Longtime southwestern Oklahoma Republican leader Steve Fair of Duncan was elected GOP national committeeman on Saturday, defeating GOP activist Richard Engle.
Fair, Stephens County GOP chairman and marketing represenative for a food manufacturer, is a blogger and newspaper columnist. He served on the party’s executive committee and budget board, and as the Oklahoma Republican Party Treasurer.
Fair received 52 percent of votes cast at the Republican State Convention, while Engle had 48 percent.
Engle, who lives between Mustang and Tuttle, was the favorite of convention-goers in support of Ron Paul.
Fair had the endorsement of Auditor and Inspector Gary Jones, who served as state GOP chairman before Pinnell; state Sen. Anthony Sykes, R-Moore; state Rep. Dennis Johnson, R-Duncan; and state national committee woman Carolyn McLarty, of Woodward County.
Engel was endorsed by Randy Brogdon, former GOP state senator and gubernatorial candidate; former House Speaker Lance Cargill; Insurance Commissioner John Doak; and Charlie Meadows, chairman of the influential Oklahoma Conservative Political Action Committee.

