Commission Employees Face Unpaid Furloughs

The Corporation Commission will close one day a month beginning in August as it faces an expected $2.3 million agency budget shortfall.

Employees will be placed on unpaid furlough during the days the commission is shut down on the dates of August 10th, September 4th, October 19th, November 25th, December 24th and January 4th.

Other furlough dates for 2010 likely will be necessary, officials said.

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Murphy Rips Roth On Red Rock Vote, Questions McClendon Tree Farm Road/Bridge Projects

Republican Corporation Commission candidate Dana Murphy responded to mudslinging by her opponent Jim Roth today by questioning Roth's ethics and his alliance with Aubrey McClendon of Chesapeake Energy Corp.

Murphy said that Roth's attempt to smear her name with accusations from a 15 year old divorce is nothing but "good ole' boy politics at its worst." That accusation came in a Roth television commercial this week.

Murphy says the smear "is being done with hundreds of thousands dollars of campaign contributions from his special interest friends inside and outside the state.

"As a career bureaucrat, he has relied on his powerful, special interest friends to get where he is today," said Murphy. "He's panicked because he won't be able to deliver more favors for powerful friends if he is not elected to the job that was given to him.

"Unlike everyday Oklahomans like me who have earned their way by hard work and persistence working in the real world, he has made his living by delivering favors to his powerful friends using tax dollars while a public official.

"My opponent is using this personal attack mudslinging to divert voters' attention from the issues and who's most qualified to serve on the Commission. As a geologist, energy attorney and former Commission administrative law judge, I have the education and real world experience to be the best Corporation Commissioner. He's reverted to good old boy mudslinging in the hopes people will forget he has no qualifications for office and that he's been acting like a lapdog for special interest groups since he was handed the job of Corporation Commissioner."

Murphy says Oklahomans should demand answers from Roth about his ties to those donating to his campaigns for public office: "He's taken tens of thousands of dollars from officers and CEOs from the largest public utilities in Oklahoma who have regularly had cases in front of him. What are they paying for?

"He's received over $100,000 in contributions that come from those at one large natural gas company. Didn't the same company oppose the coal fired plant that Roth voted against, one that would have saved Oklahoma consumers billions of dollars? Why did Mr. Roth, as a sitting Corporation Commissioner, take campaign contributions during a time when Oklahoma law expressly forbids sitting Commissioners from taking contributions? Why as a County Commissioner did he sponsor the building of a road and bridge that runs to the tree farm of one of his campaign chairmen? Do Oklahomans really want to elect a lapdog for the special interests or do they want an everyday Oklahoman just like them to stand up as a watchdog, someone who is not afraid to stand up to the powerful special interests?"

Here is the text of Murphy's prepared opening statement for today's news conference:

Jim Roth is a desperate, frightened man. As almost half of Oklahomans know, divorce is an ugly, horrible thing and sadly, it brings out the absolute worst in people. My opponent is bringing up allegations against me from a 15 year old divorce case because he cannot match my qualifications for this job.

Let’s set the record straight once and for all. I have never been charged with or convicted of forgery or any other crime. Period.

These last minute smear tactics are reminiscent of the schoolyard bully ambushing kids on the playground.

The people of Oklahoma deserve better.

This smear campaign is costing big bucks.

The real question here is where are the hundreds of thousands of dollars coming from that are being used to smear me? From campaign contributions by powerful special interest groups outside and inside the State who want their lapdog at the Commission looking out for their interests, not the interests of all Oklahomans.

Roth has proven to be that lap dog.

Roth is panicked because this is the best job that he has ever had. He has no place else to go. When he loses this election, it will only be a matter of time before he has a job with one of those special interest groups contributing the big bucks to support his campaign.

It is not a coincidence that Jim Roth has as his campaign chair, a man who received amazing benefits as a result of his contributions.

First, the Red Rock Power Plant decision. That was a done deal as soon as Roth was appointed to the OCC.

Second, when a tree farm (owned by Aubrey McClendon in Arcadia) needed a road and a bridge, it was Roth who made sure it was paid for by taxpayers.

The list of favors for special interests goes on and on.

I have the education, the experience and the qualifications earned during a 15-year career in the oil and gas industry and almost six years as a Law Judge at the Corporation Commission.

I have forgotten more about the oil and gas industry than he will ever know and Jim Roth knows it. His special interest supporters know it too and they are scared to death.

My only special interest group is everyday Oklahomans who need a watchdog on the Commission, not a lapdog.

There are 12 days left in this election, I have run a clean campaign focused on the issues and my qualifications for office.

I see no reason to change that strategy.

If Mr. Roth wants to run a dirty campaign, wallow in the mud and sling it – that’s his choice.

Mr. Roth’s mudslinging has given Oklahomans a clearcut choice as to who they want for Corporation Commissioner.

They can have someone like him, a mudslinging bureaucratic lapdog or they can have me, someone who shares their conservative Oklahoma values and has the experience and qualifications to do the best job for all Oklahomans at the Corporation Commission."

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KTOK: Conflict Of Interest? It's A Close Call

By Jerry Bohnen/NewsRadio 1000 KTOK ~ What some observers suggested was a possible conflict of interest for State Corporation Commissioner Jim Roth (left) today might not be one, but it's awfully close.

While Administrative Law Judge MariBeth Snapp held a hearing today on OG&E's proposed power lines to carry wind-generated electricity from northwest Oklahoma to Oklahoma City, Roth sat in the courtroom listening to the arguments and explanations.

Roth was there as a casual observer. Among the 60 gathered for the hearing were Piedmont city officials who object to the location of the power lines.

The mayor of Piedmont is Mike Fina, who happens also to be Roth's administrative aide.

Before Judge Snapp allowed Piedmont protesters and others to challenge OG&E's power line plans, she made it clear that the Corporation Commission had no authority regarding the location of the power lines. The only decison the Commission could decide was whether OG&E could get a rate hike to pay for the massive power line project. So Fina and other Piedmont city officials didn't get to make their arguments to the judge.

Some suggested that it might be a conflict of interest. However, Commissioner Roth will not be voting on any decision about the location of the power lines--only whether he thinks the giant utility should get a rate hike.

Still, it raised a question in the minds of some observers--a commissioner listening to testimony while his administrative aide is among those protesters in the audience?

With such a close link to the issue, they wonder if Roth might consider recusing himself from the question when it comes before the full commission.

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Murphy, Johnson Exchange Words In GOP Race For Corporation Commission

Republican Corporation Commission candidate Dana Murphy today criticized another Republican in the race, Rep. Rob Johnson, for playing what she said is a "shell game" in the reporting of his fundraising. Johnson responded by describing Murphy as a "desperate candidate."

"It seems disingenuous for my opponent to boast of his fundraising for this particular race when a closer look at his donations reveals a disparity between what is said and what is done," Murphy said. "Review of Ethics Commission reporting shows money raised by Representative Johnson has actually been contributed to his House account from many of those with a vested interest in legislation this session. As of April 29, 2008, there was not a report showing any funds contributed into his Corporation Commission account. He finally rolled over his House account contributions into his Commission account on April 30, 2008."

Johnson reported the second highest total among the three candidates, $107,581 during the quarter. That total includes $86,655 from individuals, $20,000 from committees and $409 from in-kind contributions. Johnson also reported having $164,307 on hand to start the reporting period.

Johnson's top individual contributors who gave the maximum $5,000 mostly were connected to the energy industry, including Mike Cantrell, an Ada oil and gas man; Randel Polk, a geologist with BR Polk, Inc.; Charles Harmon, a Tulsa oil and gas producer; and Joel Craft, an executive with Alliance Coal, his report showed. Johnson also received $5,000 contributions from the Chickasaw Nation; Mike and Judy Johnson, the owners of a Kingfisher car dealership; and Jim and Judith Carter, self-employed auto dealers.

Murphy said, "the average voters who are aware of this shell game for fundraising from one account to another have already indicated their dislike for yet more political gamesmanship."

She also says that the diversity and number of her campaign contributions from retirees, individuals and small and large business owners all across Oklahoma underscores her broad appeal as the best candidate for this position.

Murphy reported she raised more than $64,000 for her campaign in the first three months of the year.

Later in the day, Johnson responded with this news release: "Desperate candidates say desperate things when they find themselves lagging far behind their opponents, but Dana Murphy should at least get her facts straight. Republican Rob Johnson showed nearly twice as much cash on hand as Murphy when he filed his fundraising report yesterday with the Oklahoma State Ethics Commission. Johnson had $251,981 to Murphy’s $128,458.

"In a negative political attack today against leading Republican Rob Johnson, Murphy
played loose with the truth when she tried to spin her fundraising failures by fabricating
the facts.
“'Dana Murphy’s campaign is using funny numbers and funny dates to make bogus
claims,' said Keili Hicks, a spokesperson for the Johnson campaign. In an attempt to
strengthen her own fundraising shortfall, Murphy argued that Johnson’s campaign had
rolled over his State House account on April 30th.

"Hicks said Murphy’s facts were clearly wrong. Johnson launched his Corporation
Commission account January 30, nearly three months earlier than Murphy falsely
claimed.

"Not only did Johnson have twice as much cash on hand, he also raised nearly twice as
much as Murphy in the fundraising quarter.

“'If there’s someone playing a shell game, it is clearly Dana Murphy who actually
violated state ethics rules when she filed her report several days late during the January
reporting period,' Hicks said.

“'The biggest disappointment is that Murphy has violated Ronald Reagan’s 11th
Commandment once again, which was to not attack a fellow Republican,' Hicks said.

“'Dana Murphy should spend more time focusing on the needs of Oklahoma voters and
less time on false negative attacks. Perhaps conservative Republican Party leaders should
remind Murphy that our battle is with the liberal Democrat incumbent and not each other.

"'Tactics like these may be the reason her primary campaign failed in 2002,' Hicks said."

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Edmondson Approves Roth Fundraiser

From NewsRadio 1000 KTOK ~ Attorney General Drew Edmondson, one of several Democratic leaders sponsoring a September 19th fundraiser for Corporation Commissioner Jim Roth, sees nothing wrong with the event even though other sponsors are from some of the biggest family-owned oil and gas companies in Oklahoma.

"I've visited with Commissioner Roth," Edmondson told KTOK's Peter J. Rudy. "He is aware of the restrictions on fundraising that he cannot accept anything of value including pledges from the people they regulate at the Corporation Commission."

State law says a corporation commissioner can only accept contributions from those regulated by the commission during a legally described window and that is within 120 days of an election. Normally, it would be 120 days before a primary and 120 days after a general election.

Edmondson attempted to raise the issue against Republican Corporation Commissioner Denise Bode five years ago when she ran against him for Attorney General. He accused her of violating state law by accepting campaign pledges from those she regulated as a commissioner.

Edmondson does not see the same thing in Roth's case even though other sponsors of the fundraiser are members of families that own big oil and gas firms in the state. He said he has discussed the legal aspects with Roth. "I know that he is aware of the law and I know that he has told me he intends to scrupulously follow it and I expect and believe that he has."

In his February 11, 2002 press release attacking Bode, Edmondson stated, "this law was passed for a very specific purpose back in 1968. It was designed to prevent regulated companies from gaining undue influence with Corporation Commissioners and to prevent Corporation Commissioners from shaking down companies under their jurisdiction."

Other sponsors of the approaching fundraising event for Roth, called "Calypso Under the Canopy for Commissioner Roth," include Governor Brad Henry, Lt. Governor Jari Askins, State Superintendent Sandy Garrett, State Auditor Jeff McMahan, Insurance Commissioner Kim Holland, State Treasurer Scott Meacham and State Labor Commissioner Lloyd Fields.

Among $2,500 or more sponsors are Clayton Bennett, Mike McLain, and Barry Switzer. Banker David Rainbolt is a $1,000 sponsor along with Mike Samis, Jim and Tricia Everest and Cliff Hudson.

Others, who are not identified as executives of energy firms, have family ties to mineral owners associations, family oil and gas operations and drilling firms.

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Henry Names Roth To Corporation Commission

Governor Brad Henry today appointed two-term Oklahoma County Commissioner Jim Roth to the Corporation Commission.

Roth succeeds Republican Denise Bode, who is resigning the seat for a job in the private sector effective May 31st.

Henry called the 38-year-old Roth an ideal choice to serve on the commission, which regulates oil and gas drilling, utilities and telecommunications in Oklahoma. “Jim Roth has the intellect, the integrity and the dedication to public service needed to be an outstanding Corporation Commissioner,” Henry said. “Not only does he exemplify the highest ethical standards, but he is a consensus-builder who recognizes the importance of bipartisanship and working together. I am confident that Jim’s fair-mindedness, honesty and attention to detail will make him an excellent addition to the commission.”

Roth was first elected county commissioner in 2002 and won reelection in 2006 with more than 63 percent of the vote. Prior to his term in office, he served eight years as a chief deputy and attorney to the Oklahoma County Clerk and a previous administration for District One of the county commission.

Roth said he is honored by the appointment. “I am thankful to Governor Henry for this opportunity to serve the people of Oklahoma, and I look forward to the challenges that lie ahead on the Corporation Commission,” he said. “I pledge to approach my work as a commissioner with balance and careful consideration. The duties of the Corporation Commission have a far-reaching impact on both businesses and consumers, and that calls for complete fairness and working to build a consensus.”

A native of Prairie Village, Kansas, Roth received his B.A. degree at Kansas State University in 1991. Three years later, he earned a law degree at Oklahoma City University School of Law.

Photo courtesy Oklahoma Democratic Party blog

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Will Roth Be New Corporation Commissioner?

Governor Brad Henry will announce at 2 p.m. his choice to replace Republican Corporation Commissioner Denise Bode and insiders claimed early this afternoon the governor will name Oklahoma County Commissioner Jim Roth.

Roth, who is openly gay, won election in 2002 and easily won reelection in 2006; he reportedly sought the Corporation Commission post. Insiders say he contacted the governor's office to express his interest and then met with Republican Commissioner Bob Anthony to discuss the duties of commissioners.

Roth was the attorney for County Commissioner District One from 1995 to 1998. He also served as Chief Deputy County Clerk and Staff Attorney from 1999 to 2002.

Also said to be in the running for the Corporation Commission post were Oklahoma City Councilman Pete White and Pete Regan, who lost his race for lieutenant governor to Jari Askins last year.

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