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POLITICS: Lucas touts voting record in re-election bid

By Bryan Smith

Senior Reporter

(POL) After filing for re-election, Republican U.S. Rep. Frank Lucas said that his consistent, conservative voting record and more than 50 town hall meeting across the Third Congressional District have helped him avoid some of the pitfalls that other incumbents have fallen into.

When Lucas filed his documents with the Oklahoma State Election Board Monday, he had not yet drawn a challenger for the primary or general election. When asked why, Lucas said that he has consistently voted with his constituents.

"If you take care of your constituents, you don't have problems," he said.

A number of issues over the last year have kept Lucas concerned about the needs of his constituents, from the federal health care debate to the overall budget.

Lucas said that during all of it, he has worked hard to represent conservative Oklahoma values, while ensuring that legislation that does make it through does not have a disproportionately negative effect on the state of Oklahoma and the Third Congressional District.

Of some state leaders' efforts to file suit against the federal government over the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, Lucas said that the states are well within their rights to challenge the law. He did not comment on whether he thought those efforts would be successful.

If returned to Washington D.C., Lucas said that he would continue to represent conservative values and push for a smaller, limited government.

He was first elected to Congress in a 1994 special election.

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Frank Lucas Asks Voters to Re-Elect Him to 8th Term To Congress

Cheyenne, Okla. - Frank D. Lucas has officially announced on his intent to run for re-election to Congress, filing for office June 5 as a Republican candidate in the Third Congressional District of Oklahoma. He pledged to continue the fight in Washington to maintain Oklahoma's rural conservative values.

Lucas cited recent efforts to remove the phrase "under God" from the Pledge of Allegiance, to turn over management of major U.S. ports to an Arab company, and proposals to give illegal aliens blanket amnesty as examples of why he is asking voters to send him back to Washington.

"Every day I consider myself blessed to represent the people of the Third Congressional District," Lucas said. "And yet every day I am amazed at liberal efforts to erode those values we hold so dear in Oklahoma. The fight for our values is as important now as ever. My work is not done yet."

Lucas also announced he has launched his campaign website, www.frankdlucas.com, to give interested voters more information about Lucas and his work on behalf of Oklahoma. Voters can also sign up for email updates, participate in volunteer activities, receive a Lucas for Congress yard sign and bumper sticker, or contribute to the campaign.

"I'm asking for the support of all Oklahomans - Republican, Democrat, and Independent - to help make our state and our nation a better place for our children and grandchildren," Lucas said.

In a congressional district with a majority of Democrat voters, Lucas has been elected by an average of 69 percent of voters over the last five general elections.

"I have been blessed to have the support of Oklahomans to represent them in Congress, and I am as dedicated as ever to continue the crusade against higher taxes, ballooning government programs and federal intrusion in our personal lives," Lucas said.

Lucas also cited the upcoming 2007 Farm Bill negotiations as an important issue for the Third District in the next two years.

"The upcoming Farm Bill debate will establish U.S. agriculture policy for the next 5 years and beyond," Lucas said. "Everything from commodity programs, to conservation issues, to rural development funding will be debated. Those programs have a big impact on Oklahoma, and I very much want to be in the mix for those debates on behalf of the Third District."

Lucas is a lifelong farmer and rancher, and currently serves as the chairman of the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Conservation, Credit, Rural Development, and Research. He was heavily involved in the writing of the 2002 Farm Bill, which expires in 2007. Lucas wrote the conservation section of the last Farm Bill, and was one of the Members of Congress who crafted the final version of the legislation.