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Muskogee Phoenix

Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2014

Section A, Page 8

For the Record

Temperatures: Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2014 43/18 High/low records: Jan. 21 last year 44/25 This year 70 (1/12)/ 3 (1/6) Jan. 21 records 74 (`57) / 6 (`61) Precipitation: Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2014 0.00 Jan. 21 record 0.92 (2010) January total 0.62 January average 1.80 This years total 0.62

Commissioner, Army vet join race for US House

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) A retired Army lieutenant colonel and an Oklahoma Corporation Commissioner both said Tuesday they plan to seek the Republican nomination for the open U.S. House seat being vacated by two-term Republican Rep. James Lankford. Commissioner Patrice Douglas, 51, announced her candidacy during an event at Oklahoma Lankford Christian University, where she said she cast her first vote for former President Ronald Reagan in the 1980s. A former attorney, banker, mayor and small businesswoman from Edmond, Douglas said she wanted to take that business sense to Washington. Elected mayor of Edmond in 2009, Douglas was appointed in 2011 by Gov. Mary Fallin to fill a vacancy on the states threemember Corporation Commission, which regulates Oklahomas utility companies, telecommunications, and the oil and gas industry, among others. Im so excited to have the opportunity to go to Douglas Washington and bring that kind of experience with me, Douglas said. Retired Lt. Col. Steve Russell, 50, a former state senator, also confirmed he would seek the GOP nomination in the 5th Congressional District, which includes nearly all of Oklahoma County, along with Pottawatomie and Seminole counties to the east. I am definitely in, Russell told The Associated Press. Our nations in peril. And the way I see the outlook currently, if I thought I had any chance to use my skills and leadership to help this country ... its my duty and moral obligation to try. Russell Russell represented south Oklahoma City in the state Senate from 2008 to 2012, after a more than 20-year Army career that culminated with the U.S. invasion of Iraq. He wrote the book, We Got Him, about his units role in the hunt for and capture of Saddam Hussein, and has been promoting his book and doing speaking engagements across the country since he left the Senate. The two announcements are the latest in a series of political dominoes that have fallen since U.S. Sen. Tom Coburn announced last week that he was stepping down with two years remaining on his term. Lankford announced on Monday that he was running to replace Coburn in the Senate. Lankford could face a Republican primary challenge from Oklahoma House Speaker T.W. Shannon, who said he was praying with his family about whether to run. Shannons political consultant, Trebor Worthen, told the AP on Tuesday that Shannon planned to establish an exploratory committee with the Federal Election Commission. U.S. Rep. Jim Bridenstine, a tea party favorite who knocked off a five-term congressman in 2012, also is considering a U.S. Senate bid. Jason Weger, a paramedic from Norman and political neophyte, said Tuesday he plans to run. Several prominent Oklahoma Democrats have said they dont plan to run for U.S. Senate, including former U.S. Rep. Dan Boren, former Lt. Gov. Jari Askins, and longtime Chickasaw Nation Gov. Bill Anoatubby. Former Gov. Brad Henry and former Attorney General Drew Edmondson, both Democrats who are expected to consider the race, did not return telephone messages from the AP on Tuesday. Former Democratic state Sen. Kenneth Corn of Poteau said he was considering a run. In Lankfords 5th District seat, former Republican state Rep. Shane Jett announced Monday he planned to run. Other Republicans considering that U.S. House race are state Sens. Clark Jolley, Greg Treat and David Holt, and state Reps. Paul Wesselhoft and Mike Turner. On the Democratic side in the 5th District race, retired University of Central Oklahoma professor Tom Guild, who ran unsuccessfully for the post in 2010 and 2012, already has announced his plans to run again, as has retired federal contractor Keith Davenport. Former Corporation Commissioner Jim Roth said hes considering the race.

Osage Nation chief removed from office after trial for law violation
PAWHUSKA (AP) Osage Nation Principal Chief John D. Red Eagle was ousted Tuesday from office after a trial in which he admitted violating tribal law by ignoring records requests from two newspapers. The counts included abuse of power, interfering with an Osage attorney generals investigation, refusing to uphold tribal law, withholding information requested under the tribes Open Records Act by two newspapers and breaking federal and tribal law by using tribal funds to pay a contractor more than $70,000 to maintain his personal website. The tribal congress oversaw the trial and found that there was evidence to support five of the six counts of wrongdoing against Red Eagle. The tribal congress also voted 11-0 with one abstention to disqualify Red Eagle from holding any future elected or appointed office with the tribe, the Tulsa World reported Tuesday. Red Eagle, who had previously denied any wrongdoing, left the chambers without commenting. Assistant Chief Scott BigHorse was sworn in to replace Red Eagle as the tribes top leader. He also left without commenting. Much like a U.S. president, the principal chief governs the tribes 15,000plus citizens and upholds the laws and constitution of the tribe. Red Eagle admitted under oath during trial Thursday that he violated tribal law by ignoring records requests from two newspapers. In 2013, the Osage News, the tribes newspaper, and the Bigheart Times, an independent weekly newspaper based in Barnsdall, both requested copies of a contract between the tribe and Rod Hartness, a pipeline consultant. It breaks the (tribal) Open Records Act, Red Eagle said Thursday of his decision not to release the contract within the laws 10-day response window. In that instance, I did it. I broke the law. We suspected they would write something negative if they (the Osage News and the Bigheart Times) got his contract. Red Eagle also defended his decision to pay former contractor Paul Allen more than $70,000 in tribal funds over two years to develop and maintain a website for the principal chiefs office, despite not being able to show any tangible proof of Allens work. Before the trials start, Red Eagle filed paperwork to run for a second term. He is one of four principal chief candidates on the Osage Nations primary election ballot in March.

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