Challenger Nick Mahoney is determined to see his election results clearly counted. He's taking on the scandal-ridden incumbent, Kevin McDugle. The election night returns showed a 3-vote margin for McDugle, but 18 'provisional ballots' were unsealed at 3pm, today. The county election board rejected 8 of the provisionals and of the remaining 10, 6 votes were cast in the Republican HD12 primary. Those returns were:
The Election board didn't announce their result until after 4pm on Friday. But candidates are required to file any recount demand by the close of the day. But they must do so in Oklahoma City! |
That is a 3 hour trek in rush hour traffic on any friday. It seems ridiculous that the 77 satellite offices around the state are not suitable for filing these emergency challenges! Fortunately for Mahoney, he had a team in place at the state capitol to file the recount just prior to 4pm. That cost is $1700. A Cashier's check is being presented along with Mahoney's signed form. Other serious discrepancies are looming in this election, such as McDugle's not living in the district for over a year, according to his own testimony. But worse yet is his campaign filing records seem to contradict his legislative 'per diem' expense report (for which he receives employee reimbursement from the legislature). It seems that they residence that McDugle has shared with the woman he's carrying on an open affair with, has shown up on both campaign and employee expense reports. Some former legislators are convicted of crimes for that type of 'double dipping'. Former State Representative, Mike Reynolds is working on this case and is confident that McDugle's actions & the actions of the Wagoner County Sheriff should be the subject of a future grand jury hearing. That fact-gathering process is under seal while the investigation continues. | McDugle is the House freshman who's secret sexual affair led to a protracted divorce case when he abandoned his family. On the eve of the election, McDugle's abandoned wife took to social media to plead with voters to vote for the opponent of her estranged husband. McDugle has done lay ministry work to men, stressing the importance of faithfulness to the wife and being lovingly attentive to her needs. In 2012, McDugle ran for a different legislative seat, and made social issues a fundamental issue. When his opponent, Brian Crain and some of his supporters took a look at McDugle's personal legacy, some of them released this video. |