Rinehart Wants Donors, Road Work Links Revealed

By Michael Cross, NewsRadio 1000 KTOK ~ Oklahoma County Commissioner Brent Rinehart held a press conference Wednesday to push through his construction project on Southeast 89th between Henney and Choctaw, and at the same time proposed that campaign donors near such projects be disclosed.

The project is under investigation by a grand jury, and it was brought to his attention by KTOK that the project is being built by the home of contributor Ray Pelfrey. Pelfrey and Rinehart are facing charges stemming from political campaign corruption charges in 2004.

Rinehart maintains he had no idea that Pelfrey was building a house there. He says because of that he is pushing a resolution where all contributors to all campaigns near a project would have to be disclosed.

Rinehart's proposal would require each county commissioner to sign a disclosure statement that "provides the name and address of any and all persons or entities, related by blood, marriage or financial relationship to a contributor, that owns or has significant interest in, the real estate located in such proximity."

He says had he known about the proximity of Pelfrey, he wouldn't have been a victim of "Gotcha politics."

Rinehart says he has not discussed this with the other commissioners or the County Assessor and Engineer who might find themselves with more work. He says he'll try to bring this before the Board January 16th.

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