GOVERNOR-ELECT STITT ANNOUNCES ENTERTAINMENT FOR THREE INAUGURAL EVENTS

Oklahoma City, Okla. (Jan. 1, 2019) – Governor-elect Kevin Stitt announced today the entertainment for the three inaugural balls taking place across the state between Jan. 10 and Jan. 14.

“Sarah and I are looking forward to a time of fellowship and live entertainment with Oklahomans from across the state,” said Governor-elect Kevin Stitt. “Our events will begin in Lawton, celebrating rural Oklahoma and welcoming Jimmie Allen to our state who has an inspiring story of achieving his dreams through hard work, faith, and commitment to family. We look forward to the continued celebration in our home town of Tulsa with MercyMe whose hit song made way for the movie ‘I Can Only Imagine’ featuring Oklahoma’s beautiful landscape. On inauguration day, we will celebrate in Oklahoma City with Oklahoma’s own Toby Keith, an award-winning country music artist who continues to give back to our communities as a job creator and philanthropist.”  

The Lawton Preinaugural Bison Bash will feature rising country music artist Jimmie Allen. Allen has opened for Toby Keith and recently became the first African-American artist to send a debut single to the top of the Country Airplay Billboard chart. Allen was chosen by the Stitts because of his inspiring story of achieving the American Dream through hard work, persistency, and commitment to a goal.

The Lawton event will take place on January 10 at 7PM at the Comanche County Fair Grounds Coliseum. The evening includes a BBQ dinner, live entertainment and a time of fellowship with the governor-elect, first lady, and various other statewide officials. Tickets are $75 each.

The Tulsa Preinaugural Redbud Ball will feature the Tulsa Symphony, the Cherokee Youth Choir and MercyMe, the Christian rock band that wrote the song “I Can Only Imagine” which was adapted into a movie filmed in Oklahoma. The Tulsa ball will take place on January 12 at 7PM at the Cox Business Center. The black-tie evening includes a gourmet dinner, live entertainment and a time of fellowship with the governor-elect, first lady, and various other statewide officials. Tickets are $150 each.

The Oklahoma City inaugural ball will feature the Oklahoma City Philharmonic, the Cherokee Youth Choir, Jimmie Allen and Toby Keith. Toby Keith is an American country singer and songwriter who was born in Clinton, Oklahoma and raised in Moore. Keith is a businessman and a philanthropist, supporting Ally’s House, a non-profit in Oklahoma designed to aid children with cancer.

The OKC inaugural ball will take place on January 14 at 7PM at the Cox Convention Center, Renaissance Grand Ballroom. The black-tie evening includes a gourmet dinner, live entertainment and a time of fellowship with the newly sworn-in governor, first lady, and statewide officials. Tickets are $250 each.

Tickets must be purchased in advance at www.OklahomaTurnaround.com. Remaining proceeds from tickets sales will be donated to Friends of the Mansion, a non-profit dedicated to providing for the preservation and improvement of the historic Oklahoma Governor’s Mansion and its grounds.

In the coming days, the Stitts will announce entertainment for the Scissortail Children’s Festival in Tulsa on Jan. 12. This event will include a special donation to non-profits supporting Oklahoma’s foster children and families.

Inaugural events that are free and open to the public include the official inaugural swearing-in ceremony at 11:30AM on Jan. 12 on the south side of the State Capitol. The ceremony will be immediately followed by a reception with the Governor, First Lady, and statewide officials inside the State Capitol. Seats are first come, first served. The public is encouraged to RSVP in order to receive updates on parking, weather, and more:https://www.oklahomaturnaround.com/inauguration-swearingin-ceremonyoklahoma-city/

On Jan. 13, the Governor and First Lady will participate in an inaugural prayer service at 9:30AM at First Baptist Moore. The service is free and open to the public. RSVP is encouraged:https://www.oklahomaturnaround.com/inaugural-prayer-serviceoklahoma-city/

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A former U.S. Senate staffer and former state representative will fill two of the top positions in Gov.-elect Kevin Stitt’s new administration, surrounding a first-time governor with a combination of federal, state and even municipal political experience.

Michael Junk, Tulsa’s deputy mayor and a former staffer for U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe and former U.S. Sen. Tom Coburn, will serve as chief of staff for Stitt, who officially takes office in January.

Former state Rep. Michael Rogers, a Broken Arrow Republican who was chair of the House education committee, will serve as Stitt’s secretary of state.

Sources confirmed the hires on Monday and the Stitt transition office is expected to formally announce Junk and Rogers on Tuesday.
Donelle Harder, a spokeswoman during Stitt’s campaign, will also be named deputy secretary of state.

Read the complete story on NewsOK.com

GOVERNOR-ELECT KEVIN STITT ANNOUNCES TRANSITION TEAM

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK (Nov. 13, 2018) – Governor-elect Kevin Stitt today announced formation of Oklahoma’s Turnaround, the transition team for the Stitt administration.

The transition team will work with Governor-elect Stitt to recruit Oklahomans to serve in a Stitt administration and to build out Oklahoma’s Turnaround transition team to include issue-centered advisory committees on the following seven topics: Education, Economic Growth, Government Efficiency, Infrastructure, Health, Public Safety, and Native American Partnerships.

Oklahoma’s Turnaround Team will develop policy proposals for the upcoming legislative session, prepare the governor-elect’s budget proposal, and ensure an orderly transition to the new administration.

“I am grateful for the talented Oklahomans who are rolling up their sleeves and already getting to work on making our state Top Ten. The transition team will be focused on recruiting fresh, new leadership to assist in Oklahoma’s turnaround,” said Governor-elect Kevin Stitt. “Over the next week, we will be expanding the team to include committees focused on policy priorities for the first Legislative session.”

For those interested in applying for Oklahoma’s Turnaround or to serve in a Stitt administration, Oklahomans are encouraged to visit www.OklahomaTurnaround.com.

The executive team is as follows:

Marc Nuttle will serve as chair of the transition team. Nuttle is a lawyer, author, consultant and businessman who has had a varied career. He has represented and advised Presidents of the United States, leaders of foreign countries, state officials and corporations. Nuttle has worked on government policy and has predicted economic trends.

Matt Pinnell is Lieutenant Governor-elect. Pinnell is a small business owner with his wife, Lisa. Most recently, Pinnell was tapped to lead the transition team for Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna Romney McDaniel. Prior, Pinnell served as Director of State Parties for the Republican National Committee from 2013 to 2017 and served as Chairman of the Oklahoma Republican Party from 2010 to 2013.

Melissa Houston serves as Labor Commissioner, appointed in 2015. Before serving as labor commissioner, Houston was chief of staff and policy adviser in the state attorney general’s office. She has also served as the chief of staff for the Oklahoma Office of Homeland Security for nine years and an attorney for the Truth in Sentencing Policy Advisory Commission.

Aamon Ross was the Campaign Manager for Stitt for Governor 2018. Before serving as Campaign Manager, he was a consultant to a variety of companies and industries and negotiated large scale contracts. Additionally, Ross has owned several small businesses and led numerous teams while working in medical device sales for over 14 years.

Sean Kouplen is Chairman and CEO of Regent Bank in Tulsa. Kouplen holds numerous statewide leadership positions including Chairman of the OSU-Tulsa Board of Trustees, Chairman of the Hospitality House of Tulsa, and Board of Directors for MetaFund, Salvation Army of Tulsa, and SouthPoint Church.

Mike Mazzei is the President of Tulsa Wealth Advisors | Raymond James. Mazzei is a former member of the State Senate, representing Senate District 25 from 2004 to 2016. Mazzei previously served as the Senate Finance Chairman from 2008 to 2016.

Corbin McGuire served as Chairman for the Stitt for Governor campaign. McGuire started RNM Recruiting 14 years ago and serves as Managing Director. RNM Recruiting is a technology search firm that focuses on permanent placements nationwide. Corbin graduated from the University of Oklahoma in 1995 and currently resides in Tulsa.

Geoffrey Long was general counsel for the Stitt for Governor campaign and will serve as the General Counsel to the transition team. Before entering private practice, he previously served as an attorney for the Oklahoma Ethics Commission, Oklahoma Attorney General, and other state agencies.

Donelle Harder was Deputy Campaign Manager and spokesperson for the Stitt for Governor campaign. Before joining the campaign, Harder was Vice President at the Oklahoma Oil and Gas Association and had previously served as Communications Director for U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe and for the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. She comes with more than 10 years of experience in political advising, strategic communications, and government relations.

The transition office is scheduled to open on Thursday. The office is located on the first floor of the State Capitol and will be open Mondays thru Fridays, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., except for on holidays. The transition office phone number is 405-522-8804.

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A Democratic “blue wave” that would upend Republican dominance over Oklahoma failed to materialize Tuesday as the state’s political makeup – with a few exceptions – saw little change after the highly anticipated midterm elections.

Kevin Stitt’s defeat of Drew Edmondson in the governor’s race clenched a Republican sweep of statewide offices, making it the third straight election cycle in which GOP candidates shut Democrats out of the executive branch.

Republicans lawmakers, meanwhile, extended their decades-long streak of picking up legislative seats as the GOP added a Senate seat and four House seats to their already substantial control over the two chambers.

“This election seems to be one of reaffirming the redness of the Oklahoma electorate,” said James Davenport, a professor of political science at Rose State College. “You’re not seeing any kind of Democratic wave. The race for governor turned into a rout, and you’re not seeing the Democrats make the kind of gains in the Legislature that they were hoping to make.”

Read the complete story on oklahomawatch.org

The Oklahoma Republican Party is alerting the public to a number of questionable campaign tactics by Democrats.

Oklahoma City, OK— 11/06/18 — Chairman Pam Pollard stated today, “I am shocked by the number of reported instances of campaign violations immediately before the elections. I have personally received numerous mailers on behalf of Democrat candidates that did not have the proper financial disclosure.”

“Campaigns are regulated by the State Ethics Commission and the rules are clearly posted online. Rule 2.56. Candidate Committee Printed Advertisements Disclosure Requirements specifically addresses the proper way to identify who paid for the campaign material. Unfortunately, the public cannot discern if the statements were made by the candidate, their opponent or by an organization supporting or opposing a candidate without the disclosure,” explained Pollard. (see example #1)

One of the more egregious examples of questionable campaigning submitted to the Republican State Chairman is an apparent communication between a group making independent expenditures and the candidate. (see example #2)

Another seemingly unethical tactic is the OK Education Assn offering chances to win tickets to a Thunder game in exchange for pictures of your I-Voted sticker. (see example #3)

Chairman Pollard concluded, “The current system of enforcement of campaign violations does not protect the public and voters from hidden donors nor misleading advertisements. Elections can be won or lost by these highly questionable tactics. It is most unfortunate that so many Democrat candidates and left-leaning groups have not followed the rules.”

EXAMPLE #1

EXAMPLE #2

EXAMPLE #3

—End—

TULSA REGIONAL CHAMBER ENDORSES SQ 793 TO BRING MORE AFFORDABLE AND CONVENIENT VISION CARE TO OKLAHOMA

The Organization Representing More Than 2,500 Members In Tulsa-Area Business Community Announces Support For Allowing Vision Care In Retail Settings In Oklahoma

OKLAHOMA CITY (Oct. 31, 2018) — The Tulsa Regional Chamber, which includes more than 2,500 business owners throughout northeast Oklahoma, announced today its endorsement of State Question 793, which will increase competition in the state’s vision care marketplace and allow Oklahomans to access affordable, convenient and high-quality vision care and eyewear at retail locations such as Walmart and Target.

“The Tulsa Regional Chamber’s Board of Directors supports SQ 793 because it gives Oklahomans greater access to affordable vision care,” Tulsa Regional Chamber Senior Vice President of Government Affairs Elizabeth Osburn said. “Our state’s economy depends on a healthy workforce and access to affordable, quality care has been a priority of the Chamber-led OneVoice regional legislative coalition for several years. If approved by voters, SQ 793 will modernize state policies and keep Oklahoma competitive with surrounding states.”

The Tulsa Regional Chamber is the principal business-driven leadership organization dedicated to improving the quality of community life through the development of regional economic prosperity in the greater Tulsa area.

“We are thrilled to have the Tulsa Regional Chamber’s support of SQ 793 as we approach Election Day,” Yes on 793 Chairman Tim Tippit said. “Passing SQ 793 will benefit businesses of all sizes in Tulsa and throughout Oklahoma by improving opportunities for thousands of qualified optometrists to practice in retail settings in our state and creating jobs for our local businesses. By increasing competition in our vision care marketplace, we can bring down the prices of glasses and eye exams for all Oklahoma families.”

Current optometry laws prevent Oklahomans from receiving eye exams or purchasing eyewear at retail settings in their neighborhoods — one of just three states nationwide with these types of restrictions. SQ 793 would expand access to affordable, convenient vision care by allowing optometrists to practice in retail settings such as Walmart or Target.

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About Yes on 793
Yes on 793 is a coalition of retailers, patients, health professionals and free-market advocates who believe in common sense reform to Oklahoma’s eye care laws. Patients in Oklahoma deserve greater access to vision care while opportunities increase for small businesses and communities.

State’s Largest Coalition Of Businesses Encourages Oklahomans To Vote ‘Yes’
On State Question 793 On Election Day

OKLAHOMA CITY (Oct. 30, 2018) — The Greater Oklahoma City Chamber, the state’s largest coalition of businesses, announced today its endorsement of State Question 793, which will increase competition in the state’s vision care marketplace and allow Oklahomans to access affordable, convenient and high-quality vision care and eyewear at retail locations such as Walmart and Target.

“The Oklahoma City Chamber supports SQ 793 as it enhances accessibility for consumers and will enable businesses to grow within our community,” Greater Oklahoma City Chamber Vice President of Government Relations and Policy Mark VanLandingham said.

For more than a century, the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber has been the voice of business and the visionary organization in Oklahoma City. The Chamber represents thousands of businesses of all sizes and all industries in Oklahoma City’s 10-county region through economic and community development, government relations, education and workforce development initiatives and tourism growth.

“The support of the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber is crucial to making sure we are able to bring the benefits of expanded vision care to businesses in Oklahoma City and across the state,” Yes on 793 Chairman Tim Tippit said. “Passing 793 will allow more optometrists to practice where their patients are, which will increase competition, create jobs and provide more affordable vision care options. We’re proud to have the Chamber’s support on such an important initiative that will benefit all Oklahomans.”

Current state optometry laws prevent Oklahomans from receiving eye exams or purchasing eyewear at retail settings in their neighborhoods — one of just three states nationwide with these types of restrictions. SQ 793 would expand access to affordable, convenient vision care by allowing optometrists to practice in retail settings such as Walmart or Target.

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About Yes on 793
Yes on 793 is a coalition of retailers, patients, health professionals and free-market advocates who believe in common sense reform to Oklahoma’s eye care laws. Patients in Oklahoma deserve greater access to vision care while opportunities increase for small businesses and communities.

For the past three weeks, the Tulsa World has been hosting a governor’s debate in written form.
The campaigns of Republican candidate Kevin Stitt and Democratic Party nominee Drew Edmondson have supplied arguments for their candidates on the critical questions of education improvement, economic growth and leadership. In today’s paper, the candidates themselves make their closing arguments to the voters of Oklahoma.

Both are promising the same thing: change.

Edmondson says Republicans have had complete control of the state Capitol for eight years, and the results have been four-day school weeks, teachers fleeing to other states, overcrowded prisons, sick hospitals and sicker people.

Stitt looks at an even longer swath of Oklahoma history and says we’ve elected the same group of people with the same inside-the-Capitol resumés for generations, and we find ourselves in last place in all the lists where we should be first.

Read the complete story on tulsaworld.com

IN this year’s gubernatorial race, the major parties have nominated two very different, but accomplished, men.

Republican Kevin Stitt is a political outsider who has achieved impressive private-sector success. He promises to apply business expertise to management of government, free from the pressures of status-quo affiliation.

Democratic candidate Drew Edmondson has had a long and successful career as a public servant, most notably 16 years as attorney general. He promises to bring a steady hand to government and touts his knowledge and expertise as a political plus.

Both are serious men and credible candidates. Deciding between the two therefore requires weighing which man has the greatest potential upside and appears most likely to lead Oklahoma in a new and better direction. On that basis, The Oklahoman believes Stitt is the better candidate.

Read the complete story on NewsOK.com

OKLAHOMA SILVER HAIRED LEGISLATURE ENDORSES STATE QUESTION 793
Leading Senior Advocacy Group Endorses Ballot Initiative That Would Allow Retailers To Provide Vision Care Services In Oklahoma At Affordable Costs

OKLAHOMA – The Oklahoma Silver Haired Legislature (OSHL) voted to endorse State Question 793 to offer affordable and more accessible eye care to Oklahomans.

“The Oklahoma Silver Haired Legislature is pleased to endorse State Question 793,” former president of the OSHL John Kusel said. “Vision loss is a fact of life for many of us as we get older. State Question 793 would allow Oklahomans to receive eye care in more convenient locations that offer the same care for a much more affordable price. This is especially beneficial to one of the state’s most vulnerable populations – the elderly.”

Yes on 793 coalition members include Oklahomans for Consumer Freedom, Oklahoma Silver Haired Legislature, Oklahoma Retail Merchants Association, Energeyes, Greater Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce, Costco, Walmart, DaVinci Equity Group and National Vision.

“Oklahoma’s outdated optical laws have long prevented elderly consumers in the state from seeing better selection and variety of prices when shopping for eye wear and we tried to change those laws for years, going up against the powerful special-interests lobby for what we know is best for Oklahoma seniors and families,” Kusel said. “We are endorsing Yes on 793 to help provide high-quality vision care to elderly patients to improve their quality of life.”

SQ 793 would expand consumer choice for vision care by allowing patients to receive eye exams and purchase eye wear at affordable prices in convenient retail locations, such as Walmart and Costco. Oklahoma is one of only three states in the U.S. that does not currently allow patients to receive optical care in retail locations.

For more information about Yes on 793, please visit YesOn793.com or on Facebook at Yes on 793.

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About Oklahoma Silver Haired Legislature
The Oklahoma Silver Haired Legislature was officially established by the Oklahoma State Legislature in 1981 as an official state legislature for senior citizens. Its purpose is to fight for the rights and needs for Oklahoma’s 800,000 senior citizens. OSHL annually creates new bills that help seniors and forwards them to the Oklahoma Legislature for action. It is most recognized for passing the Silver Alert legislation and the passage of legislation requiring cameras in nursing homes.

About Yes on 793
Yes on 793 is a coalition of retailers, patients, health professionals and free-market advocates that believe in common sense reform to Oklahoma’s eye care laws. Patients in Oklahoma deserve greater access to vision care while opportunities increase for small businesses and communities.

Glen Mulready Endorsed by Senate Democratic Leader

NORMAN, OK – Senate Democratic Leader, John Sparks (D-Norman), today announced his endorsement of Republican candidate Glen Mulready to be the state’s next Insurance Commissioner.

“Glen Mulready puts Oklahoma and our families above partisan politics,” stated Sparks. “That is why it is easy for a Democrat like me to support a Republican like him. With 35 years of insurance experience, Glen Mulready is ready to work for all Oklahomans. I have personally worked with him on many issues important to Oklahoma and want my fellow Democrats to know Glen Mulready deserves our vote.”

“Insurance should never be a partisan issue,” Glen Mulready said in response to Senator Sparks’ endorsement. “In my campaign, I am focused on putting consumers first, ensuring Oklahoma’s insurance industry is stable, and providing more options at a cost competitive with the rest of the nation. Senator Sparks and I have worked across the aisle many times during our time in the legislature because we both believe in doing what’s best for the state of Oklahoma. I am honored to receive his endorsement.”

Mulready has led numerous efforts to reform the state’s insurance laws in his capacity as a state legislator. He was first elected to the Oklahoma House of Representatives in 2010 to represent House District 68. Mulready is the former chairman of the Insurance Committee. He was also previously named Underwriter of the Year by the Oklahoma State Association of Health Underwriters.

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OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — When voters booted a dozen Oklahoma Republican legislators from office in the primary, the common thinking was that educators angry about classroom funding were behind the ousters.

But there were forces at work beyond just agitated teachers.

A top GOP House leader actively participated in a plan to take down several hardline members of his own caucus, a move that went far beyond what former President Ronald Reagan once called the 11th Commandment: never to speak ill of a fellow Republican.

Meanwhile, a dark-money federal super PAC based in Alexandria, Virginia, spent nearly $750,000 launching a parallel attack against several of the same Republicans. The Conservative Alliance PAC, which can raise and spend unlimited sums of money without disclosing its individual donors, targeted several House Republicans with mailers, radio ads and other attack ads.

“They’ve gotten rid of us troublemakers who were holding the Republican principle line,” said Rep. George Faught, a 10-year Muskogee Republican targeted with a mailer that featured him with a long Pinocchio nose.

Conservative Alliance PAC also targeted Republican state legislators in primary elections in Ohio, where the PAC is being sued for defamation for some of its attacks.

In Oklahoma, Republicans have been steamrolling Democrats in elections for a decade, racking up super majorities in both legislative chambers and laying claim to the entire congressional delegation and every statewide elected office.

As a result, much of the state’s political wrangling takes place within the GOP, evident earlier this year when hardline conservatives like Faught in the state House thwarted GOP leadership’s plan for tax hikes to help fund teacher pay increases.

With a teacher walkout looming, Republican House leaders were forced to broker a compromise with Democrats to get the necessary votes, further exacerbating the rift within the GOP. Several anti-tax conservatives even joined an effort to roll back the tax hike that ultimately fell short.

But the last straw came when some of the Republican hardliners called publicly for more conservative challengers to run for office, said Rep. Chris Kannady, a House floor leader and chairman of the powerful Judiciary Committee who acknowledged helping launch the attack on his own colleagues.

“All I did was have conversations with people and set things in motion to say that, this situation has to be addressed. We cannot let members of our own caucus actively be against the rest of us because we disagree on policy decisions,” said Kannady, R-Oklahoma City.

“Sometimes you have to take leadership whenever it might be uncomfortable to do so, especially once we were provoked, and start having conversations with stakeholders in the community.”

Kannady declined to name individuals with whom he met but said there was a broad coalition interested in taking out the caucus’ more conservative members, a group that referred to itself as the “Platform Caucus.”

“You can name any sector in the community, and I can tell you every one was frustrated,” Kannady said. “That’s indicative of the amount of money that was infused into the process.”

Kannady said he acted separately from House leaders and did not discuss his plans with his fellow colleagues. He also said he did not know who was behind the Conservative Alliance PAC or who its donors were.

Campaign finance records show Kannady gave $500 to Tulsa Republican Jeff Boatman, who was running against state Rep. Scott McEachin, and $2,000 to Stan May, a Broken Arrow Republican running against Rep. Mike Ritze.

Both Ritze and McEachin were defeated, along with six other GOP incumbents who had voted against leadership’s plan to raise taxes on cigarettes, motor fuel and oil and gas production to help pay for a pay raise for teachers.

Ritze, a five-term incumbent best known for his anti-immigration rhetoric and personally financing a Ten Commandments monument at the Capitol, was among those targeted by Conservative Alliance PAC.

In one of the mailers, state Rep. Josh West, an Army combat veteran, accused Ritze, a fellow GOP colleague, of wearing military medals he did not earn.

West, a Grove Republican, said he was approached by someone working with the PAC and agreed to let them use his picture in the mailer.

“It was no secret that I was unhappy with Ritze and the way he carried himself,” West said. “I had no issue allowing them to use my picture.”

West also said he doesn’t know who is behind the Conservative Alliance PAC or how it is funded.

West and Kannady both use the same Oklahoma-based consultant, Campaign Advocacy Management Professionals, LLC, that was used by the super PAC to produce mailers and other campaign attacks on GOP incumbents.

Fount Holland, a longtime GOP political consultant in Oklahoma, acknowledged he did some work on mailers for the super PAC, but downplayed the suggestion that House leadership was behind the effort.

“The only thing I can say is that I worked against two incumbents for an organization,” Holland said, “and I was happy to do it.”

Holland’s former partner, Republican consultant Trebor Worthen whose clients include House Speaker Charles McCall, also acknowledged doing some campaign work for the super PAC against GOP incumbents. But Worthen said he didn’t know who was behind the attacks.

“Look, the way the campaign finance rules are, we may never know that,” Worthen said bluntly.

Worthen said the hardliners who were targeted in GOP primaries made a lot of enemies by opposing efforts by business and political leaders to pass the tax hike to help fund teacher raises.

“There’s widespread dissatisfaction with that element of the Legislature,” Worthen said. “My guess is it was a whole bunch of people from the more mainstream, pro-business type of element that said: ‘We need to get together and get rid of some of these people.’”

A pair of Ohio lawmakers are waging legal battles against a secretive super PAC pouring hundreds of thousands of dollars in dark money into a handful of statehouse contests around the country. Documentation obtained exclusively by PAY DIRT sheds new light on how the group’s sole funder has attempted to navigate federal tax and election laws in an effort to keep the sources of that money secret.

The Conservative Alliance PAC (CAPAC) is currently facing lawsuits from Ohio state representative Larry Householder, the statehouse’s former speaker, and Jim Trakas, a candidate for the state’s sixth house district. Both say they were defamed by CAPAC, charges the group denies. Householder’s lawsuit remains in Perry County, Ohio, while Trakas’s has been moved to a federal court in the state.

Both lawsuits also name a number John Does as defendants, since it’s not entirely clear who is behind the group. CAPAC’s address is a P.O. box in Alexandria, Virginia, and its treasurer is Chris Marston, a Virginia election compliance attorney who is popular among conservative dark money-backed political groups. Marston has signed all of the group’s Federal Communications Commission paperwork for its broadcast advertisements, and received court summonses for the Householder and Trakas lawsuits.

According to Federal Election Commission filings, CAPAC has received all of its money—more than $750,000—from a single source: a dark money group called Prosperity Alliance Inc. It’s used that money to buy attack ads and mailers in statehouse contests in Ohio and Oklahoma. Prosperity Alliance was incorporated in Virginia in May, and lists its address as a P.O. box in Washington. Its sole listed employee, Tyler Conner, is also the treasurer of a South Carolina-focused super PAC that’s received about 87% of its money this cycle from a pair of dark money groups. Conner did not respond to multiple messages left at the Google Voice number he lists in IRS documentation.

Read the complete story on thedailybeast.com