Hang in there, Oklahoma County District 2 residents. Jan. 1 will be here before you know it.
Advertisement
It is then that newly elected Commissioner Brian Maughan officially will take over for Brent Rinehart, who won the job four years ago but lost in the Republican primary in July. No surprise, Rinehart isn’t going quietly.
Last week The Oklahoman reported that some Harrah landowners are angered about construction beginning on a stretch of section line road that cuts through woodlands that are home to some endangered and threatened species. (The state Department of Environmental Quality has ordered the construction halted for now.) Rinehart says commissioners approved the project in March. Landowners say Rinehart broke his promise not to begin the work without first notifying them.
"I don’t know of any shenanigans that they’re trying to insinuate,” Rinehart said. This from the king of shenanigans.
Rinehart’s been a disaster from the outset of his term, squabbling constantly with his fellow commissioners and the county’s other elected officials. His successful (though temporary) move to abolish the budget board, carried out early in his term, set the tone for the next four years. He awaits trial on felony charges related to the funding of his 2004 campaign. The crude comic book he distributed as part of his 2008 campaign was the ultimate in bad taste. The list goes on and on.
Time will tell how well Maughan does in the job. Those who live in the district know that he won’t have to do very much to be a considerable upgrade.
Thank you for joining our conversations on NewsOK.com. We encourage your discussions but ask that you stay within the bounds of our terms and conditions. Please help us by reporting comments that violate these guidelines. To review our rules of engagement, go to Commenting and posting policy.
Editor's note: It is not our intent to offer comments on local crime or fatality stories.
Brent Rinehart has proven himself a complete imbecile from the word "go." I wouldn't trust him to fix the window unit in my barn, much less govern. I'm thankful that although he was able to fool all of the people some of the time, he wasn't able to fool all of them all of the time.
I think Brian will do a great job as well!! The last commissioner district 2 ever had that was actually worth anything was Earl Rooms. Talk about an open door policy? He actually had that. Returning all phone calls, yeah, he did that too. Earl tried to stay out of the politicians games, which no other elected official has even attempted. Unfortunately he got on the bad side of some crazy people who stalked him day and night (with a video camera no less) and twisted some things, and then took it to the media the day before the election which didn't give him time to defend himself or let the truth come out about it. If Brian follows Earl's example, he won't go wrong. Just stay out of the political games, don't put too much trust in anyone, do what you know is best, and you'll do just fine. But Brian knows that, he's worked there before just like I have.
This is to Brent, OKC: The new commissioner will do what is right for the people of District 2. As a friend of Brian Maughan, we are very proud of him and the way he conducted his campaign! Brian is one of the most honest, consciences young men that I've ever met. He has a tremendous tast ahead to undo the wrongs that Brent Rhinehart has imposed on the citizens of District 2. Lets help this outstanding young man in moving forward to the better of all of us under his leadership.
hey brent. there is a bright side. now you can go hang out with your pals thad balkman, and forrest claunch in the unemployment line. dont worry brent randy terrill and sally kern will ba able to meet you their aswell. brent says "If the paper was more concerned about the staggering growth of government at all levels, the increasing tax burden, the homosexual agenda that is indoctrinating our families from all angles and the loss of our Constitutional liberties insted of stifling the the only voice District 2 residents had, the paper might not be in such jeopardy." guess what brent. your republican president has grown the government to record levels. you blab about some homo agenda. which is better than the baptist agenda. is that what a commissioner is supposed to be concerned with? im glad your hateful ilk is gone, maybe you should have put principals before personalities.
Careful, the homos may sneak in and teach your children how to decorate Oklahoma! The homosexual agenda could end life as you know it. Danger, Danger! Satan is at the gates! Doom Doom, whatever.
I think the fact that Mr. Rinehart continues to make ridiculous statements like "homosexual agenda" AND was voted out of state government in Oklahoma (certainly no friend to intellectuals holding elected officials) speaks to his lack of fitness to hold office.
I think brent did a great job of taking on the snobs but you will never know it he will never get a fair shake from the media they only let you know what they want you to know
Again I see there are those that don't have their facts straight. I resurfaced 114 miles of streets,and that was done east,west,north and south. That is much more than any other district in Oklahoma County.Wilshire is a "city" street. If OKC wants it resurfaced, "as I asked to help on", they would have supplied the money. Be thankful they patched it. And as always the Daily Disapointment got their information incorrect. I performed all the studies the landowners requested to satisfy concerns. Hydrology study,archeological study,cultural study and a wildlife study. The studies were performed by Benham Engineering. There were no endangered anything, no wetlands etc. If the paper was more concerned about the staggering growth of government at all levels, the increasing tax burden, the homosexual agenda that is indoctrinating our families from all angles and the loss of our Constitutional liberties insted of stifling the the only voice District 2 residents had, the paper might not be in such jeopardy. By the way I was correct about "the jail" also. If anyone thinks the new Commissioner will perform better at protecting what is important to them they are sadly mistaken.
Rinehart did nothing on the west side of the county he said he was going to do. He was supposed to resurface Wilshire but only sent patch crews, and the 63rd street extension from Council to Wilshire hasn't been worked on in weeks.
Thank you for joining our conversations on NewsOK.com. We encourage your discussions but ask that you stay within the bounds of our terms and conditions. Please help us by reporting comments that violate these guidelines. To review our rules of engagement, go to Commenting and posting policy.
Leave a commentEditor's note: It is not our intent to offer comments on local crime or fatality stories.
Log in below or sign up (it's free).