Both candidates for Oklahoma insurance commissioner make a similar pitch to voters: Elect me, and you’ll pay less for homeowners insurance.
Despite its relatively low cost of living, Oklahoma homeowners pay some of the highest insurance premiums in the country. The industry blames severe weather and litigation costs, but a growing number of elected officials, including Attorney General Gentner Drummond, argue corporate greed is to blame. An ongoing lawsuit alleges State Farm systematically denied or underpaid valid wind and hail damage claims to Oklahoma homeowners.
With incumbent Insurance Commissioner Glen Mulready term-limited, Oklahoma voters will elect a newcomer to lead the agency on Nov. 3. Here’s a breakdown of the two candidates and their platforms, compiled through publicly available information: The Candidates:
• Republican Bob Sullivan, a 41 - ye a r old insurance ind ustry professional from Inola.
• Democrat Craig MacIntyre, a 60-year-old insurance industry professional from Tecumseh.
Their Platforms:
• On his campaign website, Sullivan describes himself as “the fighter big insurance doesn’t want.” While touting his conservative credentials, he promises to investigate price gouging and ensure companies pay out INSURANCE on page 3 claims on time. At a June candidate forum, he did not rule out the possible jail time for insurance executives who break the law.
INSURANCE: Running
• MacIntyre argues he’s the most qualified candidate for the job, highlighting his experience as an actuary, underwriter and policy writer, among other positions. He says he would give the insurance department’s consumer protection division more authority to investigate unfair claims practices and reject excessive rate hike proposals. He also wants to limit expenses that can justify a rate increase, saying that Oklahomans should not be subsidizing expensive advertising campaigns or luxury corporate travel.
