For Further Information, Contact:

Sarah Penn, (405) 521-2264

Ed Apple, (580) 255-0103

6/20/01

APPLE ANNOUNCES HE WON’T SEEK REELECTION

(Oklahoma City) Calling his time as a Corporation Commissioner “a gratifying experience,” Ed Apple announced today he will not be a candidate for reelection. Apple said he looks forward to the 18 months remaining in his current term.

“The Commission will continue to face challenges in the coming months,” said Apple. “One of my primary goals will be to see that our state – and specifically rural Oklahoma –benefits from any change in the regulation of utilities, and is able to make use of technology as a vehicle for economic growth.”

Apple has words of praise for his fellow Commissioners and the staff of the Commission.

“It is a pleasure to serve with colleagues who hold the interest of Oklahomans so dear, and to be able to depend on the dedicated staff of professionals who serve the Commission and the State. I am particularly indebted to Sarah Penn and Tom Zigler of my staff for their years of loyal, professional service to this office.”

Apple says his decision not to run again for office is based on his strong belief in “self-imposed term limits.”

“I thank Governor Keating for appointing me to this most important job, and I will always be grateful for the support of the ‘Apple Corps’ and others who worked so hard on my behalf in supporting my reelection and my political career in general. However, I think it’s vitally important for there to be a kind of ‘churning’ of people in elective office - those who leave the private sector to serve the public, and then return to the private sector. I believe that a true government ‘of the people’ must consist of those who have a first-hand understanding of the private sector, and are citizens first, politicians second.”

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(Apple, pg 2)

Apple said that while he is retiring from political life at the end of his term, he will remain active in the private sector, citing a number of personal projects he will be working on in the years to come.

In addition, Apple and his wife Betty plan to spend more time with their grandchildren and traveling.

Ed Apple was first elected to public office in 1986, serving four terms as a state representative from Duncan.

He was appointed to the Corporation Commission in January 1995 to complete an un-expired term. He was elected to a full six-year term in November 1996.