CapitolBeatOK Staff Report
Published: 11-Jul-2012
Edmond, OK - Senator Clark Jolley announced Wednesday (July 11) that both ethics allegations and a lawsuit against him have been dismissed.
Jolley said letters from Commission Executive Director Marilyn Hughes stated the matters were “brought before the Commission in its regular meeting held June 29. …It was considered in executive session. The Commission discussed the information and facts. In open meeting, referring to the matter by number so as to protect your identity, the Commission voted that this information did not provide an adequate basis for the belief that a violation of the Constitutional Ethics Rules occurred.”
Jolley said he was pleased: “I’m very happy that the Ethics Commission handled this appropriately, quickly and confidentially. The public dissemination of the charges by people who opposed my re-election effort was purposefully done to damage my reputation prior to an election.”
Jolley said he supports a proposal by Commissioner Jo Pettigrew to fashion a “black-out period” on ethics filings before elections.
Sen. Jolley also applauded the decision by his primary opponent, Rev. Paul Blair, to dismiss him from the lawsuit filed before the election. “I appreciate Paul’s decision to dismiss me from the lawsuit,” said Jolley. “It allows us to move on towards the future without this litigation pending.”
In his press release, Jolley said that to his knowledge the lawsuit has not been dismissed against the remaining defendants.
In the primary, with all 29 precincts recorded, Jolley defeated Blair 4,385 (56.61 percent) to 3,361 (43.39 percent).
Note: Editor Patrick B. McGuigan contributed to this report.