Filing begins Monday for two legislative seats

At least seven candidates are campaigning already for the legislative seat that became vacant when state Sen. Kyle Loveless abruptly resigned.

The three-day filing period for Senate District 45 and House District 76 begins Monday.

Senate District 45 stretches from Mustang into far south Oklahoma City eastward toward Valley Brook. Loveless, R-Oklahoma City, resigned April 27 after coming under criminal investigation over his campaign funds.

At least six Republicans have begun campaigns for the Senate seat, a review of announcements and ethics filings show. The most widely known is Kerry Pettingill, a former chief of the Oklahoma Highway Patrol.

The other GOP candidates are: Scott Harris, a lawyer living in Mustang; Diane Means, of Oklahoma City; Paul Rosino, a real estate agent living in Oklahoma City; Duane Smith, a businessman living in Oklahoma City; and Brian Walters, of Oklahoma City, the owner of an estate settlement service company.

At least one Democrat is campaigning for the seat: Steven Vincent, of Mustang, a dispatcher for the Oklahoma City Police Department for the last 10 years.

The special primary election for that Senate seat is set for Aug. 8. The special general election is set for Nov. 14.

The House District 76 seat in Tulsa County became vacant when Rep. David Brumbaugh, R-Broken Arrow, died in April. His widow, Shelley Brumbaugh, is one of at least five GOP candidates seeking the seat.

The special general election will be Aug. 8, if only Republicans file for that House seat. Otherwise, the special primary election will be Aug. 8, and the special general election Nov. 14.