Fox News: Roth's Bridge To Nowhere

Fox 25 News reporter Nick Winkler last night continued his series of reports on a controversial Arcadia bridge project built by then-County Commissioner Jim Roth that benefited campaign donor Aubrey McClendon, now co-chairman of Roth's Corporation Commission campaign.

The bridge project, and improvements on Anderson Road south of Highway 66, was detailed by The McCarville Report Online in early October. (Read all the details about the tree farm at http://wwwtmrcom.blogspot.com/2008/10/roth-sponsored-roadway-bridge-to.html). The road, and new bridge, opened access to McClendon's Deer Creek Tree Farm which has multipled in value as a result.

Roth initiated the project while he was county commissioner. His alliance with McClendon includes donations from McClendon to his county campaign, a letter defending McClendon that Roth wrote to a Seattle newspaper, McClendon's donations to his Corporation Commission campaign, his role as the campaign's major fundraiser and co-chairman, and Roth's vote against a coal-power plant opposed by McClendon. Roth cast his vote against the project without disclosing his relationship to McClendon, CEO of the Corporation Commission-regulated Chesapeake Energy Corp.

Winkler reports that repeated calls to Roth for comment have not been returned. Roth also has refused comment to KTOK and TMRO.

View Winkler's report at http://www.okcfox.com/players/news/top_stories/kokh_vid_1699.shtml.

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Fox 25 News: The Roth/McClendon Alliance

http://www.fox25.net/players/news/top_stories/kokh_vid_1682.shtml

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Roth Personally Contacted Arcadia Land Owner

Then-Oklahoma County Commissioner Jim Roth's determination to build a bridge and improve a roadway leading to Aubrey McClendon's Deer Creek Tree Farm property in Arcadia was such that he personally called on a property owner to tell him to accept a monetary settlement for easements or face condemnation by eminent domain.

Fox 25 reported the encounter last night in a story about the tree farm. McClendon was a maximum donor to Roth's county commissioner campaign and subsequently, was named by Roth as co-chairman of his campaign for the Corporation Commission, which regulates McClendon's Chesapeake Energy Corp. McClendon is a maximum donor and top fundraiser for Roth's campaign.

Without declaring his alliances with McClendon, Roth voted against a coal-power plant opposed by McClendon when the matter came before the Corporation Commission.

Stanley Kolar, identified in county records as the owner of several parcels of property along Anderson Road in Arcadia, settled with the county for $36,000. Fox 25 reported he told its reporter that Roth personally contacted him and told him if he didn't accept the county's offer on easements, the property would be taken by eminent domain.

Read all the details about the tree farm at http://wwwtmrcom.blogspot.com/2008/10/roth-sponsored-roadway-bridge-to.html.

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Murphy: Deer Creek Tree Farm Deal Shows Jim Roth 'Nothing more than a lapdog'

Corporation Commission candidate Dana Murphy says last night's FOX 25 news report by Nick Winkler shows Jim Roth to be nothing more than a lapdog for special interest groups. The story focused on the Deer Creek Tree Farm owned by Aubrey McClendon of Chesapeake Energy Corp. in Arcadia and Roth's push to resurface the road leading to it and building a new bridge on the road. Details about the projects were first reported by The McCarville Report Online on October 6th. (Read the story at http://wwwtmrcom.blogspot.com/2008/10/roth-sponsored-roadway-bridge-to.html.)

"Jim Roth's ties to special interest groups have been questioned for a long time. Last night's FOX report just confirms what many know, Roth gets from those special interest groups and gives plenty in return.

"Based on this latest news story about Roth's questionable behavior, it's hard to believe he's the one claiming superior ethics to me," continued Murphy. "This is just another example of Roth serving as a lapdog to those who shower him with money and political favors. Roth is a desperate man because he knows he is unqualified for this job. He gets ahead by providing political favors for his supporters - much like Jeff McMahan. It's time to put an end to that type of politics in Oklahoma."

Murphy says it's no surprise Roth refused to talk to Fox Reporter Nick Winkler. "Roth never answers questions about his own character and ethics. He refused to answer my questions on 'Flash Point,' ran away from an OU student asking questions after a recent debate, and he's always running away, refusing to answer the tough questions about his own ethics. The most important question he has dodged this entire campaign is why is he getting tens of thousands of dollars in contributions from out of state donors? Why do people who do no business in Oklahoma and who have probably never been to Oklahoma care about your utility rates or gasoline pumps being accurate or any other issues the Commission regulates? Oklahoma voters should demand an answer."

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