Democratic Rep. Ray McCarter and Bill Mitchell were told Tuesday redistricting would put them in the same district. Republicans Curt Roggow and Mike O'Neal were told the same thing. Roggow said Thursday that House Redistricting Committee chairman Representative Bill Paulk told him no incumbents would run against another incumbent. Lawmakers have until the May 25th adjournment of the Legislature to approve a plan redrawing the districts of all 101 House and 48 Senate seats. The group will use the money to hire a technical adviser to review Tar Creek cleanup.
Tar Creek is a former zinc mining area in northeastern Oklahoma.
Children living in Ottawa County have reported some of the highest concentrations of blood lead levels in the country. When lead and zinc mining ended, mine waste with dangerous levels of lead, zinc and cadmium were left behind.