Our family likes to beat the summer heat by watching movies on summer nights.? Recently we watched one of my all time favorites and classics, “To Kill a Mockingbird.” As I watched the movie, it struck me that we need more Atticus Finches not just in the court house, but also in the State House…and Senate.? During June?s three day filing period, 41 licensed attorneys filed to run for Federal and State races.?

Both Democratic candidates for Governor, Drew Edmondson and Jari Askins, are lawyers and the leading Republican candidate for Governor and current 5th District Representative, Mary Fallin is married to a member of the Oklahoma Bar Association.? In the race for the 5th Congressional District, there are three licensed attorneys, Democrats Tom Guild and Billy Coyle and Republican Kevin Calvey.? And challenging US Senator Tom Coburn is Mark Myles.

Oklahoma City attorneys Jim Priest (Democrat), and Ryan Leonard, (Republican) and Broken Arrow attorney Scott Pruitt (Republican), are vying for Attorney General.

Each of the statewide elections for Lt. Governor, State Treasurer, Labor Commissioner, and Corporation Commissioner includes one attorney ? Todd Lamb, Owen Laughlin, Jason Reese, and Dana Murphy respectively. In the state legislature, eight attorneys are running for the State Senate, and 20 are seeking election to the House of Representatives.

State Senate candidates are: Sean Burrage (incumbent), Darryl Roberts, Johnny Loard, John Sparks (incumbent), Sharon Parker, Rob Johnson, Anthony Sykes (incumbent), ?and Tom Ivester (incumbent).?

House candidates are: Ben Sherrer (incumbent), Mark McCullough (incumbent), A J Jones, Cory Williams (incumbent), Aaron Stiles, Samson Buck (incumbent),?? Michael Corrales, David Phillips, Jay Ramey, Fred Jordan (incumbent), Jeff Tracy, Daniel Sullivan (incumbent),? Molly McKay, Randy Grau, Brittany Novotny, Richard Morrissette (incumbent), Scott Inman (incumbent),? John Trebilcock (incumbent), David Looby, and Tim McCoy.

There is a bipartisan balance among the lawyers running for office, with 19 registered as Democrats and 22 registered as Republicans.?

Not all of the attorney candidates will be successful ? some are running against each other in primaries and some in general elections.? But win or lose on Election Day, all of these attorneys and candidates are like Atticus Finch ? they are heroes for throwing their hat in the ring and seeking to improve the communities and the state we live in.