By Joey McWilliams
OKLAHOMA – The landscape of the political race for state offices in the southeastern Oklahoma area changed again this past weekend.
News presented by First United Bank.
State Representative Dustin Roberts has thrown his hat into the ring once again and filed to be a candidate and to seek re-election in November.
Upon hearing news of this decision, Durant attorney Steve Taylor, who had filed earlier in the week to run for would have been a vacant seat, withdrew his name from contention in regard to Oklahoma House District 21.
Taylor announced the change in course on Facebook on Sunday evening.
“I received a call last Thursday night from Dustin Roberts and he told me that he was seriously considering filing as a candidate,” Taylor said in the post. “Dustin had announced back in February that he was not seeking re-election. The two of us spoke at length about the reasons he felt he should file and I believe it was an open an honest conversation. I told him that I would pray for him that night that God would guide his decision.
“I also told him that I would not run against him if he decided to file.
“On Friday morning I phoned Dustin and he told me that he intended to file. I asked him not to, but he said that after careful reflection and prayer he was going to. I am a man of my word and since I told Dustin that if he filed, I would not run against him, that is what I am doing.”
Taylor thanked those who had given him support and encouragement during his brief tenure as a political candidate. He also spoke to the Patriot and commended Roberts for his what he had done in office.
“Dustin has represented our district honorably in Oklahoma City,” Taylor said.
He also said that through their conversations that he felt it was not in the best interest of the district for the two to run against each other in the primary and that he was at peace with his decision.
Roberts posted on Facebook his appreciation to Taylor for doing things as he had be would do them, as he is withdrawing.
“Friday morning I told Steve that I was going to file,” Roberts said in his post. “Steve is a man of integrity and honesty and I look forward to working with him in the future.”