As many as eight candidates for Oklahoma's Fourth District will close down their offices in defeat when the polls close tonight.

In the race to replace Rep. J.C. Watts Jr., R-Okla., 10 people are vying to be their party's candidate for the 4th District.

Democrats and Republicans jumped into the competition with just eight weeks to finance and campaign for the new 4th District, which includes Norman, Ardmore, Lawton and Ada. Four Democrats have decided to try to take the seat that was theirs before Watts was elected in 1994.

Midwest City Police Chief Brandon Clabes, 44, is a native Oklahoman that has not had much to do with elections, other than voting and endorsing.

His first exposure to politics was at age 7 when his father served as editor of The Lawton Constitution.

"I have something different," Clabes said. "I am a public servant, not a politician."

That lack of labeling is what Clabes said makes him stand out from the rest of the Democrats. Along with fighting crime, other campaign goals of Clabes include national security, health care and education.

Ben Odom, 43, has been a Norman resident for 21 years. During his time here, he graduated from OU's Law School and taught criminal law and procedure in the political science department. Now an attorney in Norman, Odom said he is ready to represent the 4th District in Washington.

Some of the issues Odom said he feels are important revolves around the national problems America has encountered, national security and the economy. He said America also needs to protect the seniors and invest in the children.

"Real costs for college has doubled since I went," Odom said. "That has placed an incredible burden on families and students. A lot more young people are working with loan debts."

Darryl Roberts, 57, served in the Marine Corps and Reserves for 31 years. During that time, he served in Vietnam, was state senator and senate majority leader for six years.

When Roberts returned to Oklahoma from Vietnam, he attended OU's College of Law and went to Ardmore to work as an lawyer. In 1982, Roberts was first elected to the state senate. When he finished serving as senate majority leader, Roberts moved on to become chairman of the Senate Education Appropriations Committee.

When Roberts retired from the senate, he returned to Ardmore to practice law, with no further vision of politics, though he now finds himself in a large election.

The main focus of Roberts campaign will be Oklahoma's role in national defense, but Roberts said education is just as important. As a state senator, Roberts worked on legislation that provided health insurance to teachers. He also increased the number of national board certified teachers.

Lance Compton, 27, could not be reached for this story. The Oklahoma State Board of Education lists Compton as a resident of Lawton.

Republicans have been running a campaign to keep what Watts started in the "Republican Revolution" in 1994, when the GOP secured the majority seat in the U.S. House for the first time in 50 years. Six Republicans said they are the man to succeed the former OU football star.

Jerry Black, 50, is an environmental scientist that runs his own business from Norman. A single parent with two kids, Black said has been balancing work with bringing up his children in a proper manner. Now, he finds himself enjoying the campaign trail.

"This has given me a chance to re-acquaint with old friends and meet new ones," Black said. His skill at listening to other people's ideas is what Black said he will bring with him to Congress.

Tom Cole, 53, has been president for Cole Hargrave Snodgrass & Associates, working on political campaigns for Oklahoma candidates and national candidates. A native of Moore, Cole's family has been a native of Oklahoma for five generations, being a registered member of the Chickasaw tribe.

For the past 12 years, he has worked for Watts, first for the Corporation Commissioner, then for U.S. House of Representatives. Prior to Watts, and other political leaders, approaching him, Cole had not considered running for any office.

"It was an unexpected opportunity and challenge," Cole said. "All of us have very limited time."

Cole said his goals are national defense and the economy. He said Tinker and Ft. Sill need to be maintained for the ongoing war on terrorism. For the economy, making sure there are measures to upstart the economy and achieving President George W. Bush's goal of a balanced budget by 2005 is what he said he will work toward while in office.

Education falls right with the national defense and the economy. The concentration of higher education is highest in the 4th District.

Terry Johnson, 54, left Cameron University after one semester to serve in the Army. After serving, the Lawton field engineer earned his degree from California State University at Long Beach.

His main reason for running is for national security, moving military jobs to Oklahoma, especially Tinker and Ft Sill, not to save the installations, but to expand them. Because of his military background, Johnson said he feels the issues at hand and what he supports deal with him directly.

Garlin Newton, 51, is a small business owner that has had big aspirations. The Oklahoma City construction owner walked across from Little Rock, Ark., to Washington, D.C., to get prayer back in public schools. Paying for his campaign out of his own pocket, Newton is focussing on presenting his message to voters, running like he is going to win, even though he said he knows his chances are slim.

"I know I'm a million-to-one shot, but we'd like to get our message out," Newton said.

Marc Nuttle, 53, has spent his post-collegiate career in Norman, working as a consultant to Republican leaders, both locally and nationally. Having worked with three presidents, Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, and President Bush, various senators, and international organizations such as NATO, Nuttle boasts the most national and international experience.

"I want to do my part in taking Oklahoma to the new century," Nuttle said. Included in his goals are creating new jobs and increased education funding, two keys that Nuttle said would keep students in the state after graduation.

Tennie Rogers, 74, would not respond to interview requests. The Oklahoma State Election Board lists her residency as Tulsa making her the only candidate this year to live outside the district.
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