By Mike Carrels
Phoenix Staff Writer
Okay Democrat Wade Rousselot retained the District 12 House of Representatives seat Tuesday night.
Rousselot held off Republican challenger David Tackett, a marketing representative who lives north of Coweta, 7,325-6,256. Tackett said he called Rousselot early in the evening to congratulate him on his victory.
“It’s always tough to unseat an incumbent,” Tackett said. “(Rousselot) hasn’t had to run an election since he was first elected.”
Rousselot was first elected in 2004 and had run unopposed until this election. He says he is committed to representing the district for 12 years, when he would be term-limited.
Rousselot’s campaign manager, Danny Oliver, said it was a “good, clean” campaign.
“It was a long, hard-fought race,” Oliver said. “He won the thing behind his team of volunteers who worked tirelessly throughout the district and many months of the campaign.”
Tackett said he was unsure whether he’ll run again in two years.
“I’ve always said I’ll never say never,” he said. “There are a bunch of variables, but the short edge is, I’ve always had a desire to work in the legislative area. I was hoping to do it on the inside.”
Rousselot said education funding is the state’s main issue.
“We need to fund it at more up-to-date levels that mirror the cost of living,” he said prior to the election.
Reach Mike Carrels at (918) 684-2922 or mcarrels
@muskogeephoenix.com.
Unofficial results
State Representative District 12
• Wade Rousselot, D, 7,325 (53.9 percent)
• David Tackett, R, 6,256 (46.1 percent)
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