Two sex scandals initiated special elections for formerly held GOP seats in OK, both were won by Dems. Dems scored a big special election victory Tues. as retired school teacher Karen Gaddis won an east Tulsa County House seat that has been in GOP hands since the early 1990s. Gaddis, who lost to then-Rep. Dan Kirby in last November's general election with 40 percent of the vote, finished with 52 percent Tues. to 48 percent for Republican Tressa Nunley. The seat came open in Feb. when Kirby resigned after being accused of having improper relationships with two female employees. Also Tues. night, Dems picked up a state Senate seat as attorney Michael Brooks defeated former House of Representatives employee Joe Griffin to win Senate District 44 in the Oklahoma City metro area. That seat opened up as the result of another sex scandal, this one involving Sen. Ralph Shortey.
At www.tulsaworld.com
