Bob Anthony
Corporation Commission candidate Brooks Mitchell says incumbent Bob Anthony has been in office too long and “is apparently asleep on the back porch.”
Mitchell criticized Anthony over an OG&E interim rate hike case heard today: “Once again for Bob Anthony the best decision is no decision as he wondered why a ruling needed to be made today. His seat at the Commission ceased to be about public service long ago and is now all about entitlement. Anthony, a career politician instead of public servant, seems to be more interested in doing anything except what’s in the best interests of the people and the businesses of Oklahoma.”
“Again and again Bob asked, “Where’s the urgency?” Well Bob, if you’d been paying any attention or showing up for work you’d realize that this is one of the largest rate cases on record. You’d also realize that ratepayers just got slapped with a rate increase as we head into one of the highest usage times of the year. And lastly, you’d realize that this rate case came to the Commission in January.”
Brooks Mitchell
“The people of Oklahoma sent Bob to the Corporation Commission to make the tough decisions. After watching his Ali-like bobbing and weaving, making a decision on this major case seems to be the furthest thing from his mind.”
“Anthony has been at the Corporation Commission since 1988. After sitting there for a quarter century you’d think he would have learned enough to make an informed decision on this case. Instead he referenced to OCC case rulings that have no bearing whatsoever on this OG&E request.”
Who whispered in this guy’s ear urging him to run against Bob Anthony? The person who did this will most certainly get this deed paid back 10 fold. On June 26th, Anthony will set the record for the most percentage of votes in a statewide election……again. His opponent will be an asterisk and his political consultants will brag, they came in second place in a statewide Republican Primary. Let the spin begin……
I agree, Bob…. who is backing this guy? If he wants to be a Corporation Commissioner, why didn’t he run against the gal who had just been appointed? I believe it is because Bob is doing the right thing and can’t be bought off. Oklahoma voters know the real deal, and that is Bob Anthony! I look forward to marking my ballot to keep Bob Anthony as Corporation Commissioner.
Bob, you ask a good question. I’ve talked to Brooks about this. He says that Bob Anthony personally put the idea in his head, not by words, but by his actions. Brooks worked for the OCC for nine years, and he saw daily evidence that Bob was getting burned out on the job. He didn’t come into work, took no leadership role on the Commission, and was bitter and divisive to the other Commissioners as well as the staff. Secondly, Bob has been in office for twenty-four (24) years and wants to stretch it to thirty (30), yet every other Commissioner is only allowed to serve twelve (12) years. Bob should have respected the 70% of Oklahoma voters who voted for term limits, and ended his tenure on the commission with dignity. EdmondVoter, I recommend you look at the Ethics filings for donations if you want to see who is backing Brooks. I did, and I found it very interesting. Brooks hasn’t received one donation from a Special Interest group or PAC. Bob, on the other hand, has received donations from special interest groups and PACs of the very utilities he’s supposed to regulate. Bob may have exposed corruption in the OCC in the 1980s, but in 2012 he is more than happy to take their money for re-election. Who is being bought off now? Gentlemen, I believe in Brooks Mitchell and his vision and plan for the OCC. I strongly suggest you put aside any personal feeling you have for Bob Anthony and vote for who will do the best job for all Oklahomans, not just a few friends, and vote for Brooks Mitchell for Corporation Commissioner.
Ronald, you raise a good point. Oklahoma did vote in term limits two years ago. It will be interesting to see if we voted for them because it was the thing to do or if we really believe in limiting the term of service for our elected officials. I could be wrong, but I think that Bob Anthony will get more than 30% of the vote because we don’t really believe in term limits.
Mitchell seems like a decent guy, but I’m always wary of someone who leaves behind the impression that term limits are the primary reason for voting in someone new.