaty at jbeaty@mcalesternews.com.

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