Oklahoma

Democratic nominee for Oklahoma governor appears to have ‘violated’ state laws, experts say

Published

2 years ago

October 27, 2022

Democratic nominee for Oklahoma governor appears to have ‘violated’ state laws, experts say

EXCLUSIVE — The Democratic candidate operating to be Oklahoma’s subsequent governor seems to have “violated” a number of state legal guidelines because of her social media exercise, authorized specialists instructed the Washington Examiner.

Pleasure Hofmeister, Oklahoma’s superintendent of public instruction, is making an attempt to unseat Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt in November. However Hofmeister could also be operating afoul of ethics legal guidelines as a result of her authorities web site hyperlinks to her marketing campaign’s social media accounts, and the federal government has seemingly promoted her Twitter posts, based on marketing campaign finance legal professionals.

Hofmeister’s web page on the Oklahoma schooling division’s web site hyperlinks to her gubernatorial marketing campaign accounts on Twitter and Fb, based on a Washington Examiner overview Thursday. Her Twitter deal with is “Joy4OK,” and her Fb is listed beneath “JoyforOklahoma,” whereas each accounts, as is commonplace for political candidates, share footage of marketing campaign occasions and adverts.

KRISTI NOEM’S CAMPAIGN ALLEGES HER DEMOCRATIC CHALLENGER VIOLATED CAMPAIGN FINANCE LAWS

Oklahoma State Superintendent of Public Instruction Pleasure Hofmeister delivers a report on Epic Constitution Faculties throughout a information convention, Tuesday, June 21, 2022, in Oklahoma Metropolis.

AP Picture/Sue Ogrocki

The Washington Examiner couldn’t discover examples of different Oklahoma authorities officers, apart from Hofmeister, linking to their marketing campaign social media accounts on pages.

Oklahoma legislation holds that an individual can not marketing campaign with “using public funds, property or time to have interaction in actions designed to affect the outcomes of an election for state workplace or a state query.” As well as, officers are barred from participating in actions “designed to affect the outcomes of an election for state workplace” on public time or posting “supplies that advocate for the election or defeat of a clearly recognized candidate,” based on the Oklahoma Ethics Fee.

“Secretary Hofmeister has doubtless violated Oklahoma’s ethics legal guidelines through the use of her official, state-funded biography webpage to advertise her election marketing campaign,” stated Curtis Schube, a lawyer on the Dhillon Regulation Group who makes a speciality of election legislation. “Particularly, her bio web page consists of hyperlinks to her marketing campaign social media account and her marketing campaign web site, that are devoted to advancing her candidacy for workplace.”

Chris Winkelman, a lawyer at Holtzman Vogel who additionally makes a speciality of election legislation, took it one step additional. He instructed the Washington Examiner that the social media account hyperlinks “may additionally run afoul of Oklahoma prison legislation.”

It’s unlawful in Oklahoma for public officers to “immediately or not directly coerce, try to coerce, command, advise, or direct any state workers” to pay or contribute “to any get together, committee, group, company or individual for political functions.”

“These legal guidelines are in place not solely to guard taxpayer funds from being misappropriated but in addition to guard state workers from feeling pressured into offering political help for his or her boss,” stated Winkelman, who prior to now was basic counsel for the Nationwide Republican Congressional Committee.

However Hofmeister’s potential violations of Oklahoma legislation lengthen previous her web page linking to her marketing campaign’s social media accounts, based on Schube and Winkelman. There are numerous situations during which the Oklahoma schooling division’s Twitter account has each retweeted Hofmeister’s marketing campaign account and tagged her marketing campaign, a overview of posts discovered.

This could possibly be in violation of an ethics legislation outlining how officers can not, except permitted by legislation, use newsletters or informational supplies to advocate the election or defeat of a clearly recognized candidate or candidates, stated the legal professionals.

“Cross-promotion of those marketing campaign social media accounts from official channels gives the look that the load of her total authorities company itself is behind her candidacy,” stated Winkelman.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

Hofmeister isn’t any stranger to controversy. She was criminally indicted in 2017 for marketing campaign finance violations and conspiracy after allegedly elevating cash illegally whereas operating towards the incumbent Republican Superintendent Janet Barresi and colluding with a darkish cash group. Prices had been later dismissed.

The race between Hofmeister and Stitt has tightened in current months. Hofmeister led Stitt by 7 share factors in a ballot launched on Oct. 17 by the Oklahoma-based political consulting agency Ascend Motion. There have been 638 doubtless main election voters surveyed.

Hofmeister’s marketing campaign didn’t reply to a request for remark.

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Oklahoma

Oklahoma LB Kip Lewis Proved Again He’s a ‘True Gamer’ With Alabama Pick Six

Published

4 hours ago

November 25, 2024

Press Room

Oklahoma LB Kip Lewis Proved Again He’s a ‘True Gamer’ With Alabama Pick Six

NORMAN — Kip Lewis must have something against the state of Alabama.

In September, he sealed Oklahoma’s unlikely comeback victory over Auburn with a Pick Six.

Saturday night, he repeated his heroics — this time to bury the No. 7-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide.

With Alabama down 17-3 and needing a score to get back into the game, Jalen Milroe didn’t see Lewis.

The OU linebacker didn’t care.

He snatched the ball out of the way and outraced the Crimson Tide 49 yards the other way, stepping over a Milroe half-hearted tackle attempt en route to the end zone.

“(They) came out of a formation that we’ve been studying all week, and Coach (Zac) Alley had everybody prepared, nailing us down with the details,” Lewis said after the win. “And so I read my keys, did what I was supposed to, and I was proud that he threw, because I was like, ‘What if I’m standing right here?’ But you know, just finishing and making sure I get to the end zone after I caught it.”

Lewis and the Sooners never looked back, as the Pick Six put the exclamation point on the 24-3 win.

The redshirt sophomore burst onto the scene last year for Oklahoma by playing a crucial part in the goal line stand against Texas.

Then in his first year as an established starter, Lewis has delivered in both of OU’s SEC wins.

And while he turns it on every Saturday, Lewis said the interceptions never come his way in practice.

“I drop (passes) in practice a lot,” Lewis said with a smile. “I drop ’em a lot, and I just say, ‘Hey guys, look, in a game, it’s a catch, don’t worry.’ That’s what I tell them all the time.”

Alley confirmed Lewis’ struggles to hold onto the ball during practice, but praised the growth the young linebacker has shown to play a key role at the heart of Oklahoma’s defense.

“I don’t know; he dropped them in pregame too,” Alley said with a smirk. “I think when the lights come on, he’s a different dude. He’s a true gamer. There’s not a lot of those guys. He’s a good practice player, no doubt about it, but man, when the lights are on and the stage is bright and matter, he’s at his best when it matters the most.”

The interception from Lewis wasn’t the only contribution from the Sooners’ front seven.

They held Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe to just seven rushing yards, and OU’s defensive line and linebackers dictated play at the point of attack.

Lewis finished with no tackles, but he and fellow linebacker Danny Stutsman disrupted everything the Crimson Tide tried to do.

“I’m so proud of them. And the other guys like Kip,” Stutsman said. “Comes up big with a huge play. Just proud of him.”

Partly thanks to Lewis’ contributions, the Sooners are now bowl eligible.

Oklahoma will be able to utilize those extra practices to continue to develop and be better prepared headed into 2025.

But for now, Lewis was just happy he could help deliver OU coach a signature win and send the seniors out in style.

“It’s really good. Just building momentum into going into next year, I think it’s gonna really say what this team is,” Lewis said. “Just some hard, gritty fighting team that’s never gonna quit, never gonna give up. A lot of people counted us out this season and thought we should just write it off. And so we had other plans.”

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Oklahoma

Oklahoma Ford Sports Blitz: November 24

Published

12 hours ago

November 25, 2024

Press Room

This week on the Oklahoma Ford Sports Blitz, Dean Blevins, John Holcomb, and Chris Williams begin the show with their opening takes.

Sunday, November 24th 2024, 11:17 pm

By:

News 9,

News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY –

This week on the Oklahoma Ford Sports Blitz, Dean Blevins, John Holcomb, and Chris Williams begin the show with their opening takes.

OU, OSU, TU Breakdown

OU, OSU, TU Opponent Preview

UCO Football Recap

Thunder Report: Thunder Head West To Face Top Conference Teams

OSU, OU, Basketball Recap

Play The Percentages

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Oklahoma

Oklahoma Democrats mourn Fred Harris, former US senator and presidential candidate

Published

20 hours ago

November 24, 2024

Press Room

Oklahoma Democrats mourn Fred Harris, former US senator and presidential candidate

Oklahoma residents on Sunday mourned the death of former Democratic U.S. Sen. Fred Harris, a trailblazer in progressive politics in the state who ran an unsuccessful presidential bid in 1976. Harris died on Saturday at 94.

Democratic Party members across Oklahoma remembered Harris for his commitment to economic and social justice during the 1960s — a period of historical turbulence. Harris chaired the Democratic National Committee from 1969 to 1970 and helped unify the party after its tumultuous national convention in 1968 when protesters and police clashed in Chicago.

“Fred Harris showed us what is possible when we lead with both heart and principle. He worked to ensure everyone had a voice and a seat at the table,” said Alicia Andrews, chair of the Oklahoma Democratic Party.

Harris appeared at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago earlier this year as a guest speaker for the Oklahoma delegation, where he reflected on progress and unity.

“Standing alongside him in Chicago this summer was a reminder of how his legacy continues to inspire,” Andrews said.

Kalyn Free, a member of the Choctaw nation of Oklahoma and the DNC, said that there is no one else in public service whom she admired more than the former senator.

“He was a friend, a mentor, a hero and my True North. Oklahoma and America have lost a powerful advocate and voice,” Free said in a statement. “His work for Indian Country will always be remembered.”

“Senator Harris truly was an Oklahoma treasure and was ahead of his time in so many ways,” said Jeff Berrong, whose grandfather served in the state Senate with Harris. “He never forgot where he came from and he always remained focused on building a society that would provide equality of opportunity for all.”

Harris served eight years in the state Senate before he was elected to the U.S. Senate, where he served another eight years before his 1976 presidential campaign. State party leaders commemorated his work on the National Advisory Commission on Civil Disorders, or the Kerner Commission, to investigate the 1960s riots. Harris was the last surviving member of the commission.

Shortly after his presidential campaign, Harris left politics and moved to New Mexico and became a political science professor at the University of New Mexico.

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Lathan is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.

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