Louie’s is located at the NW corner of 15th & Bryant in Edmond. Come out and celebrate the campaign as we watch the election results live.

If you need assistance in getting to the polls on election day, contact the campaign at info@royforcongress.com and we will arrange for somebody to assist you.

Dr. Johnny Roy knows that politics is “a risky business” and understands that “there’s nothing in it for me.”

But neither of those potential roadblocks kept the Edmond surgeon from throwing his hat in a crowded Fifth District Republican congressional field that already contains Lt. Gov. Mary Fallin, Corporation Commissioner Denise Bode, Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett and two state representatives, Fred Morgan and Kevin Calvey.

“I’ve always been politically oriented,” explained the Baghdad-born naturalized American citizen.

“I’m a surgeon. I’m a physician. I was professor at the University of Oklahoma for 21 years but politics has been my avocation even though medicine is my vocation.

“I look at what’s happening. I look at the country and it’s on the wrong track. I’m an immigrant for 40 years in this country and I’m blessed. I’m a very successful physician. I’ve reached my peak and I want to give back something for this country.”

Running for public office will “disrupt my calm lifestyle” and cut his income in half, Dr. Roy acknowledges, but he wants to do it anyway. He says he goes to Washington quite often to lobby “and I see what’s happening to this country. There are so many pressing issues and we waste our time with the minutia.”

He said he recently learned that only about 1 percent of the nation’s lawmakers are doctors. The leading profession in politics? “You guessed it,” he said, confirming that the answer is lawyers.

“Our leaders say we should not be addicted to foreign oil,” Roy observed. “Why are we reacting? Why don’t we act?

“Henry Ford ran his first Model T on ethanol. Brazil, which is no match for us, has three-fourths of its cars running on ethanol. Why can’t we have a good battery? We walk on the moon. We can have a good battery.”

Dr. Roy said health care is broken in the United States. Some people here get the best health care in the world but some get the worst. “I’m not saying we should do rationing but we should emphasize prevention.”

He said the most common ailment in the United States is obesity “and that’s what’s running up our health care.”

Roy, who at 68 is chief of surgery at Edmond Medical Center, said the U.S.A. must begin emphasizing primary care. “All countries in the world which emphasize primary care have low, low health care budgets. Our culture has demanded a Cadillac for everything. That cannot be. It just cannot be.”

He cited statistics showing the budget for health care in America is at the 20 percent level. “If we continue at this rate, in 70 years the whole budget would be consumed by health care and there will be nothing left for defense and other issues.”

Before throwing his hat in the ring to succeed Rep. Ernest Istook who is stepping down as congressman to run for governor, Roy said he talked to supporters who told him “name recognition is great but grassroots beats it.” He said poll after poll shows people are sick of politicians. “People want to see an average person,” he said. “Politicians are recycling themselves and going from job to job.”

He said many members of Congress are “nothing but brokerage firms for big companies” and maintained that the people are “sick of politicians.” He said he has supported Morgan and Fallin in the past but term limits are needed.

“I will notarize a pledge to serve three two-year terms and come home,” he said. “Running for office is not a career. It’s a service to the country and that’s how the Founding Fathers wanted it.”

Many of his opponents, he said, are career politicians. “They are honorable politicians but they are career politicians. The public wants someone to go there, do the job and come back.”

In addition to Republicans who have announced for the open congressional seat, three Democrats are seeking the post. They are Patricia Presley, the Oklahoma County court clerk, Bert Smith, a math teacher in Oklahoma City and David Hunter, another Edmond physician.

The first primary will be July 25 with a runoff on August 22. The general election will be Nov. 7.

The addition of Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett to an already crowded field has made the contest to succeed outgoing seven-term Oklahoma Republican Rep. Ernest Istook something of a battle of 5th District Republican all-stars.

Cornett joins two statewide elected officials, Corporation Commissioner Denise Bode and Lt. Gov. Mary Fallin; two state representatives, Fred Morgan and Kevin Calvey; and one lesser-known candidate, surgeon Johnny Roy on the roster for the July 25 Republican primary.

There is a good explanation for this surge of interest in the Republican primary: This central Oklahoma district is a GOP stronghold — President Bush drew 64 percent of the vote there in 2004 — and the primary winner is almost certain to succeed Istook, who is running for governor.

But with so many candidates, it appears probable that the nominee won’t be identified before an Aug. 22 runoff between the top two primary vote getters. The first-place finisher would need a majority vote on July 25 to win the nomination outright.

When asked Friday if he was concerned about having to play catchup in fundraising, since some of his opponents began collecting contributions last year, Cornett told CQPolitics.com that it’s par for the course in his political career. “I was outspent in my city council race and mayor’s race … so I’m used to that,” said Cornett, who stressed that he will “raise enough money to be competitive.”

Despite his late entry, Cornett’s candidacy announcement last Thursday came well ahead of the state’s June 7 filing deadline. He had let it be known that he was contemplating a run, and one supporter, small business owner Ed Lynn, even set up a “Draft Mick” committee.

Cornett admitted that he had long considered a House bid, but was busy waging his re-election campaign for mayor, which ended successfully in March. “Then we tried to determine whether it was too late to run,” said Cornett. “And it was clear that it was in the best interest of the city to run.”

Some critics, though, have blasted Cornett for seeking re-election while holding congressional aspirations and potentially leaving the mayor’s seat open.

Bode — the top fundraiser in the race as of March 31, according to the candidates’ most recent Federal Election Commission (FEC) reports, told CQPolitics.com Friday that Cornett has some “catching up to do.” Bode, who spoke by phone to Cornett Thursday evening, said she told him she welcomes Cornett to the race. But she said that in addition to fundraising, Cornett will have to master a “learning curve” that the more established House contenders may already have overcome.

According to the FEC reports, Bode raised $644,000 with $473,000 on hand; Fallin was a close second in overall receipts with $589,000, and had $263,000 on hand. Morgan raised $285,000 with $181,000 on hand.

Calvey — who just launched his campaign in March— raised $179,000 with $176,000 left on hand. He should get a boost with the endorsement he received from the anti-tax, free-market advocacy organization Club For Growth.

Roy, like Cornett, also announced his candidacy last week and has yet to file a fundraising report with the FEC.

Candidates benefit from the district’s location in a relatively small media market, which requires fewer fundraising dollars. Despite this accessibility, candidates such as Bode are putting much of their efforts into grass-roots campaigning to get their messages out to voters. “I tell people the first time you’re going to see me, it’s not going to be on TV,” said Bode. “It’s going to be at your door.”

Republicans dominate the district, where conservative-leaning voters re-elected Istook by wide margins in all six of his re-election bids.

The successor candidates have been emphasizing their socially and fiscally conservative stances — something the long-shot Democratic hopefuls will also need to promote if they want to be viewed as credible candidates in the district. Oklahoma County Clerk Patricia Presley, educator Bert Smith and surgeon David Hunter have announced their candidacies for the Democratic primary, also on July 25.

Cornett agreed that there is little ideological variation in the Republican field, but says voters will choose among the hopefuls based on their records of service. “I don’t think it’s going to be an election that’s going to show philosophical divides,” said Cornett. “I think it’s going to come down to a question of leadership.”

CQ rates the general election race as Safe Republican. Please visit CQPolitics.com’s Election Forecaster to view ratings for all races.

A Tulsa oilman and a Mustang engineer who is new to politics filed for governor Tuesday at the state Election Board.

Bob Sullivan is a Tulsa Republican and oilman who’s been on the campaign trail for some time, and Jim Evanoff is a Republican making his first run for public office.

Also Tuesday, more candidates filed in the 5th District congressional race.

The lieutenant governor’s race picked up new candidates Tuesday Sen. Cal Hobson, D-Lexington, the former Senate President Pro Tempore, and House Speaker Todd Hiett, R-Kellyville.

Monday, 415 candidates filed by the end of the day, but the filing pace slowed Tuesday as it usually has in the past.

Just 101 candidates filed for office with the state Election Board Tuesday, bringing the number of filings to 516 so far.

Filing Tuesday for the 5th District congressional seat were Corporation Commissioner Denise Bode, an Oklahoma City Republican, Johnny B. Roy, a Republican and Edmond surgeon, and state Rep. Fred Morgan, R-Oklahoma City.

They are seeking the seat now held by U.S. Rep. Ernest Istook, R-Warr Acres, who is running for governor.

After filing as a candidate for governor, Sullivan made a point of saying he is not a career politician.

“I just have a determination to greatly improve this state and go home,” he said.

He is the leader of an initiative petition drive to require 65 cents of every education dollar to go into the classrooms, he said.

The petition was filed with the secretary of state Monday.

Sullivan has said it’s possible the personal income tax could be abolished if he becomes governor.

Evanoff, 66, works as an engineer for an Oklahoma City company and also has a consulting business. He said his platform is on a Web site.

Among the issues discussed on that Web site is a proposal for a constitutional amendment to abolish all taxes on earned income within two years of passage of the amendment.

Already in the race for governor are Gov. Brad Henry, Oklahoma City Democrat; Istook, and state Sen. James Williamson, R-Tulsa.

Bode said she thinks she can win the 5th District congressional race because she has already knocked on more than 30,000 doors in the district and has the financial assets from contributions to get her message to voters.

She believes in less government and wants to return government to the people, she said.

Morgan said he thinks he has the edge over his opponents in the Republican primary because he has the most experience.

Roy, a native of Baghdad, Iraq, has said health care and education are important issues in the election.

Others in the race for the 5th District seat are Bert Smith, Oklahoma City Democrat; state Rep. Kevin Calvey, R-Del City; Lt. Gov. Mary Fallin, an Oklahoma City Republican, and Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett, a Republican.

Sue Barton, a Tulsa Democrat, and Gregory Wilson, a Perkins Democrat, filed Tuesday in the race for the 3rd Congressional District seat held by U.S. Rep. Frank Lucas, R-Cheyenne. Lucas filed for re-election Monday.

Also Monday, John Coffee Harris, a Tulsa Democrat, filed in the 3rd District race.

Also filing Tuesday was state Insurance Commissioner Kim Holland, who was appointed commissioner by Gov. Brad Henry.

Today is the final day for candidates to file for federal, state and judicial offices at the state Election Board and for county offices at county election boards.

The filing period will be from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. today at state and county election boards.

Two more candidates filed for governor today while the race for the 5th District Congress seat got more crowded.

Tulsa oilman Bob Sullivan, a Republican who’s been on the campaign trail for some time, and Jim Evanoff, an engineer who’s new to politics, became the latest entries into the governor’s race.

Also today, the lieutenant governor’s race picked up new candidates — Sen. Cal Hobson, D-Lexington, the former Senate President Pro Tempore, and current House Speaker Todd Hiett, R-Kellyville.

Monday, 415 candidates filed for office by the end of the day, but the filing pace slowed Tuesday as it usually has in the past.

Those filing Tuesday for the vacant 5th District congressional seat were Corporation Commissioner Denise Bode, an Oklahoma City Republican; Dr. Johnny B. Roy, a Republican and Edmond surgeon, and state Rep. Fred Morgan, R-Oklahoma City.

They are seeking the seat being vacated by U.S. Rep. Ernest Istook, R-Warr Acres, who is running for governor.

After filing as a candidate for governor, Sullivan made a point of saying he is not a career politician.

“I just have a determination to greatly improve this state and go home,” he said.

He is the leader of an initiative petition drive to require 65 cents of every education dollar to go into the classrooms, he said.

The petition was filed with the Secretary of State Monday.

Sullivan has said it’s possible the personal income tax could be abolished if he becomes Oklahoma’s next governor.

Evanoff, 66, works as an engineer for an Oklahoma City company and also has a consulting business. He said his positions in the governor’s race are on a Web site. Among the issues discussed on that Web site is a proposal for a constitutional amendment to change the state tax structure and abolish all taxes on earned income within two years of passage of the amendment.

Already in the race for governor are Gov. Brad Henry, Oklahoma City Democrat; Istook, and state Sen. James Williamson, R-Tulsa.

Others in the race for the 5th District seat are Bert Smith, Oklahoma City Democrat; state Rep.

EDMOND - A first-time candidate for political office said Wednesday he is finding out the harsh reality that money often outweighs ideas in campaigns.

“I hate to beg for money to buy 30-second clips on TV,” Dr. Johnny B. Roy said.

The Edmond surgeon, who entered the 5th Congressional District race last month, said he may have to buy television spots — even though he calls them a “staged act” — to try to keep up with at least three Republican opponents who already are airing television commercials.

Roy, chief of surgery at Edmond Medical Center, said he soon may have to cut back on his 12-hour work days to campaign. The Republican candidate spoke Wednesday to the Oklahoma Conservative Political Action Committee and said health care and education are main concerns facing the country.

The native of Baghdad, Iraq, who immigrated about 40 years ago to the United States, said he supports the U.S.-led war in his homeland.

“Now, we cannot leave,” he said. “There’s no government in Iraq, no civil order. So if we leave, they’ll eat each other.”

Part of the resistance in Iraq is caused by the United States forcing democracy on a country that does not understand it, Roy said.

Other Republican candidates are Lt. Gov. Mary Fallin, Corporation Commissioner Denise Bode, Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett and state Reps. Fred Morgan and Kevin Calvey.

Democrats in the race are Oklahoma County Court Clerk Patricia Presley, Oklahoma City high school math teacher Bert Smith and Edmond physician David Hunter.

All the other Republican candidates except Cornett have appeared before the conservative committee.
 

EDMOND — Dr. Johnny Roy, Republican candidate for the 5th Congressional District, wants to be a change candidate by bringing real-life experience into the political world.

Roy, currently the chief of urology at Edmond Medical Center, said he plans to take real-life experience to Washington, D.C., in order to help solve the problems currently facing our country.

“I feel I am uniquely qualified to run because of the pressing issues we are facing,” he said.

Roy said his five main issues he wants to see change are health care, education, immigration, foreign affairs and income tax.

Roy has been in the private practice of medicine for the past nine years. Previously, he was a professor at the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine.

Roy, an immigrant from Iraq, also has served as president of the National Kidney Foundation of Oklahoma and the Oklahoma County Medical Society and has most recently been chairman of the board at the Oklahoma Center for Advancement of Science and Technology.

Roy said his practical experience in both health care and teaching will help him when making decisions relating to these topics.

“Only an actively practicing physician presence at the decision table can articulate solutions to this extremely complex issue (of health care),” he said.

His experience teaching will be a similar help and sets him apart from other candidates, Roy said.

“None of them have been in a classroom and taught,” he said. “I have been a professor for 22 years.”

In additional to his professional experience, Roy is able to turn to personal experience on the issue of immigration and foreign affairs.

“I am an immigrant and have a good insight on this emotionally charged issue, perhaps better than most,” he said.

Roy points to his experience as a world traveler, and that his love of foreign affairs and his love for this area exceeds his love of his vocation.

“My background, raised overseas, and my world travels can lend a very credible rationale when confronted by international entanglements and issues,” he said.

And everyone has had the experience of paying their yearly income taxes, which Roy said he would try to replace with a consumption tax.

“I think most Americans are just mad and angry about our tax system,” he said.

Roy said he does not plan to become a career politician, but would only serve two to three terms before leaving office.

“Serving in Congress should be a calling and no

EDMOND, Okla. A native of Iraq says he’s joining the race for Congress in Oklahoma’s fifth district.

Doctor Johnny Roy is chief of surgery at Edmond Medical Center and has lived in the U-S for about 40 years. He becomes the fifth candidate in the race for the Republican nomination for the congressional seat.

Roy says he supports the war in Iraq and says illegal immigrants should be returned to their home countries.

Other Republican candidates are Lieutenant Governor Mary Fallin, Corporation Commissioner Denise Bode, and state Representatives Fred Morgan and Kevin Calvey.

Democrats in the race are Oklahoma County Court Clerk Patricia Presley, high school math teacher Bert Smith and Doctor David Hunter of Edmond.

Incumbent Republican Congressman Ernest Istook is running for governor.