FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 9, 2014

 

STATE REPUBLICAN CHAIR JOINS DEMOCRATS IN CALLING ON FALLIN TO COMPLY WITH OPEN RECORDS REQUESTS

Nation’s most “secretive” Governor called out by her own Party boss…

OKLAHOMA CITY – Today, embattled Republican Party Chair Dave Weston mounted a feeble political attack on Superintendent, Dr. John Cox. In an attempt to divert attention from the Republican Hofmeister’s connection to an investigation of her criminal misconduct, Mr. Weston inaccurately alleges that Dr. Cox did not comply with Open Records laws. According to reports, the County Clerk confirmed that Mr. Weston’s comments were not based in fact.

State Democratic Party Chair Wallace Collins, stated, “It is encouraging to see Mr. Weston speaking out so strongly in favor of transparency. We can only conclude that Weston stands with us in asking Mary Fallin to fulfill our open records requests. She has stalled for seven (7) months…and still refuses to comply with these open records requests.”

The Oklahoma Democratic Party filed a request on April 3rd for staff records from the Governor’s office related to her use of taxpayer-funded state personnel on her re-election campaign. An additional request was made on August 19th for information regarding recent Public Service Announcements featuring the Governor–a clear violation of state and federal laws.

Fallin, named by Investigative Reporters and Editors as 2014’s “most secretive publicly-funded person” has ignored these requests. “Once again, we find the Republican Party arguing for two different sets of rules–one for party elites and another for the rest of us,” concluded Chairman Collins.

“John Cox is a teacher, not a politician. I don’t understand how Dave Weston could attack someone who has dedicated his life to our kids. His own candidates are so ethically challenged that he is trying to destroy the character of a good teacher,” concluded Donna Russell, retired educator. Dr. Cox is running an extremely strong race against Republican nominee and former Barresi board member Joy Hofmeister.

 

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