Lawton, Comanche County polls open at 7 a.m. for Senate 32 race

Polls in Lawton and Comanche County open at 7 a.m. today for qualified voters to cast ballots for the State Senate District 32 seat.

Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. as Democrats and Republicans look at candidates who are vying to replace former Sen. John Michael Montgomery, who resigned in August to become president/CEO of the Lawton Fort Sill Chamber of Commerce. Montgomery had been re-elected to his Senate seat in November, meaning the winner of this special election will complete the remainder of his four-year term.

Democrats have two candidates: Larry Bush, a Lawton insurance agent, and Johnny Jernigan, a nurse’s aide. On the Republican side, voters have four choices: Dusty Deevers, an Elgin-area pastor and CEO of Deevers Properties; Jennifer Ellis, president and CEO of Cosmetic Specialty Labs; JJ Francais, mayor of Elgin and vice president of public affairs at Hilliary Communications; and Dr. Jean Hausheer, a retired ophthalmologist.

Each party is selecting its nominee to face off in general election, with today’s winners proceeding directly to that Dec. 12 election. State officials said a swearing-in ceremony for the general election winner is tentatively set for Dec. 20.

There are 23 city and county precincts that are part of Senate District 32, with only parts of Lawton and Comanche County represented by that district. Comanche County Election Board officials have said some residents are confused as to whether they live in Senate District 32, and a list of the precincts open today is included with this story. Questions may be directed to the Comanche County Election Board, 353-1880.