Maughan Defeats Johnston 71-29%

Brian Maughan defeated J. D. Johnston 71-29 percent in today's Republican runoff primary for Oklahoma County commissioner.

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Moderate Turnout Expected In Local Races

Voter turnout is expected to be moderate today in two contested local races, one for the State Senate, the other for Oklahoma County commissioner.

In the Senate District 45 runoff, Republicans Kyle Loveless and Steve Russell seek election as the winner takes the seat, no Democrat or Independent having filed.

In the District 2 commissioner runoff, J. D. Johnston and Brian Maughan seek the GOP nomination and the winner faces Democrat Jim Dickinson in the fall.

Interest in the SD45 race, spurred in part by direct mail and personal contact by the candidates, should produce a decent turnout, observers say. Most give Russell the edge as voting started today.

Last-minute finance reports show Russell added $1,900 and Loveless added $500. Russell has raised $146,670, while Loveless has raised $101,726, including more than $38,000 of his own money.

Johnston has relied on paid media to fuel his campaign, while Maughan has conducted a "ground game" campaign that propelled him into the runoff with Johnston, former Bethany mayor. Maughan is said to be the front-runner.

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Maughan Came Close To Clear Win

Republican Brian Maughan came close to a clear primary win in today's voting for Oklahoma County commissioner, getting 4,230 votes, or 47.4 percent, against J. D. Johnston and incumbent Brent Rinehart.

Rinehart was given the boot by voters; he got only 1,900 votes and 21 percent. Johnston got 2,808 votes, or 31.4 percent.

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Insiders: Brent Rinehart Is History

Political insiders and observers are unanimous in their assessment of Tuesday's Republican primary for Oklahoma County commissioner: Incumbent Brent Rinehart is history.

That harsh assessment of the controversial Rinehart's chances of winning renomination comes from all of those The McCarville Report Online asked about the race and that includes consultants, county officials, county politics-watchers and political insiders.

Has Media Barrage Boosted Johnston?

A recent TvPoll for KWTV-Channel 9 found Rinehart running second behind challenger Brian Maughan (left) and slightly ahead of challenger J. D. Johnston. That poll, however, concluded before a Johnston media barrage, funded in large part by Johnston's own money, that almost all agree has boosted him in the race. The poll put Maughan at about 35 percent, Rinehart at about 20 percent and Johnston at about 18 percent.

"This is a classic," one observer said. "You've got an incumbent in trouble. You've got a grass-roots, door-knocking guy in Maughan and you've got a top-down candidate in Johnston, who is dominating in the paid media."

'He's toast.'

Said another: "Whatever Rinehart had in the way of support a month ago, he's got today. It probably hasn't shrunk, but it sure hasn't grown. He's toast."

Rinehart's Problems

Reflective of Rinehart's difficulties this time around is the amount he's been able to raise to fund his reelection bid: Just $28,000, compared to the $216,000 he raised in 2004. Rinehart says the investigation into his 2004 campaign donations scared off donors this time around. Rinehart still faces criminal charges as a result of that investigation, which he has blamed on political enemies in both parties. He faces trial in September on felony campaign corruption charges. He also faces an Internal Revenue Service examination of his personal and business tax returns for 2003, 2004 and 2005.

Ground Game vs. Advertising Barrage

Those in the know say Maughan has worn out his shoes knocking doors in the commission district and supplemented that effort with what most describe as effective direct mail pieces. Thus far, he's had no advertising that's been visible.

Johnston, however, has relied on advertising and done little door-to-door contact. Sources say the former Bethany mayor made a decision to restrict his time away from home since his wife suffers from cancer. One supporter said that while he admires Johnston's support of his wife, his failure to "personalize" his campaign with direct voter contact weakens his candidacy.

Rinehart, most say, has done little campaigning and there's been no advertising thus far. "He doesn't have the money" for advertising, said one observer. Rinehart has placed signs in the district, but he's been matched by Johnston and Maughan, so there seems little advantage for him there.

One of those familiar with the campaigns of all three candidates says he sees Tuesday's result as "Brian and J. D. in the high thirties and Rinehart in the twenties" in the vote totals. That outcome would result in a Johnston-Maughan runoff as Democrat Jim Dickinson, Harrah construction firm owner, waits for the GOP to pick its nominee. Dickinson is expected to best opponents Bob Boyster and Charles Saunders.

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Poll: Maughan Leads Rinehart, Johnston

A poll in the Oklahoma County commissioner race shows incumbent Republican Brent Rinehart running a distant second to challenger Brian Maughan with challenger J. D. Johnston in third place.

The poll, taken of 440 likely Republican primary voters, surveyed July 18-20, shows that Maughan got 34.7 percent, Rinehart 19.5 percent and Johnston 18.1 percent. About 28 percent said they are undecided.

The poll was taken for KWTV-Channel 9 in Oklahoma City by TvPoll.com and the results were presented on the station's morning show by pollster and political science professor Keith Gaddie.

Said Gaddie: "We also mapped the results and Maughan is strong across the district, Johnston is predictably strong but not overwhelming in Bethany, and Rinehart is weak all over. There were heavy undecideds from South OKC through Del City all the way out to Harrah.

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Oklahoma County Officials Draw Foes

By Bryan Dean/The Oklahoman ~ Three of four Oklahoma County incumbents already face challenges for their offices as candidate filing continues today.

County Clerk Carolynn Caudill faces a familiar opponent in the Republican primary. Former District 3 Commissioner Stan Inman, who often clashed with Caudill before he lost a re-election bid two years ago, will try to unseat Caudill.

Embattled District 2 Commissioner Brent Rinehart, who is scheduled to go to trial in September on multiple felony charges stemming from his 2004 campaign, already faces four opponents.

Democrats Jim Dickinson of Harrah and Bob Boyster of Oklahoma City have filed for the seat along with Oklahoma City Republicans J.D. Johnston and Brian Maughan.

Sheriff John Whetsel also drew an opponent this morning. Republican Jim Heitmeyer of Del City will run against Whetsel, who is seeking his fourth term.

The filing period continues until 5 p.m. Wednesday.

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Johnston Files For County Commission

Republican J. D. Johnston of Bethany filed for the Oklahoma County Commission today, joining Brian Maughan in seeking to unseat incumbent Brent Rinehart.

Johnston, a former police officer and former Bethany mayor, said he has the experience to lead and the integrity to serve as the next county commissioner for district 2.

"I have already served our community as a police officer, city councilman and mayor," Johnston said. "I have raised a family, I have run a business, and I am a conservative who wants to improve our county and our future. I'm not interested in building a career in politics, only in serving our community and restoring integrity to county government."

Johnston served in the Oklahoma City and Bethany police departments for 20 years. For the past 26 years, Johnston also has been a small businessman, serving as president and CEO of Johnston Equipment and Supply Company that he started in 1983.

Johnston and Pam, his wife of more than 25 years, are members of Council Road Baptist Church, where he has served as the director of the Sunday School department. The Johnston's have four grown children and five grandchildren.

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Rinehart, Dickinson Signs Go Up

In what promises to be a spirited primary for the Oklahoma County Commission seat now held by Brent Rinehart, large signs for Republican Rinehart are now beginning to pop up in the district.

Rinehart, who faces trial on felony counts related to a previous campaign, has not announced officially he's seeking reelection, but his signs make it obvious he is.

He faces a challenge in the Republican primary by J. D. Johnston, the former mayor of Bethany, and Brian Maughan, former consultant to AT&T.

Signs also are appearing for Democrat Jim Dickinson of Choctaw, who previously ran against Rinehart.

Maughan kicks off his campaign tonight with a fundraiser at the home of GOP 1990 nominee for governor Bill Price.

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Maughan Announces For County Commission

Republican Brian Maughan today confirmed TMRO's March 15th report that he will seek his party's nomination for the Oklahoma County Commissioner seat in District 2 now held by the embattled Brent Rinehart.

Republican J. D. Johnston, the former mayor of Bethany, and Democrat Jim Dickinson of Choctaw announced earlier that they are candidates.

Civic leader and businessman Maughan said, "It’s time to restore integrity to the County Commissioner’s office in District 2."

Maughan recently left his position as a Public Affairs Consultant for AT&T to explore the race. He served as in-house consultant for the Fortune 50 global telecommunications leader, providing strategic legislative and regulatory guidance.

Prior to joining AT&T, Maughan served as the director of economic development for Oklahoma County District 2 and as a public information officer for Oklahoma County Emergency Management and Oklahoma County District 3. Maughan also served as a field director, consultant and fundraiser for the Oklahoma Republican Party.

In 2003 Maughan co-founded and now serves as President of Marketing Dimensions, a consulting and marketing firm for both businesses and campaigns. He was recently elected President-elect for the South Oklahoma City Rotary Club and currently is President of the US Grant High School Alumni Association. Maughan previously served on the board for the South Oklahoma City Chamber; as Chairman of the YMCA Central District; and was appointed by Governor Frank Keating to the Oklahoma Developmental Disability Council.

He holds associate’s degrees in public relations and journalism and broadcasting from Oklahoma City Community College.

Dickinson ran against Rinehart in 2006 and got 47 percent of the vote.

Rinehart faces prosecution on charges related to the financing of a previous campaign.

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Rinehart Draws Democrat Opponent In Reelection Bid

Oklahoma County Commissioner Brent Rinehart has another opponent this year, and he's no stranger.

Jim Dickinson, a Harrah Democrat, ran against Rinehart in 2004 and got 47 percent of the vote against the incumbent Republican. Dickinson is a former Harrah city councilman who owns a construction business.

Also opposing Rinehart is Republican J. D. Johnston, the former mayor of Bethany.

Rinehart's tenure has been marked by controversy; he faces multiple felony charges as a result of allegations made about the financing of his 2004 campaign.

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J. D. Johnston Seeks Rinehart Commission Seat

Former Bethany mayor and Oklahoma City businessman J.D. Johnston today announced his candidacy for the District 2 seat on the Oklahoma County Commission, setting up a Republican primary for the seat if incumbent Brent Rinehart seeks reelection as expected.

Johnston pledged to bring integrity, credibility and diverse experience to the job.

He said, "a good part of what people see and hear in the media about their county commissioner often centers around fussing and fighting, legal troubles, political troubles, and other issues that have nothing to do with the business of the County,” Johnston continued.

“I believe that the people of District 2 deserve a county commissioner who is focused on county business. It is the job of elected officials at all levels to serve the people and to set an example for positive leadership and productivity.”

“The Oklahoma County Board of Commissioners needs to focus attention on doing the people’s business and solving the problems of Oklahoma County. I will bring integrity, credibility as well as business and public service experience to the Board of County Commissioners,” Johnston concluded.

Johnston is a lifelong resident of Oklahoma County. He and his wife, Pam, have been married for 28 years and have 4 children and 5 grandchildren. He's been a police officer with the Bethany and Oklahoma City police departments and has owned and operated Johnston Oilfield Equipment in Oklahoma City for 24 years. He was elected to the Bethany City Council to serve Ward 3 in 1996. He won election as Mayor of Bethany in 1999 and served unopposed in that position until 2006.

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