As we reported earlier, it’s the corporation commission races that are offering the most intrigue as candidate filings continue. The Oklahoma City paper agreed today with OKPNS’ assessment that these races will be more carefully watched this year. The editorial took at least a partial swipe at the two incumbents: could it be a sign the paper is finally going to engage in these crucial elections?

Interestingly, the editorial took a look back at the controversy surrounding last year’s battle over a coal burning power plant. OKPNS was all over this issue and explained why it was Chesapeake’s greed, not public benefit, that led to the commission’s decision to nix the plant. Corporation Commissioners Roth and Cloud sided with their masters and killed the plant, and the public got screwed: customers are paying higher prices because of their sell-out. We’ll see how that goes down with the voters.

Expect surprises in today’s last day of filing. There’s still an effort to dislodge Jeff Cloud from the six-year seat as the regulated companies that control the commission prefer Jim Roth in the full term seat. But it’s looking more and more like Cloud, much more at home in the public sector, is staying, at least for the time being.

So where will Roth finally land? That’s clearly something Dana Murphy, who lost to Cloud in the 2002 Republican Primary, wants to know. As of today, according to the election board web site, she had not filed. The names of Rep. Dennis Atkins and Sen. Ken Corn are being floated as well.

Developing…..