State Rep. Boren (D-Paden) and Wayland Smalley, Republican, of Chelsea, are running for the seat being vacated by Congressman Brad Carson, who is running for U.S. Senate.
Dan Boren, Democrat
Boren was born in Shawnee and lives in Okfuskee County in the rural community of Paden. In 1997 he earned a bachelor's of science in economics, and he went on to obtain a master's degree in business administration from the University of Oklahoma (OU) at Norman.
Boren is the son of David L. Boren, former governor and senator and currently OU president, and the late Janna L. Robbins of Madill. Boren's stepmother is Molly Shi Boren of Ada. Boren's stepfather, John Robbins, lives in Longview, Texas.
Boren was elected to the Oklahoma House of Representatives at age 29 after defeating an eightyear incumbent, and was one of the youngest nonincumbents to be elected in 2002. Following his election, he was elected as the incoming caucus chairman by his fellow House Democrats, and was the first freshman state lawmaker to ever receive this honor.
As a member of the State House leadership team, Boren said he has focused on bringing jobs and economic opportunities to his district
Boren serves in the State House on several committees, including the appropriations and budget committee, where he serves as vice chairman of the subcommittee on public safety and judiciary.
Prior to his career in public service, Boren served as the president and chief executive officer of the Seminole State College Educational Foundation. Boren worked as a senior aide at the Oklahoma Corporation Commission and held staff positions for former U.S. Congressman Wes Watkins.
Wayland Smalley, Republican
Smalley said he is a political outsider, and has been breeding Thoroughbred racehorses for the past 10 years. As a working partner in C&S Stables Inc., Smalley said he oversees all aspects of the farm. His duties include budgets, projections, purchasing, contract negotiations, advertising, book keeping, minutes and all the physical aspects of a breeding operation.
"I am a shoulder to the grindstone, sweat in the earth, get your hands dirty kind of guy," Smalley said. "I am not slick or politically correct all the time. I have a simplistic view on what is right and what is wrong, what is good and what is bad. I try to take the short way around the barn. When presented with a new or better way of doing anything, I am more than willing to change."
Smalley said he is very spiritual, and he believes in self-reliance and personal responsibility.
"If you believe in God, life and family and you want an advocate in all areas of agriculture, environment and energy, you might want to help send me to Washington," Smalley said. "If you want your kids to be able to read, if the tax man takes too much of your money, and if you demand a strong national defense, including taking care of the men and women that do our fighting long after the fighting is done, you should probably help me.
"If you want to keep your guns and if you understand that there are games being played with the future of our children's Social Security and our grandparents' Medicare, you can help me shake up the establishment in Congress."
