The state Election Board dismissed the Republican member and a Republican alternate from the Oklahoma County Election Board after it determined they failed to certify election results, refused to approve meeting minutes and didn’t disclose conflicts of interest.
In a special January 31st meeting, the state board voted. to dismiss Oklahoma County Election Board Vice Chair Cheryl Williams and Republican Alternate Jenni White after a daylong executive session behind closed doors at the Capitol.
The state board also voted to refer the matters to Oklahoma County District Attorney Vicki Behanna and Attorney General Gentner Drummond for further investigation. It directed the Oklahoma County Republican Central Committee to recommend GOP replacements to the county election board by Feb. 7.
The motion removing White accused her of “purposefully and/or recklessly disseminating false information about Oklahoma’s election system and procedures.” It also said she failed to remove false information. White wrote a Jan. 7 blog post discussing her complaints about the electoral process on the website of Reclaim Oklahoma Parent Empowerment. She also hosted a Jan. 24 ROPE podcast on YouTube discussing election security. It contained an error that she later corrected, White said.
Editor's note: Following the recording this Long Story Short episode, the Oklahoma Election Board appointed two new Republican members to the Oklahoma County Election Board.
- Former state lawmaker Wayne Pettigrew, who served in the House from 1994 to 2004, is the new Republican member of the three-person Oklahoma County Election Board.
- Ernie Wiggins, a retired pharmaceutical sales representative from Edmond, is the new Republican alternate.
