Zack Stoycoff
Staff Reporter
OKLAHOMA CITY —
Janice Steidley has cleared a big hurdle in the race to replace retiring Gene Haynes for District Attorney in Rogers, Mayes and Craig counties.
She won the Democratic nomination with 65 percent of the vote — 6,804 to 3,731 — over challenger Patrick Abitbol in Tuesday’s primary election, an outcome she touted as proof voters have embraced her promise to reform the office.
“I haven’t just had support from one sector of the community,” she said. “I’ve had support from law enforcement, from attorneys, from businesses and from ordinary citizens. It’s been a community-wide effort.”
Steidley is running on a promise to shake up the district attorney’s office with personnel and policy changes, a platform democratic voters in Rogers County endorsed with 3,454 votes to Abitbol’s 1,927. Steidley also carried Mayes County with 2,408 to 1,169 and Craig with 942 to 635.
“I only ran because I felt the DA’s office has problems and I wanted to get some of those straightened out,” Steidley said. “Someone needed to stand up, and I did.”
Abitbol said the results indicated voters liked what Steidley had to say. He offered his support for Steidley in November’s general election and said he’d be back at work in the morning. Abitbol is a longtime assistant district attorney under Haynes, who is retiring after 20 years.
“Patrick really is a great guy. I’ve said that all along,” Steidley said. “This is my first political race and I’m glad he was on the other side. I couldn’t have picked a better opponent than Patrick.”
Results for Craig and Mayes counties were announced at Steidley’s watch party by 9 p.m., indicating she had all but won a decisive victory. Rogers County results were delayed slightly by broken voting machines in Chelsea. By 10:30 p.m., all results were final.
“I set out to do something and I did it,” Stiedley said. “I’m just overwhelmed with the amount of support I’ve received knowing what so many people have done for me. It’s humbling.”
Prominent Claremore attorneys celebrated at Steidley’s watch party at her rural Claremore home, offering their support for November and saying they hope the election brought change in the district attorney’s office.
Rogers County Sheriff Scott Walton also attended the party.
“I just want to do the absolute best possible job I can do,” Steidley said. “I’m a politician now, but I’m a lawyer first. That’s what I’ve always been and that’s what I’ll always be.”
Steidley runs Steidley Law Firm in Claremore with her husband, Larry Steidley. She has served under Gene Hayes in the district attorney’s office for several years.
The district attorney’s office needs reform above all else, she said.
“It needs to be streamlined and it needs efficiency,” she said “There needs to be more communication with the community and law enforcement, and I plan to make that happen.”
Her republican opponent, Bryce Lair, got a pass in the primaries with no party challengers. He’ll face Steidley for the District 12 district attorney position in November.
Lair could not be reached by press time Tuesday.
“One race down, one to go,” Steidley said.
