Roth Joins Oklahoma City Law Firm

Former Corporation Commissioner Jim Roth has joined an Oklahoma City law firm and will specialize in the energy business.

"After 15 years in public service, I feel that it’s time to start a new chapter and a great opportunity,” Roth said.

Roth, former Oklahoma County commissioner, started work Thursday at the Phillips Murrah law firm, where he will focus on energy, alternative energy and regulatory law matters, firm president Tom Wolfe said.

Roth, 40, said he wants to work with new and existing Oklahoma businesses "that are trying to prepare themselves for a new energy future.”

Roth was appointed to the Corporation Commission by Governor Brad Henry. Seeking election for the first time last year, Roth was defeated by Republican Dana Murphy.

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Jim Roth Recuses Self From Future Votes Involving 10 Oil, Gas Firms; Hint At Next Job?

By Jerry Bohnen/NewsRadio 1000 KTOK ~ Oklahoma Corporation Commissioner Jim Roth, in the final month of his term in office, has notified the commission he will not participate in votes regarding matters affecting 10 oil and gas firms that contributed heavily to his failed campaign.

Roth notified the Commission's Office of General Counsel on December 3rd of his intent. His notification was two sentences: "As the end of my service at the Oklahoma Corporation Commission is approaching, I will soon begin a search for the next chapter in my professional life. To that end, I feel it important and appropriate to recuse myself from matters pertaining to those companies/organizations for which I may make contact in the coming days/weeks/months."

Roth cited 10 oil and gas companies: Chermac Energy, RES America, Inc., Coninental Resources Inc., Kaiser-Francis Oil & Gas Company, Chesapeake Energy, XTO Energy Inc., Sandridge Energy Inc., Crawley Petroleum, Samson Resources Company and The GHK Company.

Most were companies whose officers were major contributors to Roth's campaign. Whether the recusal meant he was avoiding a vote because of their contributions or if he was job-seeking with the firms wasn't clear. A spokesman said it is because he may seek employment that could involve the companies.

Roth was traveling and not available for comment.

[There has been speculation Roth may be in line to head the Clean Skies Foundation in Washington, an entity created by Chesapeake's Aubrey McClendon, Roth's campaign-co-chairman.]

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Will Jim Roth Replace Bode At Clean Skies?

The rumor mill is working overtime about a successor to Denise Bode at Aubrey McClendon's Clean Skies Foundation in Washington, and the present focus is defeated Corporation Commissioner Jim Roth, whose campaign co-chairman was McClendon.

Bode, who resigned from the Corporation Commission to take the McClendon job and was succeeded by Roth, resigned to become head of an organization pushing wind power.

Roth's campaign was fueled, in large part, by donations from McClendon and his associates at Chesapeake. The alliance between the two goes back to Roth's tenure as an Oklahoma County commissioner and was detailed here in early October.

McClendon is said to have been instrumental in convincing Governor Brad Henry to name Roth to the Corporation Commission when Bode resigned.

The American Wind Energy Association will be third energy group in Washington headed by Bode. She spent seven years as the head of the Independent Petroleum Association of America before being appointed to the Corporation Commission in 1997.

"I am thrilled by my new opportunity of working with the AWEA team to grow wind power in the U.S.,” Bode, 54, said in a news release. "I am particularly proud of the role I played as Oklahoma corporation commissioner to bring commercial wind power to Oklahoma.”

Tom Price, senior vice president for corporate development at Chesapeake, said potential successors to Bode at the Clean Skies organization have already been identified.

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Dana Murphy Upsets Jim Roth 52-48%

Republican Dana Murphy took Democrat Jim Roth out of his Corporation Commission seat in Tuesday's voting in an upset over the favored Brad Henry appointee whom most polls had shown leading the race by substantial margins.

With almost all precincts reporting, Murphy had a 52-48 percent lead that grew during the night as rural counties reported vote totals. Murphy's lead in the race developed with about a sixth of the precincts reporting. It grew slowly and with almost all precincts reporting, stood at about 61,000 votes.

Most observers expected Roth to carry Tulsa County while Murphy would carry Oklahoma County. It turned out just the opposite; Roth carried Oklahoma County, which he previously served as a county commissioner, 143,000 to 128,302 votes. In Tulsa County, however, Murphy won 105,608 to 93,600 for Roth.

Murphy built her winning margin, for the most part, in rural Oklahoma. She carried many small counties by margins of 200 to 1,000 votes and notched bigger wins in some traditional GOP counties, including Garfield and Washington.

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SPR: Gay Winners In Dixie?

From The Southern Political Report ~ Gay Winners in Dixie? In Oklahoma, Corporation Commissioner Jim Roth (D), an openly gay official appointed to a vacancy by Gov. Brad Henry (D), leads with 47% to 35% for his challenger, Dana Murphy (R), according to a TvPoll for KWTV and by a closer 49% to 46% says SurveyUSA. If Roth wins, he will become the first openly gay elected statewide officeholder in the South.

And in South Carolina, US Rep. Henry Brown (R) has a weak-for-an-incumbent lead of 50% to 45% over philanthropist/activist Linda Ketner (D), according to a SurveyUSA poll. Ketner has been lowkey on the subject, but has not made a secret of her sexual identity and has been endorsed by gay and lesbian groups.

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Can Jim Roth Pull It Off?

Can Corporation Commissioner Jim Roth go into the Oklahoma political history books as the first openly-gay candidate to win statewide office when the votes are counted tomorrow?

An Analysis

Roth's historic campaign has made him the darling of homosexual activist groups across the nation. They have showered him with campaign donations and urged their Oklahoma members to work in his campaign.

Thus far, on the surface, Roth's lifestyle has been a non-issue. Beneath the surface, however, it is very much an issue, particularly in rural Oklahoma. Conversations with Republicans and Democrats alike in rural counties indicate Roth likely won't run well in many of them, although some believe the vote in their counties will be close between Roth and his Republican challenger, Dana Murphy.

Polls indicate Roth is weaker in rural areas than in the state's two large metropolitan areas, Oklahoma City and Tulsa. The 1st Congressional District, which includes Tulsa, appears his strongest area in most polls. They give him a lead there, while Oklahoma County is close. Roth may benefit from a Democrat surge in the Tulsa area; the polls also show that area to be Barack Obama's strongest spot in the state and Democrat U. S. Senate candidate Andrew Rice also appears to be running well there, although incumbent Senator Jim Inhofe has a massive, 36 percent lead in rural Oklahoma based on the latest "Oklahoma Poll" conducted by Sooner Poll.

If Roth manages to win Tulsa County and rural areas go to Murphy by narrow margins, Oklahoma County could well decide the outcome of the race and Murphy needs a huge turnout in her favor, it appears. The latest "Oklahoma Poll" shows Roth with a 12 percent lead statewide. The new TvPoll for KWTV shows Rice at 49.8 percent, Murphy at 35.3 percent. She leads in western Oklahoma City and the Oklahoma City metro area. Roth has leads elsewhere, but the poll numbers are close, several within the poll's margin of error.

The latest SurveyUSA poll, however, makes it just a 3-point race, edge to Roth at 49-46 percent, and the battle in rural areas appears to be a dead heat. If Murphy manages to roll up margins in rural areas, Roth's path to victory gets cloudy.

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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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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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Beverly Hodges Told McClendon 'No'

Former Oklahoma County Commissioner Beverly Hodges told Fox 25 News tonight that she refused to build a bridge to the Arcadia tree farm owned by Chesapeake Energy Corp. CEO Aubrey McClendon because it was not a priority.

After McClendon helped fund her opponent, Jim Roth, she was defeated and Roth subsequently sponsored improvements on Anderson Road in Arcadia and construction of the new bridge to the tree farm that McClendon wanted.

As a result, the value of McClendon's tree farm soared.

This year, Roth named McClendon as co-chairman of his campaign for election to the Corporation Commission, which regulates McClendon's industry. McClendon also is Roth's top fundraiser and a maximum donor.

Roth voted against a coal-power plant that McClendon opposed; Roth never disclosed his alliance with McClendon or their connection through the Arcadia road and bridge projects or McClendon's donation to his county commissioner campaign.

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Murphy, Roth Clash On 'Flash Point'

Republican Dana Murphy and Democrat Jim Roth raked each other over the campaign coals in a Sunday morning appearance on KFOR-TV's "Flash Point" show.

The candidates for the short term on the Corporation Commission are in what polls show is a tight race for the seat now held by Roth, appointed by Governor Henry when Republican Denise Bode resigned.

Co-host Mike Turpen, Democrat, asked Roth about his charges that Murphy forged a family member's signature on an oil and gas lease during a divorce proceeding years ago. Roth produced documents and said "every Republican opponent" Murphy has had has brought up the matter.

Roth said the "bar for ethics...must be high" and suggested Murphy doesn't meet the test.

Murphy responded that the issue "really...is whether I had permission" to sign the document. She says she did, and there was no intent to defraud anyone.

Murphy countered that Roth is using his Commission assistant to work in his campaign. She also cited Roth's DUI arrest in 1995 as an example of events in the past.

Roth countered with yet another allegation, saying Murphy has taken discounted rent from an entity regulated by the Commission. Murphy said the office she rented from Ralph Harvey of Marlin Oil Company didn't work out because of access limitations and she rented another office as her campaign headquarters.

"My ethics are impeccable," Roth asserted. Questions about Roth's ethics arose when he voted in opposition to a coal-power plant that was opposed by Roth's campaign co-chairman, top fundraiser and maximum donor Aubrey McClendon of Chesapeake Energy Corp. As Oklahoma County commissioner, Roth spearheaded the rebuilding of a roadway and a new bridge to the Deer Creek Tree Farm in Arcadia, owned by McClendon. McClendon was a maximum donor to Roth's commission campaign.

Murphy noted that Roth has not addressed questions about his ethics and noted he's had to return some donations to his campaign because of ethics laws. Inexplicably, she did not mention Roth's alliance with McClendon or question his vote on the coal-power plant.

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Murphy, Roth Face Off On 'Flash Point'

Corporation Commission candidates Dana Murphy and Jim Roth face off in this Sunday's edition of "Flash Point" on KFOR-Channel 4. The show, which airs at 9:30 a.m., was taped earlier this week.

The two are locked in what a recent poll shows is a tight race for the short-term commission seat now held by Democrat Roth, appointed by Governor Henry when Republican Denise Bode resigned to head the Clean Skies Foundation in Washington.

Murphy, a former administrative law judge, and Roth, former Oklahoma County commissioner, have battled this week over Roth's allegations about Murphy.

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Jones Claims Roth, Fina Violate State Law

Republican State Chairman Gary Jones (pictured) says today that Democratic Corporation Commissioner Jim Roth and his top aide, Mike Fina, are violating state law that prohibits political activity by Commission employees.

Jones said, "Mike Fina is a familiar sight at Jim Roth campaign events assisting Roth wherever he goes. He was recently seen in a YouTube video where Roth asks him to assist him escape a persistent young student reporter who questioned Roth about the large amount of contributions from special interest to the Jim Roth campaign. Problem is both Roth and Fina are breaking the law."

Jones cited Title 17 of Oklahoma Statutes. He said Chapter 9, Section 180.4, reads, No employee of the Corporation Commission in the unclassified service, shall, directly or indirectly, solicit, receive, or in any manner be concerned in soliciting or receiving any assessment, subscription or contribution for any political organization, candidacy or other political purpose; and no employee of the Commission in the unclassified service shall solicit or receive any such assessment, subscription or contribution from an employee in the classified service. No employee of the Corporation Commission in the unclassified service shall be a candidate for nomination or election to any paid public office, or take part in the management or affairs of any political campaign, except to exercise his right as a citizen privately to express his opinion and to cast his vote.

Jones said, "This week Roth was caught violating the law by having and distributing campaign material at the Oklahoma Corporation Commission and now we find he and his press secretary are further violating.... Roth, an attorney, must think that laws are something everyone else has to live by, not him. Oklahoma voters might see it a little different November 4th."

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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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Dana Murphy Schedules News Conference

Dana Murphy, Republican candidate for the Corporation Commission, will hold a press conference at 2 p.m. today at the State Capitol Building in the first floor Rotunda, her campaign has announced.

"Murphy will respond to false allegations made by her opponent in recent TV advertisements," the announcement said.

Whether Murphy will discuss a vote by incumbent Democrat Jim Roth in opposition to a coal-powered plant his campaign co-chairman, top fundraiser and maximum donor Aubrey McClendon of Chesapeake Energy Corp. opposed is not known.

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Roth's Campaign Materials In State Office

Why does Corporation Commissioner Jim Roth keep campaign materials in his state office?

The question comes as Republican State Chairman Gary Jones rips Roth for passing out a business card with information about Roth's campaign on it.

Jones says he sent a party staffer to Roth's Corporation Commission office to see what cards Roth was handing out at his state office.

State ethics rules forbid distributing campaign materials in a state building.

Roth spokesman Mike Fina says the incident was a mistake when a receptionist picked up the wrong stack of cards after a visitor asked for Roth's business card; Fina did not explain why campaign materials were in Roth's state office.

Roth faces Republican Dana Murphy in the Nov. 4 election.

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Roth's Ethics: Will Murphy Take The Gloves Off?

With Corporation Commissioner Jim Roth having raised the issue of ethics in his campaign against Republican Dana Murphy, some of Murphy's backers are urging her to throw the ethics question back at Democrat Roth because of his vote against a coal-powered plant opposed by his campaign co-chairman, top fundraiser and maximum donor Aubrey McClendon of Chesapeake Energy Corp.

"She's got the issue," said one frustrated GOP official. "It's documented...the close relationship between Roth and McClendon and it goes back to Roth's campaigns for Oklahoma County commissioner and includes that road and bridge project Roth did for McClendon that you've outlined. I can't imagine why Murphy hasn't raised the issue...she's probably waited too late now."

Following the recent disclosures about Roth's alliance with McClendon, some asked why he didn't abstain from voting on the coal-powered plant sought by several utility companies. Roth refused to discuss the issue with a reporter for KTOK at the time, has not returned calls from The McCarville Report Online and has remained silent since.

"If the roles were reversed," fumed another GOP leader, "and Murphy was the one who taken money from McClendon, built him a road and bridge to benefit his business, made him her campaign co-chairman and then voted his way on a project that would have cost him and his company money, the media would be all over it and they'd be screaming about the lack of ethics. Why the hell they're protecting Roth is beyond me, unless it's because he's a Democrat."

Like Murphy, Republican State Chairman Gary Jones has been silent on the Roth-McClendon connection and Roth's vote on the coal-powered plant.

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Roth Throws Mud In Corp Comm Race

The Associated Press ~ A tough race for a seat on the Oklahoma Corporation Commission has turned nasty, with incumbent Jim Roth accusing his opponent in a television advertisement of underhanded financial dealings with her own family.

[The charge stems from an unsubstantiated allegation made during a contentious divorce action 16 years ago.

[Roth's mud-slinging comes despite poll numbers this week that show him slightly ahead of Republican Dana Murphy after a barrage of positive commercials on his behalf.

[Murphy's campaign thus far has not engaged in negative campaigning, despite what some believe is a ready-made and current issue, Roth's apparent conflict of interest in voting against a coal-powered plant opposed by his campaign co-chairman, fundraiser and maximum donor Aubrey McClendon of Chesapeake Energy Corp. Thus far, Murphy has not so much as mentioned the connection between the two despite being urged to point it out.]

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Roth Sponsored Roadway, Bridge To Campaign Official's Arcadia Tree Farm; Land Value Soars

Remember the controversy over the roadway that passed by property owned by a maximum donor to the campaign of the Oklahoma County commissioner who sponsored the road project?

Today, there's certain controversy over yet another Oklahoma County road, and a new bridge, that provides access to an Arcadia tree farm owned by a co-chairman, fundraiser and huge personal donor to the campaign of former Oklahoma County Commissioner Jim Roth, now a member of the Corporation Commission seeking election in his first statewide campaign.

That controversy is certain to focus attention as well on what appears to be a close and continuing alliance between Roth and the owner of the tree farm, a man who hired Roth's campaign consultant as a Capitol lobbyist and whose primary business empire Roth helps regulate as a member of the Corporation Commission.

The Alliance Between Regulator And Regulated

Records examined by The McCarville Report Online show the following:

1 - In June 2005, minutes of a Board of County Commissioner's meeting show, County Commissioner Roth, a Democrat, began the process of sponsoring improvements on a portion of Anderson Road just south of Old U. S. (now State) Highway 66 in rural Arcadia, and the construction of a new bridge over Deep Fork Creek. The then-existing bridge was in disrepair and, locals say, had been that way for more than a decade; because the road (which deadends to the south) had no through traffic, a source relates, previous Commissioner Beverly Hodges did not push to have the bridge rebuilt and the roadway had been essentially unused. Oklahoma Department of Transportation records indicate the project cost $705,000; ODOT was sent final paperwork on the project in November 2006, the County Commission's meeting minutes indicate. Oklahoma County authorized $50,502 in engineering and other fees associated with the project, the minutes show. In addition, $36,000 was paid for easements to Stanley Kolar of Arcadia. His trust owns five parcels that partially abut Anderson Road, records show, including a 1940-built home listed at 13000 East Highway 66 with a 2008 fair market value affixed by the county assessor of $157,700, a $12,000 increase over 2007.

2 - Located on the west side of that stretch of Anderson Road today is the Deep Fork Tree Farm, owned by Chesapeake Energy Corp. leader Aubrey McClendon. McClendon also owns the nearby Pop's iconic restaurant. The tree farm is south of the restaurant on the west side of Anderson Road. The tree farm is bordered on the west by Westminster Road near the restaurant. Both entities, Arcadia officials have said, have increased tourism and tax collections for the city. The value of the tree farm land has skyrocketed in the year since the road improvements were made and the bridge was constructed. Oklahoma County Assessor Leonard Sullivan's office placed its fair market value last year at $60,100. By the end of March this year, it was valued at $449,362.

3 - McClendon, known for his generosity to political candidates in both parties and to public issue causes, donated $5,000 to Roth's 2006 campaign for the county commission.

4 - In 2007, Roth was named to the Corporation Commission by Governor Brad Henry to replace Republican Denise Bode, who resigned, following an unsuccessful bid to win the Republican nomination for Congress in the 5th District, to become CEO of McClendon's American Clean Skies Foundation in Washington. The commission regulates the energy industry, of which McClendon's Chesapeake Energy Corp. is a part. Among those who supported Roth for the appointment were McClendon and Capitol lobbyist and campaign strategist Pat Hall, former Democratic Party chairman and a Roth adviser who was hired as a Chesapeake lobbyist after Roth was appointed.

5 - After McClendon became a part of the ownership group headed by Clay Bennett that purchased the Seattle Sonics professional basketball team, he and another owner came under fire from homosexual groups in Seattle for donating to an anti-gay marriage group in 2004. Roth, who is openly gay, engaged in an email exchange with McClendon offering to make a public statement defending McClendon from attacks by Seattle's gay community or by Democrats in the Washington Legislature. The emails were disclosed in court in Seattle during the legal battle over relocation of the team to Oklahoma City. Roth himself hinted at the close alliance he shares with McClendon in a 2007 letter he subsequently wrote to the sports editor of the Seattle Times, in which he said, "From the beginning, Clay and Aubrey initiated a genuine kindness and friendship toward my partner and me. They have publicly and consistently supported me, even pushing back when right-wing attacks have occurred. Their support is unconditional and has helped improve the overall climate for expanding tolerance here at home."

6 - In 2007, McClendon funded a campaign against the proposed Red Rock coal-fired power plant. Two of the state's largest utilities, American Electric Power-Public Service Company of Oklahoma and Oklahoma Gas and Electric Co., wanted to build the plant. Roth sided with McClendon and voted to deny pre-approval of the plant, which killed the project. He was joined in that vote by Republican Commissioner Jeff Cloud. The vote came about the time the finishing touches were being completed on the Anderson Road improvements. Given Roth's alliance with McClendon, should he have abstained from voting on the project McClendon so opposed? The question is certain to be asked.

7 - When Roth formed his campaign committee to seek election to the Corporation Commission seat to which Henry appointed him, he named McClendon, and Bennett, as co-chairmen and the two have since hosted fundraisers and signed fundraising letters for Roth.

8 - McClendon is himself a maximum donor. As has been reported by TMRO, KTOK, the Tulsa World, and The Oklahoman, McClendon's Chesapeake associates joined him in pouring money into Roth's campaign. Many of the donations from Chesapeake employees are in the same amount and given on the same day. The donations have pushed Roth's fundraising total to more than a million dollars and more than one source says about half that sum came through the efforts of McClendon and his business associates.

See Video At http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vl9QMupUxrU

Roth's critics are certain to cite the series of events that demonstrate the connection between Roth and McClendon: June 2005: Roth initiates road and bridge projects that benefit McClendon; 2006: McClendon donates $5,000 to Roth's campaign for the county commission; March 2007: Roth defends McClendon in letter to Seattle newspaper, citing "unconditional support" from McClendon; September 2007: Roth votes against Red Rock power plant proposal opposed by McClendon; May 2008: Roth names McClendon as co-chairman of his campaign for the Corporation Commission; 2008: McClendon, his company political action committee and numerous employees donate more than $100,000 to Roth's campaign; McClendon is said to have helped raise more than half a million dollars for the campaign.

The latest numbers tallied by the Tulsa World show that 104 Chesapeake employees have contributed $100,675 to Roth, including 82 who have given Roth $1,000 each, often on the same day, Ethics Commission reports show.

McClendon, chairman and CEO of Chesapeake, gave a maximum contribution of $5,000, as did Energy for Oklahomans, a political action committee for company employees.

Headquartered in a sprawling complex of new buildings in northwest Oklahoma City, Chesapeake is Oklahoma's largest natural gas producer and the third-largest overall producer of natural gas in the United States.

Last year, McClendon funded a massive advertising campaign against the proposed Red Rock coal-fired power plant. Roth and Cloud voted to deny pre-approval of the plant, which killed the project. Roth said the Red Rock debate was not about which fuel should be used to generate electricity. He said it was about whether ratepayers should be asked to pay for the costs of the plant before it was put into operation.

At no time during discussion on the issue, or in interviews about it, did Roth disclose his multiple connections to McClendon.

"When I stood up to the utilities and said no to their $2 billion plan and advocated using Oklahoma fuel for Oklahomans, I'm sure that it did attract support of employees and businesses here in Oklahoma because they know I'm working for Oklahoma," Roth told the World's Tom Lindley in a story co-written by Mick Hinton.

OG&E attorney William Bullard noted Chesapeake's involvement in the case. Chesapeake is a member of the Quality of Service Coalition, which has presented information in the case.

"When a party has an attorney in the proceeding," said Bullard, "does not bother to put one witness on under oath to be cross- examined, but elects to spend several hundred thousand - if not more - dollars throwing out inaccurate and wildly inaccurate information in an effort to influence this commission, we need to think about, are there ways to discourage that."

Were proponents of the Red Rock plant aware of the Roth-McClendon alliance at the time he voted against them and for McClendon? A call to Bullard has not yet been returned.

State and federal law prohibits corporations from contributing to candidates, although individual employees can, as long as they are not coerced into giving and their giving is not carried out by the corporation itself.

Marilyn Hughes, executive director of the Ethics Commission, told the World that when employers start specifying amounts and to whom, it might appear that an employee's job is dependent on making a contribution.

"I do think that giving the exact amount, giving it on the same day to the same candidate would be facts that would have to be considered to determine whether there was coercion," she said.

Tom Price, Chesapeake's vice president of communications, told the World that his corporation is careful to follow the law regarding campaign giving: "I am extraordinarily proud of the fact that our employees get involved in the political process," he said.

Sources: Minutes of numerous meetings of the Oklahoma County Board of Commissioners 2005-2007; Oklahoma County Assessor Leonard Sullivan's office; Oklahoma Secretary of State's Office; The Seattle Times; The Oklahoman; the Tulsa World; Oklahoma Ethics Commission; Oklahoma Department of Transportation; Federal Highway Administration; The Journal-Record; Roth2008.Com.

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SurveyUSA: Dems Gain Corp Comm Ground

From SurveyUSA For KFOR-TV ~ Democratic candidates for Oklahoma Corporation Commission seats have gained ground over the past three weeks.

In an election for a full-term seat on the Commission today, 09/30/08, Incumbent Republican Jeff Cloud edges Democrat Charles Gray 47% to 44%, according to this exclusive KFOR-TV poll conducted by SurveyUSA. Three weeks ago, Cloud led Gray by 15 points; today, Gray has gained 7 points; Cloud has lost 5 points and now leads by 3.

Among men, Cloud had led by 17, now leads by 3. Among women, Cloud had led by 13, now leads by 3. Among voters age 18 to 49, Cloud had led by 7, now trails by 5. Among voters 50+, Cloud's lead has been cut in half, from 22 points to 11 points. Cloud, first elected to the Commission in 2002, leads by 9 points today in Western Oklahoma, down slightly from a 13-point lead three weeks ago. In Eastern Oklahoma, the race has flipped: Cloud had led by 17, now trails by 4.

In the race for a short-term, two year term on the Commission, Republican Dana Murphy defeats Democratic incumbent Jim Roth 50% to 41%. Compared to three weeks ago, Roth is up 5 points; Murphy is down 4. Murphy, a geologist and attorney, leads by 9 points among men and by 10 among women. Among voters age 18 to 49, Murphy leads by 4 points; among voters age 50+, Murphy leads by 14. 28% of Democrats cross over to vote for the Republican Murphy.

Roth was appointed by Democratic Governor Brad Henry to fill a vacancy on the Commission in June of 2007; Republican Denise Bode, elected to her second full term in the office in 2004, resigned her seat. The winner of the short-term commission seat will serve the remaining two years of Bode's term.

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