Oklahoma Dept. of Ed. Loses Court, PR Battles
Two big things happened at the Oklahoma Department of Education last week.
The Oklahoma Supreme Court ruled in favor of Edmond Public Schools, declaring that the Oklahoma Board of Education, headed by State Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters, does not have the authority to override local districts’ decisions about which books should populate their libraries.
Jennifer Palmer’s story includes details about the case and a copy of the court’s decision.
On Friday, Gov. Kevin Stitt vetoed a section of Senate Bill 1122 that specifically barred the Education Department from using any of its budget on outside public relations contracts.
At issue was a $5,000-per-month deal with Vought Strategies to secure national television appearances and place opinion columns in national publications for the superintendent, which has been scrutinized as self-promotion for Walters with no benefit to Oklahoma students.
Stitt said the restrictions should apply to all agencies and issued an executive order stopping all state agencies from sole-source contracts for public relations.
“Taxpayers should never foot the bill for the political ambition of an individual, regardless of his or her position in state government,” Stitt said in the executive order.
Walters’ spokesman, Dan Isett, then issued a press release claiming the executive order doesn’t apply to the Vought Strategies contract.
An Oklahoma Watch story by Jennifer Palmer and Paul Monies, which describes an email from Mary Vought confirming how much she was expected to bid, explores how the contract came to be.
More worth reading:
Campaign Draws National Attention
Representative Tom Cole is fighting off a right-wing challenger who has tried to make the lawmaker’s influential perch a liability. [NYT]
Entertainment District Approved
The Norman Planning Commission approved a $1 billion entertainment district that will include a $300 million University of Oklahoma basketball arena. [The Journal Record]
Police Conduct Investigated
Four Broken Arrow police officers were placed on administrative leave over misconduct allegations, and Tulsa Police Department Lt. Marcus Harper was found not guilty on charges related to charges related to his actions after a fellow officer’s private vehicle was involved in a gang-related shooting. [Tulsa World] [Tulsa World]
Thompson Resigns
Sen. Roger Thompson, R-Okemah, on Friday announced his resignation, effective Nov. 1. Thompson and Senate President Pro Tem Greg Treat, R-Oklahoma City, opposed proposals to cut the state’s income tax, something Gov. Kevin Stitt and House Speaker Charles McCall, R-Atoka, supported. Thompson represents Senate District 8. [Oklahoma Voice]
“You may be big in New York, but in Walters, Oklahoma, you’re nobody.”
— Abe Lemons
Ciao for now,
Ted Streuli
Executive Director, Oklahoma Watch
tstreuli@oklahomawatch.org
