The following is a press release from the Roth for Commissioner campaign
(Posted 5-26-02)

The Oklahoma County Commissioners have been caught violating the State's Open Meetings Act and have been forced to provide the tape(s) and transcript(s) from a recent Executive Session of their Public Buildings Trust Authority.

The April 30th meeting in question featured the 3 Commissioners, their Chief Deputies, a few financial advisors/bond dealers and representatives of a landowner, which have been involved in a possible sale of certain real estate adjacent to the County's Metro Parking Garage. Oklahoma law specifically prohibits landowners or others who will 'profit' from land deals to attend executive sessions with any public board or body.

This week, Oklahoma County's District Attorney, Wes Lane, sided with Jim Roth, a Candidate for County Commissioner for District One. Roth had recently filed a formal complaint with the District Attorney seeking an investigation of the Commissioners' behind-the-scenes antics, in which they were secretly negotiating with 'profiteers' of the land deal.

"The Law is clear," said Mr. Roth, "the public deserves openness in its County government and these Commissioners' secret dealings must end." Mr. Roth stated, "I was shocked when Beverly Hodges intentionally excluded certain County employees from the Executive Session and instead invited her financial advisor friends, who will make thousands off of that land deal, to talk behind closed doors."

A review of the tape and transcript from the Executive Session reveals that the Commissioners' Chief Deputies have apparently been meeting for months to discuss this possible land transaction. The executive session conversation also reveals tremendous detail from the bond dealers that must have been in the works for many months. There is even a point when a representative from the DA's Office interrupts to break up the session and warns them that Jim Roth had just reported the meeting to the DA. Although the County has had few public meetings on the issue, it appears the County Commissioners are near closing the deal and selling bonds to make the multi-million dollar finances work.

"Our citizens entrust public officials to act in the citizens' best interest, especially at times like this when it comes to spending the taxpayers' money," said Roth. "The public needs to be involved and the public needs to be protected. These backroom deals must end if this County is to grow."