SATURDAY EVENING AT 11 ON OETA.

WELCOME TO THE 2026 OKLAHOMA INSURANCE COMMISSIONER DEBATE LIVE ON OETA.

HERE ARE YOUR MODERATORS.

JASON DOYLE AND RICH LANDS.

GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO THE 2026 INSURANCE COMMISSIONERS DEBATE ON OETA.

MY NAME IS RICH LENZ AND I AM THE NEWS DIRECTOR AND ANCHOR OF OETA'S WEEKLY NEWSCAST, THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT.

AND I'M JASON DOYLE, EXECUTIVE PRODUCER AND REPORTER FOR THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT.

TONIGHT'S DEBATE IS BEING BROUGHT TO YOU LIVE STATEWIDE IN ALL 77 OKLAHOMA COUNTIES.

OUR TWO CANDIDATES SEEK TO REPLACE OUTGOING INSURANCE COMMISSIONER GLEN MULREADY.

LET'S MEET THEM NOW.

REPRESENTING THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, BOB SULLIVAN AND THE DEMOCRAT CANDIDATE, CRAIG MCINTYRE.

WELCOME TO YOU BOTH.

NOW, THE RULES FOR TONIGHT'S DEBATE ARE PRETTY SIMPLE.

YOU'LL BE GIVEN ONE MINUTE FOR BOTH AN OPENING AND CLOSING STATEMENT.

YOU'LL ALSO HAVE 60S TO ANSWER EACH OF OUR QUESTIONS.

WE AS MODERATORS WILL NOT ENGAGE OR INTERRUPT THE CANDIDATES WHILE THEY ARE ANSWERING, UNLESS THEY GO OVER THAT 62ND TIME LIMIT.

WE ALSO RESERVE THE RIGHT TO ASK FOLLOW UP QUESTIONS IF REQUIRED.

AND WITH THAT, LET'S BEGIN.

BY VIRTUE OF A COIN TOSS, THE FIRST OPENING STATEMENT BELONGS TO CRAIG MCINTYRE.

MR.

MCINTYRE, IT'S ALL YOURS.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

GOOD EVENING.

I'M CRAIG MCINTYRE.

I'M THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE FOR INSURANCE COMMISSIONER.

I'D LIKE TO THANK OETA FOR PUTTING ON THIS EVENT TONIGHT.

THANK YOU, MR.

SULLIVAN, FOR JOINING ME.

AND I WOULD LIKE TO THANK EVERYONE HERE AND AT HOME WHO IS WATCHING, BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE THIS IS AN INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT EVENT.

BUT BEFORE I GO ON, I WANT TO THANK MY WIFE, FRAN, WHO'S HERE WITH US TONIGHT.

WITHOUT HER, I COULDN'T HAVE DONE ANY OF THIS.

SHE'S BEEN MY ROCK THROUGH THIS WHOLE CAMPAIGN.

OKLAHOMA HAS THE HIGHEST PROPERTY AND CASUALTY INSURANCE RATES IN THE NATION, AND THE ATTORNEY GENERAL HAS HAD TO STEP IN TO SUE THE LARGEST PROPERTY AND CASUALTY INSURER IN THE NATION, BECAUSE THEY WON'T PAY THEIR CLAIMS.

THIS ISN'T RIGHT.

THIS ISN'T FAIR.

AND THIS IS WHY I ENTERED THIS RACE.

OKLAHOMANS DESERVE AFFORDABLE RATES.

THEY DESERVE TO BE TREATED WITH RESPECT AND HAVE THEIR CLAIMS PAID.

I'VE SPENT OVER 30 YEARS OF MY CAREER WORKING INSIDE THE INSURANCE WORLD, NOT AS AN AGENT, BUT AS AN ACTUARY, AND OVERSEEING NEGOTIATIONS AND FILINGS WITH INSURANCE DEPARTMENTS AND LEGISLATURES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

IT'S GIVEN ME THE ABILITY TO SOLVE THE PROBLEMS THAT OKLAHOMA FACES.

AND NOW, BOB SULLIVAN, IT'S YOUR TURN.

GOOD EVENING, EVERYBODY, AND THANKS AGAIN TO OETA FOR HOSTING THIS EVENT.

AND TO MR.

MCINTYRE FOR BEING HERE AS WELL.

MY NAME IS BOB SULLIVAN.

I'M THE REPUBLICAN NOMINEE FOR OKLAHOMA INSURANCE COMMISSIONER.

I'VE SPENT 20 YEARS IN THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY, BOTH AS AN UNDERWRITER EARLY IN MY CAREER, BUT FOR THE LAST 17 YEARS AS AN INDEPENDENT AGENT WORKING ALONGSIDE OKLAHOMA HOMEOWNERS, BUSINESS OWNERS, FARMERS AND RANCHERS ALL ACROSS THIS STATE AND IN ABOUT 15 OTHER STATES AS WELL.

THROUGH THAT PROCESS, I'VE WORKED TIRELESSLY TO HELP OKLAHOMANS MANAGE THE RISK OF EVERYDAY LIFE AND TO PROTECT WHAT THEY'VE BUILT AND THEIR BUSINESSES.

AND THROUGH THAT PROCESS, SEEING THAT OUR MARKETPLACE IN OKLAHOMA LACKS COMPETITION AND LACKS PROPER OVERSIGHT FROM THE OKLAHOMA INSURANCE COMMISSIONERS LEVEL, AND THAT'S WHAT BROUGHT ME TO THE RACE.

I'M GRATEFUL AS WELL, AS MR.

MCINTYRE SAID, TO HAVE SOME GUESTS HERE WITH ME TONIGHT.

I HAVE MY MOTHER AND MY SISTER HERE JOINING US TONIGHT, AND TO MY WIFE AND TWO YOUNG CHILDREN BACK HOME IN ENOLA.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

DAD LOVES YOU AND I'LL SEE YOU HOME TONIGHT.

AND THANK YOU AGAIN.

THANK YOU FOR THAT.

AND SO LET'S BEGIN WITH THE QUESTIONS.

THIS IS FOR BOTH CANDIDATES.

WE WILL BEGIN WITH CRAIG MCINTYRE.

HOUSE BILL 3781 HAS BEEN SIGNED INTO LAW BY GOVERNOR STITT.

IT GIVES THE INSURANCE COMMISSIONER THE POWER TO REVIEW AND POSSIBLY REJECT RATES THAT HE CONSIDERS, QUOTE, EXCESSIVE, INADEQUATE OR DISCRIMINATORY.

DO YOU BELIEVE OKLAHOMA'S EXISTING HOMEOWNERS INSURANCE RATES MEET THAT CRITERIA?

THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

SO 3781 GIVES THE INSURANCE COMMISSIONER THE POWER NOT ONLY TO DO THAT, BUT NOW FORCES INSURANCE COMPANIES TO ACTUALLY FILE THE RATES BEFORE THEY START USING THEM.

AND I BELIEVE THAT RATES IN OKLAHOMA ARE EXCESSIVE.

I DON'T BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD HAVE HIGHER INSURANCE RATES THAN ALL OF OUR NEIGHBORING STATES.

IF YOU LOOK AT KANSAS, IOWA, NEBRASKA, TEXAS, COLORADO, MISSOURI, THEY HAVE THE SAME WEATHER PATTERNS WE HAVE.

THEY HAVE THE SAME ISSUES.

THEIR HOUSES ARE SIMILARLY PRICED.

AND YET YOU GO ALONG THE OKLAHOMA KANSAS BORDER AND YOU'LL FIND THAT RATES ARE DRAMATICALLY LOWER IN KANSAS THAN THEY ARE HERE.

AND THE REASON FOR THAT, IN MY OPINION, IS THAT WE HAVE NOT ADEQUATELY REGULATED THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY.

AND I THINK IF WE HAVE A STRONG REGULATOR WHO CAN EVALUATE THE DATA, WHO UNDERSTANDS THE CORNERS THAT CAN BE CUT, WE CAN LOWER YOUR RATES AND WE CAN MAKE OKLAHOMA FAIR, TRANSPARENT AND MAKE INSURANCE COMPANIES ACCOUNTABLE TO US RATHER THAN THEIR STOCKHOLDERS.

MR.

SULLIVAN?

CERTAINLY, HOUSE BILL 3781 IS A FANTASTIC PIECE OF LEGISLATION.

I'M GRATEFUL TO THE LEGISLATURE FOR RECOGNIZING THE NEEDS THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA, HEARING THE CRIES OF 4 MILLION OKLAHOMANS WHO ARE INUNDATED AND BURDENED WITH EXCESSIVE PROPERTY INSURANCE AND HOMEOWNERS INSURANCE PREMIUMS.

I'M GRATEFUL THAT IT MODERNIZES THE REGULATORY ENVIRONMENT IN OKLAHOMA, MORE AKIN TO OUR NEIGHBORING STATES, AND, FRANKLY, IS A MEANINGFUL AND REAL PIECE OF OVERSIGHT THAT I THINK IS LONG OVERDUE.

CERTAINLY, IT'S NOT A SILVER BULLET TO FIXING THE HOMEOWNERS MARKET IN THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA, BUT IT IS A KEY COMPONENT OF OUR 15 POINT PLAN TO ADDRESS HOMEOWNERS INSURANCE AFFORDABILITY, PROPERTY INSURANCE AFFORDABILITY THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA.

AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO TAKING THE TIME AND WORKING WITH THE CURRENT OID STAFF AND EXPANDING THAT STAFF SO THAT WE HAVE THE RIGHT KIND OF ACTUARIAL HORSEPOWER TO DIGEST AND ACTIVELY REVIEW THESE RATES BEFORE THEY HIT THE POCKETBOOKS OF OKLAHOMA FAMILIES.

MR.

SULLIVAN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

AND WE'LL BEGIN WITH YOU.

THE SECOND QUESTION, LAWYERS FROM STATE FARM HAVE ARGUED IN COURT THAT THE INTERNAL DOCUMENTS AND COMMUNICATIONS SHOULD BE WITHHELD FROM THE PUBLIC, FROM THE PUBLIC, BECAUSE THEY AMOUNTED TO TRADE SECRETS AND WOULD AND RELEASING THEM WOULD CAUSE COMMERCIAL AND COMPETITIVE HARM.

DO YOU BUY THAT ARGUMENT?

NO.

I CERTAINLY OBJECT TO THE ASSERTION THAT HOW YOU HANDLE A CLAIMANT OR A POLICYHOLDER IN THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA AFTER THEY'VE SUFFERED A TRAUMATIC EVENT LIKE A WIND, WIND LOSS OR HAIL LOSS, IS SOME KIND OF PROTECTED TRADE SECRET I FIND A BIT RIDICULOUS.

THEIR POLICY SHOULD BE DICTATING HOW THEY HANDLE THE CLAIM AND HOW THEY APPROACH THEIR POLICYHOLDER, AND HOW THEY CAN WORK ALONGSIDE THAT POLICYHOLDER TO HELP THEM RESUME NORMALCY IN LIFE.

SO I REJECT THE ASSERTION THAT IT'S A PROTECTED TRADE SECRET.

AND I'M I'M HOPEFUL THAT IN THE CLEAR LIGHT OF DAY THROUGHOUT THIS THROUGHOUT THIS LEGAL PROCEEDING, THAT WE CAN FIND A SENSE OF JUSTICE IN THIS MATTER AND THAT HOPEFULLY WE CAN MOVE ON WITH STATE FARM STILL AS A VIABLE PARTICIPANT IN THE OKLAHOMA HOMEOWNERS INSURANCE MARKET.

THANK YOU, MR.

MCINTYRE.

SO I THINK THERE'S A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A COMPANY CLAIMING TRADE SECRETS WHEN THEY'RE DEALING WITH OTHER INSURANCE COMPANIES OR WHAT IS DISCLOSED TO THE PUBLIC IN GENERAL IN NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES, AND WHAT'S DISCLOSED TO THE COURTS AND WHAT'S DISCLOSED TO THE INSURANCE DEPARTMENT.

THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A LEGAL LOOPHOLE THEY'RE TRYING TO EXPLOIT.

STATE FARM HAS MADE CHOICES.

THEY'VE ENACTED POLICIES.

AND AS THESE PAPERS COME OUT, WE GET TO SEE WHAT THE COMPANY HAS DONE TO TRY AND LEVERAGE BY BEING HIDDEN IN BEHIND THE TRADE SECRET NOAH MACK AND ABLE TO EXTRACT MONEY FROM THE PEOPLE OF OKLAHOMA AND NOT PAY THEIR CLAIMS.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE INSURANCE MARKET IS NOT JUST A FREE MARKET.

WE MANDATE THAT PEOPLE HAVE INSURANCE.

AS A RESULT, YOUR REGULATOR HAS AN OBLIGATION TO MAKE SURE THEY UNDERSTAND THE COMPLETE DEPTH OF EVERYTHING AN INSURANCE COMPANY DOES WHEN IT'S PRICING, WHEN IT'S SETTLING CLAIMS, AND WHEN IT'S DEALING WITH YOU.

AND SO, NO, I DON'T BUY THAT ARGUMENT.

MR.

MCINTYRE.

THE NEXT QUESTION WE WILL BEGIN WITH YOU.

THE LAWS OF SUPPLY AND DEMAND DICTATE THAT MORE OPTIONS AND COMPETITION WILL LEAD TO LOWER COSTS FOR CONSUMERS.

DOES OKLAHOMA HAVE ENOUGH COMPANIES OPERATING IN OUR STATE, AND IS A LACK OF COMPETITION PARTLY TO BLAME FOR OUR HIGH INSURANCE RATES?

SO THE LAWS OF SUPPLY AND DEMAND SAY THAT THE MORE SUPPLY YOU HAVE, THE LOWER THE RATE SHOULD BECOME OR THE LOWER THE PRODUCT PRICING.

IT IS ACTUALLY A LOGICAL FALLACY WHEN YOU HAVE A MONOPOLY.

I CAN CHARGE YOU AS MUCH AS I WANT BECAUSE YOU WILL PAY UNTIL YOU CAN'T PAY ANYMORE.

A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF COMPETITION WILL BRING DOWN THOSE PRICES.

BEST EXAMPLE IS STARBUCKS.

THEY CONVINCED EVERYBODY THAT $7 WAS A GREAT PRICE TO PAY FOR COFFEE, SO EVERYBODY GOT IN THAT GAME.

AND WHAT DO YOU PAY TODAY FOR YOUR COFFEE?

$7.

OKLAHOMA HAS MORE THAN 100 LICENSED PROPERTY AND CASUALTY INSURANCE COMPANIES THAT ARE LICENSED TO WRITE HOMEOWNERS.

MORE THAN 50 ARE ACTIVELY WRITING HOMEOWNERS IN THE MARKET.

I BELIEVE THAT THE CURRENT COMPETITIVE NATURE, EXCLUDING PERHAPS SMALL POCKETS THROUGHOUT THE STATE, IS ACTUALLY COMPETITIVE.

THE PROBLEM ISN'T THAT IT'S A NONCOMPETITIVE MARKET.

THE TRUE PROBLEM IS WE HAVEN'T REGULATED INSURERS AND IN MADE SURE THAT THE DATA THEY USE, THE WAY THEY TREAT CUSTOMERS ARE FAIR, TRANSPARENT AND REASONABLE.

MR.

SULLIVAN, DO YOU AGREE WITH MR.

MCINTYRE?

I'VE CERTAINLY MADE THE ASSERTION NUMEROUS TIMES THROUGHOUT THIS CAMPAIGN, THROUGHOUT THE LAST YEAR, THAT WE LACK A COMPETITIVE MARKETPLACE IN THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA.

WE HAVE 50 COMPANIES CURRENTLY PARTICIPATING AT SOME LEVEL IN THE MARKETPLACE, BUT THE MARKET SHARE OF THE OKLAHOMA HOMEOWNERS MARKET IS IS AN OLIGOPOLY.

THERE ARE SEVERAL COMPANIES THAT CONTROL THE LION'S SHARE OF OUR MARKETPLACE IN OKLAHOMA.

SO I DO BELIEVE THAT AN INCREASE IN COMPETITION AND MORE CARRIERS COMING INTO THE STATE WILL HAVE A POSITIVE EFFECT IN DECREASING INSURANCE RATES IN THE HOMEOWNER'S SPACE IN OKLAHOMA.

WE'VE SEEN IT HAPPEN IN MULTIPLE INDUSTRIES, MOST NOTABLY IN RECENT YEARS IN OUR WORKERS COMP MARKET, WHERE WE HAVE A PLETHORA OF STANDALONE WORKER'S COMP CARRIERS RIDING IN THE STATE, AND PRICES HAVE CONTINUED TO DECREASE YEAR OVER YEAR OVER YEAR SINCE THE 2014 WORKER'S COMP REFORM.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

MR.

SULLIVAN WILL RETURN TO YOU WITH THIS QUESTION IF ELECTED.

NAME SPECIFIC WAYS IN WHICH YOUR TENURE, TENURE AND HOW YOU WILL RUN THE INSURANCE COMMISSION WOULD DIFFER FROM YOUR PREDECESSOR.

GLEN MULREADY.

YOU KNOW, WE'RE WE'RE CERTAINLY GOING TO BE TAKING A MORE ACTIVE ROLE IN COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA.

PREVIOUS INSURANCE COMMISSIONERS HAD REGIONAL OR NUMEROUS OTHER SATELLITE OFFICES THAT.

WHERE CONSUMERS IN OKLAHOMA COULD HAVE A PERSON MORE IN THEIR GEOGRAPHIC AREA, THEY DON'T HAVE TO COME TO OKLAHOMA CITY TO TO AIR THEIR GRIEVANCES OR MAKE A COMPLAINT OR, OR FILL OUT SOME, SOME STANDALONE BOILERPLATE FORM LETTER.

I THINK HAVING PEOPLE IN THE TRENCHES WHERE OKLAHOMANS CAN ACCESS THEIR OKLAHOMA INSURANCE DEPARTMENT IS KEY TO GETTING MORE DATA REGARDING CONSUMER COMPLAINTS.

AND IN MY OPINION, I THINK IT'S MOST VALUABLE IN HOW IT CAN ASSIST CONSUMERS NAVIGATE SOME OF THE DIFFICULT WATERS OF THE INSURANCE MARKETPLACE.

WE'RE ALSO GOING TO BE SIGNIFICANTLY MORE ACTIVE WITH THE LEGISLATURE IN PURSUING MEANINGFUL LEGISLATION TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE A COMPETITIVE AND SUSTAINABLE MARKET IN OKLAHOMA, IN THE OKLAHOMA ECOSYSTEM, PARTICULARLY FOR HOMEOWNERS INSURANCE.

AND SAME QUESTION TO YOU, MR.

MCINTYRE.

OKAY.

I'M GOING TO GO BACK AND TOUCH ON SOMETHING MR.

SULLIVAN SAID.

WHEN THE WORKER'S COMP REFORM HAPPENED IN 2014, THE FUNDAMENTAL PIECE OF THAT WASN'T THAT WE HAD MORE COMPETITION, IS THAT WE CAP DAMAGES AND WE TOOK WORKER'S COMP, AT LEAST THE SALES SIDE OF IT AND THE POLICY SIDE OF IT OUT OF THE INSURANCE DEPARTMENT AND RATCHETED IT DOWN.

SO I WOULD ARGUE THAT THAT DOESN'T REPRESENT WHAT COMPETITION CAN DO.

REGARDING MR.

MULREADY, HE'S DONE SOME VERY INNOVATIVE THINGS.

AND WE SAW THIS WEEK HE RELEASED SOMETHING RELATED TO A REINSURANCE PROGRAM FOR HEALTH INSURANCE.

HE'S DEALT WITH CAPTIVE INSURANCE.

WHAT HE HAS DONE IS ACTUALLY DONE THE SEXY SIDE OF INSURANCE AND NEGLECTED THE JOB OF THE INSURANCE COMMISSIONER.

THE INSURANCE COMMISSIONER HAS TWO JOBS.

IT'S TO ENFORCE AND IMPLEMENT THE LAWS OF INSURANCE IN THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA.

THE SECOND JOB IS TO BE AN ADVOCATE FOR YOU, THE CONSUMER OF INSURANCE IN THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA.

AND I BELIEVE WE LACKED OUTREACH.

WE'VE LACKED ASSISTANCE TO PEOPLE.

WE'VE LACKED INFORMATION.

WE HAVEN'T GONE AFTER BAD ACTORS IN THE GAME, WHETHER IT'S FROM RATING, WHETHER IT'S RULES, WHETHER IT'S CLAIM SERVICE.

AND THAT WILL CHANGE WHEN I'M ELECTED COMMISSIONER.

WE'RE VERY QUICK FOLLOW UP FOR BOTH OF YOU.

OKAY, SO ON A SCALE OF 1 TO 10, HOW GOOD A JOB DID GLEN MULREADY DO?

FIRST YOU, MR.

SULLIVAN, VERY QUICKLY.

FIVE, SIX.

VERY GOOD.

ON TO THE NEXT QUESTION.

MR.

MCINTYRE WILL ANSWER THIS FIRST.

WHAT ARE THE SHARPEST DIFFERENCES BETWEEN YOU AND YOUR OPPONENT AND HOW YOU WOULD OPERATE THE OKLAHOMA INSURANCE COMMISSION?

WELL, CLEARLY IT'S NOT OUR HAIRCUT, BUT.

SO I WOULD SAY THE SHARPEST DIFFERENCE BETWEEN US FUNDAMENTALLY COMES DOWN TO A BELIEF OF WHAT A REGULATOR IS SUPPOSED TO DO.

I BELIEVE IN FAIR AND STRONG REGULATION.

WE WANT INSURANCE COMPANIES TO COME INTO OUR STATE WHO ARE FAIR, THEY'RE TRANSPARENT, AND THEY'RE ACCOUNTABLE TO THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE.

AND IF THEY DON'T WANT TO BE THAT, WE DON'T NEED THEM.

WE NEED PARTNERS IN THIS STATE.

WE DON'T NEED PREDATORS.

WE SPENT 18 YEARS, MAYBE MORE, HAVING A FREE MARKET WHERE INSURANCE COMPANIES GOT TO COME IN, DO WHAT THEY WANTED WITH MINIMAL REGULATION.

AND WHERE HAS THAT GOTTEN US?

WELL, IT HASN'T LOWERED MY INSURANCE RATES.

SURE.

IT HASN'T LOWERED YOUR INSURANCE RATES.

WE NEED A REGULATOR THAT CAN SET A GUIDELINE UP SO INSURANCE COMPANIES KNOW THE RULES AND THEY KNOW IF THEY PLAY BY THE RULES, WE WILL PARTNER WITH THEM.

SO EVERYONE SUCCEEDS IN OKLAHOMA PROSPERS.

MY OPPONENT BELIEVES MORE SO IN THE FREE MARKET.

AND LIKE I SAID, AT LEAST FOR THE LAST 16 YEARS, WHERE HAS THAT GOTTEN US?

MR.

SULLIVAN?

YEAH, I CERTAINLY BELIEVE THAT.

MR.

MCINTYRE AND I AGREE ON MORE THAN WE DISAGREE, AND THAT'S BEEN EVIDENT THROUGHOUT THIS CAMPAIGN AND THROUGHOUT SOME PREVIOUS FORUMS THAT WE'VE HELD TOGETHER.

THERE'S A LOT OF GREAT CIVILITY BETWEEN THE TWO OF US, AND I APPRECIATE THAT.

I DO BELIEVE THAT WE DIFFER IN TERMS OF HOW WE'RE GOING TO APPROACH INSURANCE CARRIERS.

I CERTAINLY BELIEVE, AS MR.

MCINTYRE NOTED, THAT AN INCREASE IN REGULATION IS HEALTHY AND REQUIRED FOR US TO HAVE A CLEAR AND SUSTAINABLE PATH FORWARD.

BUT I DO BELIEVE IN THE FREE MARKET.

I DO BELIEVE THAT INCREASED COMPETITION WILL YIELD MORE RESULTS AND MORE RESULTS FOR THE LONG TERM IN OKLAHOMA, AND I BELIEVE THAT TO MY CORE.

WE'RE ALSO GOING TO HAVE DIFFERENCES AND APPROACHES IN TERMS OF THE OPTIONS THAT ARE PROVIDED TO CITIZENS IN THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA, THINGS LIKE MY DEDUCTIBLE AND DISASTER SAVINGS ACCOUNT THAT I BELIEVE WILL BE A MAJOR GAME CHANGER FOR OKLAHOMA IN TERMS OF OUR ATTRACTIVENESS FOR OTHER INSURANCE COMPANIES TO COME INTO OUR STATE, AS WELL AS HAVING A MORE MEANINGFUL AND ACTIVE ROLE BY OKLAHOMANS IN THEIR OWN PERSONAL RISK MANAGEMENT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

WE'LL BEGIN AGAIN WITH YOU WITH THIS QUESTION.

WHAT STAFF CHANGES OR ADDITIONS WOULD YOU MAKE TO BOLSTER THE INSURANCE COMMISSION'S ABILITY TO DO ITS JOB EFFECTIVELY?

SURE.

WELL, HOUSE BILL 3781 CERTAINLY IS GOING TO REQUIRE US TO MAKE SOME INVESTMENTS IN ADDITIONAL ACTUARIAL HORSEPOWER FOR OUR STATE IF WE'RE TO FULLY AND ACCURATELY AND APPROPRIATELY REGULATE THE INSURANCE RATES THAT COMPANIES ARE ATTEMPTING TO CHARGE IN THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA.

WE'RE ALSO GOING TO HAVE TO CONTINUE THE HEADCOUNT INCREASE WITH REGARD TO OUR STATE BASED HEALTH INSURANCE EXCHANGE, WHICH IS SET TO GO LIVE IN NOVEMBER OF 2027.

AND BEYOND THAT, I WOULD ALSO BELIEVE THAT IF WE'RE EFFECTIVE IN COMMUNICATING TO OKLAHOMANS THAT THE INSURANCE DEPARTMENT IS A PLACE THEY CAN COME WITH THEIR PROBLEMS, THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO INCREASE HEADCOUNT IN THE CONSUMER PROTECTION DIVISION AS WELL, BECAUSE RIGHT NOW IT APPEARS TO BE APPROPRIATELY STAFFED.

BUT I BELIEVE THAT'S BECAUSE MANY OKLAHOMANS HAVE LOST FAITH IN THEIR ABILITY TO CONTACT THE INSURANCE DEPARTMENT AND HAVE AN ADVOCATE WORKING THERE ON THEIR BEHALF AND ACHIEVE SOME KIND OF MEANINGFUL RESOLUTION.

ALL RIGHT.

AND, MR.

MCINTYRE, YOUR TURN.

SURE.

FIRST, I'M GOING TO REDIRECT BACK TO SOMETHING THAT MR.

SULLIVAN SAID.

IN TERMS OF A FREE MARKET, THE ONE CONCEPT WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND IS THE INSURANCE MARKET IS NOT FREE.

A FREE MARKET IS A MARKET IN WHICH THE BUYER AND SELLER CAN BOTH WALK AWAY WITH NO NEGATIVE REPERCUSSIONS.

YOU'RE MANDATED TO HAVE INSURANCE, SO THEREFORE, THE INSURANCE COMMISSIONERS JOB IS TO ADVOCATE AND BALANCE THE PLAYING FIELD.

OKAY, SO TO CHANGES IN THE DEPARTMENT, WITHOUT QUESTION, 3781 IS GOING TO REQUIRE US TO CHANGE THE EMPHASIS AND THE DIRECTION OF THE DEPARTMENT.

I DON'T BELIEVE THAT WE'RE GOING TO NEED A BUDGET INCREASE.

I BELIEVE THAT WE ALREADY SPEND MONEY WE DON'T NEED TO SPEND, AND THEN WE CAN USE THAT MONEY TO MORE EFFECTIVELY CHANGE ROLES FOR CERTAIN PERSONNEL AND TO HIRE THE STAFF WE NEED, BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO NEED THEM ON JANUARY 11TH GOING FORWARD.

IF YOU ASK ME, WHAT ARE WE GOING TO CHANGE?

I WOULD SAY THE FIRST THING TO DO WOULD BE TO CLOSE THE TULSA OFFICE.

OKLAHOMA, OUTSIDE OF CALIFORNIA, IS THE ONLY STATE THAT I KNOW OF WITH MORE THAN ONE INSURANCE OFFICE.

AND SO THE SAVINGS THAT ARE GENERATED THERE WILL PAY FOR THE PLAN.

VERY GOOD.

YOU USED ALL YOUR TIME THERE, GOT UNDER THE BUZZER.

WE WILL GO BACK TO YOU TO BEGIN THIS NEXT QUESTION.

INSURANCE COMPANIES ARE TYPICALLY PORTRAYED AS THE BAD GUYS WHO DENY CLAIMS AND MAKE HUGE PROFITS.

BOTH OF YOU HAVE WORKED IN THE INDUSTRY FOR DECADES.

IS THAT A SUPERFICIAL DESCRIPTION OF BIG INSURANCE, MR.

MCINTYRE?

I WOULDN'T SAY THEY'RE THE BAD GUYS, NECESSARILY, BUT THE REALITY IS THAT INSURANCE COMPANIES WILL DO EVERYTHING THEY CAN TO MAKE AS MUCH MONEY AS THEY CAN.

THEY HAVE A FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITY TO THEIR STOCKHOLDERS.

HISTORICALLY, THAT WASN'T NECESSARILY THE CASE.

AND SO WHAT I THINK IS THAT THEY PORTRAY THEMSELVES AS PART OF THE PUBLIC GOOD.

THEY SHOULD ACT AS PART OF THE PUBLIC GOOD, WHICH MEANS THEY SHOULD MAKE DECISIONS THAT ARE IN THE GOOD OF THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA.

THEY SHOULDN'T BE SPENDING THEIR TIME WORRYING ABOUT BUYING CORPORATE JETS.

THEY SHOULDN'T BE WORRYING ABOUT PUTTING THEIR NAME ON SPORTS STADIUMS ACROSS AMERICA.

THEY SHOULD BE TRYING TO FOCUS ON HOW WE CAN REFINE THE WAY WE DO BUSINESS TO ENSURE ALL OF OUR INSUREDS GET PAID WHAT THEY'RE OWED.

REMEMBER THAT IN INSURANCE PREMIUM, THE BIGGEST CHUNK OF MONEY THAT CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE ACTUAL PREMIUM IS WHAT THEY PAY YOU IN CLAIMS.

SO WHEN I HEAR THEY'RE GOING TO SHARPEN THEIR PENCILS AND COMPETITION IS GOING TO CAUSE THEM TO LOWER RATES, WHAT I ACTUALLY HEAR IS INSURANCE COMPANIES WILL FIND WAYS TO PAY LESS IN CLAIMS SO THAT THEY MAINTAIN THEIR PROFIT.

MR.

SULLIVAN, YOUR RESPONSE.

YOU KNOW, I CERTAINLY WILL CHALLENGE THE ASSERTION THAT ALL INSURANCE COMPANIES ARE BAD.

WE HAVE HERE IN OKLAHOMA SEVERAL FANTASTIC DOMESTIC INSURERS WHO TRULY CARE ABOUT THE CITIZENS OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA.

AND YOU CAN SEE THAT PLAY OUT IN HOW THEY RESPOND WHEN DISASTER STRIKES.

THEY THEY COME TO A TOWN AFTER A TORNADO WITH A CHECKBOOK, READY TO HELP PEOPLE RESUME THEIR LIVES INSTEAD OF JUST, YOU KNOW, CASES OF WATER TO HELP KEEP PEOPLE HYDRATED.

THEY'RE REALLY IN IT FOR THE RIGHT REASONS.

AND I THINK THOSE COMPANIES NEED TO BE HELD UP.

AND AS A STANDARD FOR OTHER INSURANCE COMPANIES TO FOLLOW, THERE'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE BAD ACTORS IN ANY PROFESSION, WHETHER WHETHER IT'S LAWYERS, ROOFERS, ACCOUNTANTS OR ACTUARIES.

THERE'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE SOME PERCENTAGE THAT DRAGS DOWN THE REPUTATION IN THE NAME OF ANY GIVEN PROFESSION.

AND I THINK WE'RE SEEING THAT PLAY OUT.

SO I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD THROW THE BABY OUT WITH THE BATHWATER AND SAY THAT EVERY INSURANCE COMPANY OPERATING IN OKLAHOMA IS THERE TO GET SOMETHING OVER ON THEIR POLICYHOLDERS.

THERE ARE A GREAT MANY THERE WHO REALLY DO CARE ABOUT THE PEOPLE IN OUR STATE.

ALL RIGHT, MR.

SULLIVAN, WE'LL BEGIN AGAIN WITH YOU WITH THIS QUESTION.

NAME A SPECIFIC THING YOU WOULD DO TO HELP LOWER CAR INSURANCE RATES AND HEALTH INSURANCE RATES FOR OKLAHOMANS.

AND HOW WOULD YOU MEASURE WHETHER YOUR ACTIONS WERE EFFECTIVE?

SURE.

SO THAT IS A LOT OF QUESTION FOR 60S, PARTICULARLY ON THE HEALTH INSURANCE SIDE OF THINGS.

YOU KNOW, WORKING ALONGSIDE AND SEEING HOW WE'RE STANDING UP THIS STATE BASED HEALTH INSURANCE EXCHANGE IN OKLAHOMA IS A FASCINATING THING.

AND, YOU KNOW, THE REINSURANCE THAT MR.

MCINTYRE MENTIONED EARLIER, I THINK THAT IS A MECHANISM THAT WE CAN UTILIZE TO HAVE MORE INSURANCE COMPANIES PARTICIPATING IN OUR HEALTH INSURANCE MARKET.

WE HAVE A PROBLEM IN OUR STATE.

WE ARE THE 49TH WORST STATE IN THE COUNTRY FOR UNINSURED PEOPLE IN IN TERMS OF HEALTH INSURANCE, AT A TIME WHEN MEDICAL DEBT IS THE LEADING CAUSE OF BANKRUPTCY IN OUR NATION.

SO WE HAVE A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF UPSIDE WITH THAT PROGRAM.

AND I WOULD CERTAINLY LIKE TO SEE THOSE 155,000 OKLAHOMANS COME BACK INTO AN INSURANCE RELATIONSHIP IN THE MARKETPLACE, SO THAT HEALTH CARE IS NOT GOING TO BECOME A BURDENSOME ASPECT AND A POTENTIAL SOURCE OF BANKRUPTCY FOR MANY FAMILIES IN OUR STATE.

I THINK WE WILL SEE BENEFIT COME IN TERMS OF RATE AND ALSO IN TERMS OF INSURANCE PARTICIPATION.

ALL RIGHT, MR.

MCINTYRE, YOUR TURN.

SO I WILL START WITH AUTO INSURANCE.

SINCE MR.

SULLIVAN RAN OUT OF TIME FOR THAT ONE, I THINK THE NUMBER ONE DRIVER OF AUTO INSURANCE RELATED ISSUES IN THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA IS UNINSURED MOTORIST.

THE SECOND NUMBER DRIVER IS IMPAIRED DRIVING.

SO NEITHER OF THOSE FALL WITHIN THE REALM OF THE INSURANCE COMMISSIONER.

BUT I WOULD ADVOCATE WITH THE LEGISLATURE THAT WE TIGHTEN THE RULES AROUND IMPAIRED DRIVING IN TERMS OF WHAT THE REPERCUSSIONS ARE IN TERMS OF UNINSURED MOTORISTS.

WE HAVE A MASSIVE HOLE IN OUR UNINSURED MOTORIST LAW, WHICH ALLOWS PEOPLE TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND STILL BE PUNISHED.

WE NEED TO CHANGE THE RULES ON UNINSURED MOTORIST COVERAGE TO ENSURE THAT YOUR VEHICLES ARE COVERED AS WELL AS YOU.

THAT'S GOING TO BRING DOWN RATES, BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE MORE APT TO GET IN THE GAME WHEN THEY KNOW IF THEY PLAY BY THE RULES, THEY'RE GOING TO BE TAKEN CARE OF.

REGARDING HEALTH INSURANCE, I THINK THE REINSURANCE PLAN THAT WAS JUST INTRODUCED IS GOING TO HELP.

I THINK WORKING WITH INSURANCE COMPANIES THAT WANT TO COME TO THIS STATE AND HELP US SPREAD THE RISK AMONGST PEOPLE WHO CURRENTLY DON'T HAVE INSURANCE IS GOING TO HELP.

AND I THINK DOWN THE ROAD, AS WE WORK THROUGH THESE THINGS, WE'RE GOING TO SEE BETTER OUTCOMES.

THIS QUESTION HEARKENS BACK TO SOMETHING I TOUCHED ON EARLIER.

YOU ARE BOTH OF YOU INSIDERS WHEN IT COMES TO THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY.

WHY DO YOU THINK THAT'S AN ASSET AS OPPOSED TO MAYBE SOMEONE WITH EXECUTIVE EXPERIENCE IN A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT FIELD WHO MIGHT BE ABLE TO COME IN AND BRING FRESH PERSPECTIVE AND NEW IDEAS TO THE OFFICE?

MR.

MCINTYRE, IT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

SO, NUMBER ONE, THE LAW REQUIRES THE INSURANCE COMMISSIONER TO HAVE EXPERIENCE IN THE INSURANCE FIELD.

SO THAT NARROWS IT DOWN TO THE FACT THAT YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE, AS YOU SAID, INSIDERS, INSIDERS DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN YOU'RE A BAD THING.

IT MEANS YOU UNDERSTAND HOW THE MOST COMPLEX PRODUCT WE SELL WORKS.

IT'S INCREDIBLY COMPLEX AND EXPENSIVE.

YOU DON'T WANT TO BUY IT WHEN YOU BUY IT, YOU DON'T WANT TO USE IT.

AND WHEN YOU USE IT NOW, IT SEEMS LIKE YOU HAVE A CHALLENGE IN GETTING PAID.

SO IT'S VITAL THAT WE HAVE SOMEBODY IN THIS OFFICE WHO UNDERSTANDS HOW INSURANCE WORKS.

WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT EXECUTIVE EXPERIENCE, IF YOU LOOK AT MY RESUME, YOU'LL SEE I FINISHED MY CAREER AS AN EXECUTIVE IN AN INSURANCE COMPANY.

SO I HAVE THAT EXPERIENCE.

I UNDERSTAND HOW INSURANCE IS MADE AND I CAN WALK IN DAY ONE OR REALISTICALLY DAY -60, BECAUSE THIS TRANSITION IS GOING TO BE CHALLENGING AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO WORK INCREDIBLY HARD TO MAKE SURE THE DEPARTMENT ON JANUARY 11TH IS READY TO TACKLE THE CHALLENGES WE HAVE WITH EXCESSIVE RATES, CLAIMS NOT BEING PAID AND PEOPLE HAVING NO OPTIONS.

MR.

SULLIVAN, I CERTAINLY BELIEVE THAT THIS ROLE REQUIRES A GREAT AMOUNT OF TECHNICAL EXPERTISE AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE COMPLEXITY OF INSURANCE POLICIES, AND I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE STRENGTHS THAT I BRING TO THIS OFFICE AS AN INDEPENDENT AGENT.

FOR THE LAST 17 YEARS, I BELIEVE I'VE WRITTEN ALMOST EVERY TYPE OF INSURANCE POLICY AND PRODUCT THAT CAN BE WRITTEN IN THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA, SAVE FOR MAYBE FEDERAL CROP INSURANCE.

NEVER CHECK THAT ONE OFF THE BINGO CARD.

BUT ULTIMATELY, YOU HAVE TO HAVE SOMEBODY WITH THAT TYPE OF EXPERIENCE IN THIS ROLE TO AVOID UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES AND PITFALLS THAT CAN HAPPEN IF YOU BRING A LAYPERSON INTO THE ROLE OF LEADING THE OKLAHOMA INSURANCE DEPARTMENT.

FROM A LEADERSHIP STANDPOINT, I BELIEVE THIS ROLE REQUIRES A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF ABILITY TO CAST THE RIGHT VISION AND EMPOWER AND ENABLE THE STAFF WORKING IN THE OKLAHOMA INSURANCE DEPARTMENT TO KEEP.

FIRST THINGS FIRST, AND THAT IS, WE ARE HERE TO ADVOCATE AND PROTECT THE CITIZENS OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA AND LEVEL THE PLAYING FIELD IN A VERY COMPLEX ECOSYSTEM THAT IS SET UP TO FAVOR THE INSURANCE CARRIER.

WELL, THAT WRAPS UP OUR QUESTIONS FOR THE EVENING.

AND WE'LL NOW GIVE EACH CANDIDATE ONE MINUTE FOR A CLOSING STATEMENT.

AND THIS TIME WE'LL BEGIN WITH YOU, MR.

SULLIVAN.

WELL, ONCE AGAIN, THANK YOU ALL FOR TUNING IN TONIGHT.

THANK YOU FOR EVERYBODY WHO'S IN THE AUDIENCE TONIGHT.

AND THANK YOU TO OUR MODERATORS.

YOU'VE DONE A FANTASTIC JOB AND MR.

MCINTYRE AS WELL.

I WOULD ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO BE VERY MINDFUL OF THIS OFFICE.

THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT ROLE FOR THE NEXT 4 TO 8 YEARS IN OUR IN OUR STATE'S HISTORY, PARTICULARLY HOW IT AFFECTS THE AFFORDABILITY OF INSURANCE AND HOW THIS AFFECTS KITCHEN TABLE ECONOMICS WITH FAMILIES ALL ACROSS THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA.

I FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT I'M THE CANDIDATE FOR THE JOB BECAUSE I'VE WALKED THAT PATH.

I'VE WALKED ALONGSIDE HOMEOWNERS AND BUSINESS OWNERS THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA THROUGHOUT MY CAREER TO HELP THEM MANAGE RISK AND TAKING THAT RISK MANAGEMENT ATTITUDE AND APPROACH TO THE OKLAHOMA INSURANCE DEPARTMENT, I BELIEVE, IS HOW WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A SUSTAINABLE AND VIABLE AND HEALTHY INSURANCE MARKET THAT BENEFITS OKLAHOMANS, BOTH IN TERMS OF WHAT THEY'RE PAYING FOR, THEIR COVERAGE AND THE VALUE THAT THAT COVERAGE PROVIDES.

AND, MR.

MCINTYRE, IT'S YOUR TURN FOR A CLOSING STATEMENT.

WELL, AGAIN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR HAVING US HERE TONIGHT.

AND THANK YOU, MR.

SULLIVAN, FOR BEING HERE WITH ME.

I THINK TONIGHT YOU'VE SEEN AGAIN OUR SIMILARITIES, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, YOU'VE SEEN OUR DIFFERENCES.

WE SPENT 16 YEARS IN A NON-REGULATED, LAISSEZ FAIRE MARKETPLACE.

OUR RATES HAVE GONE UP.

OUR CLAIM SERVICE HAS GONE DOWN.

THE FAITH IN THE SYSTEM HAS BEEN BROKEN.

AND REMEMBER THAT INSURANCE IS THE FINANCIAL BACKBONE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA.

IF PEOPLE WHO ARE MANDATED TO BUY THE PRODUCT HAVE NO FAITH IN THE PRODUCT, OKLAHOMA CANNOT PROSPER.

SO THE ONE THING I WANT YOU TO REMEMBER TONIGHT IS FIRST VOTE ON NOVEMBER 3RD AND SECOND, THE ERA OF INSURANCE COMPANIES TAKING YOUR HARD EARNED DOLLARS AND USING IT TO BUY CORPORATE JETS AND PUT THEIR NAME ON SPORTS STADIUMS ACROSS AMERICA ENDS ON NOVEMBER 3RD.

I'M CRAIG MCINTYRE AND YOU ARE MY SPECIAL INTEREST.

WELL, THAT WENT QUICKLY, DIDN'T IT?

THAT CONCLUDES OUR DEBATE.

WE WANT TO THANK BOTH THE CANDIDATES.

SINCERELY, CRAIG MCINTYRE AND BOB SULLIVAN, FOR AN INFORMATIVE EXCHANGE OF IDEAS AND WISH THEM WELL.

HEADING TOWARDS THE NOVEMBER 3RD ELECTION.

AND WE'D ALSO LIKE YOU TO MARK ON YOUR CALENDARS FOR OUR UPCOMING LIVE DEBATE FEATURING THE CANDIDATES TO BECOME OKLAHOMA'S NEXT STATE SUPERINTENDENT OF EDUCATION, SCHEDULED FOR OCTOBER 29TH.

FOR JASON DOYLE AND OUR ENTIRE OETA STAFF THAT WORKED SO HARD TO ORGANIZE TONIGHT'S DEBATE.

I'M RICH LENZ.

DON'T FORGET TO VOTE.

GOOD EVENING.

ON THE NEXT EDITION OF THE OKLAHOMA NEWS REPORT.

THOUSANDS OF OKLAHOMA MEDICAL MARIJUANA DISPENSARIES ARE GOING UP IN SMOKE.

WHY HASN'T THE INDUSTRY PROVEN TO BE MORE PROFITABLE FOR SO MANY ENTREPRENEURS?

FRIDAY AT SEVEN.

THE COUNTDOWN TO ELECTION DAY IS ON.

I WILL FIGHT TO PRESERVE THE AMERICAN DREAM.

JAMES TALARICO IS RUNNING TO DESTROY IT.

WE ARE BUILDING A MOVEMENT TO TAKE BACK OUR COUNTRY.

JOIN JEFFREY GOLDBERG FOR AN HOUR LONG DISCUSSION IN FRONT OF A LIVE STUDIO AUDIENCE ON HOW THE NOVEMBER RESULTS WILL DETERMINE PRESIDENT TRUMP'S FINAL YEARS IN OFFICE.

FRIDAY EVENING AT 8:00 ON OETA.

AT THE CEREMONY BEGINS A GHOST.

WHERE'S YOUR COSTUME?

EVERYONE IS IN DANGER.

THE BONFIRE THAT CONNECTS THE LIVING TO THE DEAD.

OH, DON'T BE AFRAID.

THIS IS JUST THE START.

GLAD TO HEAR IT.