Ethics Commission Responds to Intimidation Complaints from Candidates

According to sources, the Oklahoma Ethics Commission is planning to revise the rules on bystander conduct during the candidate filing period after several candidates complained that a man with a video camera was intimidating them. That man has been identified as John Angier, a resident of Cleveland County and former campaign manager for Moore-Norman Representative Randy Terrill.

Sources say Angier videotaped every candidate as they filed for office this past week and even approached some of them claiming to work for the Ethics Commission. Many felt intimidated and unsure of Angier's purposes. Dana Murphy, a Republican candidate for the Corporation Commission, was accused of altering a signed affidavit after Angier videotaped her filing her papers. Rob Johnson, Murphy's opponent in the Republican primary, claimed she illegally changed her name from "Dana L. Murphy" to "Dana Murphy." Murphy has denied any wrongdoing and the Ethics Commission has not taken any action against her. Ironically, the video shot by Angier may end up exonerating her, as it shows a clerk of the Ethics Commission making the alteration after giving Murphy the option to do so.