Perry credits Conger for House District 3 victory

The third time proved to be the charm for Democrat Zac Perry in the House District 3 race. Perry, of Martin City, edged two-term incumbent Jerry O'Neil by just 49 votes. It was the third time he’d challenged O’Neil.

There were a variety of factors in Perry’s win. For one, both candidates agreed that Libertarian Chris Colvin likely influenced the election. Colvin garnered 136 votes, while Perry had 1,541 votes and O’Neil 1,492 votes.

“More of them would have leaned toward Jerry than would have leaned toward me,” Perry said.

But O’Neil noted that Colvin had some liberal ideas that may have been attractive to Democrats.

Perry gave more credit to his campaign manager than Colvin splitting the race.

“The big thing was having a campaign manager in Barry Conger,” Perry said. “He kept the ball rolling. He kept me organized.”

Perry said his time in office wouldn’t be about serving Democrats or Republicans — it’s about serving the community.

“I want to make sure I’m accessible and get the work done they want to get done,” he said. “Mine is a community agenda, not a personal or ideological one.”

O’Neil blamed his own views, in part, for the loss.

“I think the voters were uncomfortable with my stance on how we can fix the correctional system,” he said.

O’Neil was referencing a bill he drafted in the 2013 session that would have let certain offenders plea bargain to corporal punishment, like caning, as opposed to a long-term prison sentence. At the time, O’Neil saw it as a way to save the state money, rather than having people in prison.

“If we can reduce incarceration by 5 percent, then maybe we could give the prison guards a raise,” he said at the time.

The idea didn’t go over well with the public, however.

Another reason why he lost, O’Neil said, was redistricting. He noted that some parts of the district near the Rogers Road neighborhood were shaved off during redistricting and added to House District 4. That neighborhood garnered him about 100 votes in the last election, he said.

The race between Perry and O’Neil in prior elections tipped well in O’Neil’s favor. In 2012, O’Neil beat Perry by 2,305-1,967. In 2010, O’Neil won 1,747 to Perry’s 1,308 votes. In 2010, independent Shawn Guymon garnered 286 votes.

O’Neil said he had no plans to run for office again in two years.

“It’s not on my bucket list,” the 71 year old said.

O’Neil also spent two terms as a state senator. Republicans still control the state Legislature. They hold a 29-21 advantage in the Senate and a 59-41 advantage in the House.