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Is Karen Keith throwing transparency & Tulsa County under the bus?
Some behind-the-scenes wrangling has been reported of a possible parting “gift” from County Commissioner Karen Keith with Tulsa County taxpayer money, in an attempt to ensure her former chief deputy, Jim Rea, will still have a job.
On Nov. 5, Democrat candidate Keith lost the Tulsa mayoral race to Monroe Nichols. Her chief deputy, Jim Rea, also lost his bid to replace Keith as District 2 county commissioner. In the June 18 three-way race of Democrat candidates, he didn’t even make the runoff. Now he has no job.
Tulsa County voters clearly said “NO!” to Rea and Keith, but it appears Keith may have other plans.
As she vacates her county commissioner seat of sixteen years, she is allegedly working to create a new position (and salary) for Rea or get him moved into a vacated position of a job no longer needed.
Rea’s integrity was put into question during the election when he ran for county commissioner. In order to qualify, he bought a house in District 2, but still owns his home in District 3. According to the rules, candidates must live a minimum of six months in the district for which they run. When questioned whether he actually lived in the District 2 house, Rea showed a picture of a cot, small refrigerator and doggie bowl in the home to qualify it as his “residence.”
Also, in his position as chief deputy and closest adviser to Keith, there were more issues. Both he and Keith felt the heat of the ongoing investigation of the alleged rapes and wrongdoings at the Tulsa County Family Center for Juvenile Justice. The question is when did they know what was happening? Allegedly up to two years before it was reported and exposed to the public.
And now a position may be created for Rea to remain amidst these issues?
Tulsa County has already rejected Jim Rea and voted NO. So are voters now okay if a place is made for Rae to stay on the government dole and continue to get paid with Tulsa County taxpayer funds?
It’s time for transparency in Tulsa County. Speak up now and let the County Commissioners know behind-the-scenes dealings aren’t okay with YOUR tax dollars.
TAKE ACTION NOW
Email or call the Tulsa County Commissioners to say NO to wasting your money:
Stan Sallee - ssallee@tulsacounty.org or call 918-596-5020
Kelly Dunkerley - kdunkerley@tulsacounty.org or call 918-596-5010
Karen Keith - Kkeith@tulsacounty.org or call 918-596-5015
Let them know creating jobs at the end of their term for their friends isn't good government.
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