CARTER COUNTY, Okla. ― Oklahoma lawmakers say they are preparing for an interesting political season. District 49 State Representative Samson Buck sat down with our own Daniel Armbruster to talk about the upcoming session.

Tuesday was Samson Buck's first official day as the Oklahoma State Representative for District 49, which includes Love, Marshall, and southern Carter Counties. Buck found himself in the seat last summer after the late Terry Hyman died in a farming accident.

Buck was appointed to the seat, and then elected in November. He says he has some big shoes to fill.

"Terry was a great state representative, who you should be interviewing right now, not me, but unfortunately through the tragedy we lost him," Buck said of his predecessor.

Buck says he wants to change the law that put him in the seat within four days of Hyman’s death. Currently, if an elected official in Oklahoma dies, their seat must be filled within five days. Buck says that's just too fast.

"I thought that was a very inappropriate amount of time, and I have submitted or will be submitting a bill to increase the parameters in which you are allowed to pick a replacement."

But Buck says the main reason he decided to run is education.

"I want to try to increase funding for education, to get our average spending per student up to a regional average."

The freshman representative says he knows it won't be easy, as the 2009 budget for Oklahoma is bleak at best.

Buck is a Democrat in a Republican-controlled house. The Republicans also control the State Senate. Still, Buck says he will fight for the people who put him in office.

"When I head up I-35, and leave southern Oklahoma, Love County, and Marshall County behind, even though you see them in your rearview mirror, you better take them to the Capitol up there."

Buck says he likes a challenge and knows that it will be necessary to put partisan politics aside.

Hear from District 48 Republican State Representative Pat Ownbey Thursday night on First News at Ten.