The Day After... Election 2016

   It's the day after the November 8 election, and I feel compelled to talk about several issues which were decided yesterday. I'm quite sure that everyone didn't get everything they wished for as far as election outcomes, but most received at least some gratification - as several state questions and many candidates were running. I feel the same way most do, as I won some and lost some. I'd like to talk about something which was put on the back shelf as election day arrived, but I think it now bears closer scrutiny. The jaw-dropping felony charges against the state superintendent and her campaign consultant, AH Strategies, just days before the November 8 elections should be looked at more closely. The charges relate primarily to the use of "dark money" in Joy Hofmeister's campaign and the charge that Hofmeister, through her campaign consultant Fount Holland, both knew about and helped coordinate negative TV ads in opposition to Janet Barresi. When dark money is used against an opponent's campaign, the sponsoring candidate cannot have prior knowledge of any TV ads, telephone ads, or mailings which will benefit himself/herself. If prior knowledge by the beneficiary candidate is determined to be present by a district attorney - then charges usually follow. The Oklahoma County District Attorney claims to have such evidence in this case. The evidence is said to be from confiscated text messages to and from Hofmeister and Chad Alexander, an employee of Fount Holland (AH Strategies). It seems that when Chad Alexander stopped by the police over 2 years ago, he was in possession of cocaine. At that time, his cell phone was confiscated - and the conversations between Hofmeister and her campaign consultant were discovered.
   It's too early to say if Hofmeister and Holland are guilty of what they're being charged with - "conspiracy" to coordinate dark money attack ads, but the penalty if convicted could be 30 years in prison and massive fines. I truly believe that Superintendent Hofmeister fell in with the wrong crowd on this deal. She was under the influence of Holland's dark money, which ultimately came back to haunt her. The first hint of corruption in my opinion, was when she hired AH Strategies for her consulting firm, several months before the primary election in 2014. AH Strategies was known for winning elections... at all costs, even breaking the law. As a matter of fact, I was a little surprised when Hofmeister hired it, as it was already widely known that Chad Alexander, an employee of AH, had been charged with possession of cocaine only a month before Hofmeister hired the firm. If there is "guilt by association", I guess this is it. Only time will tell if Joy Hofmeister is truly guilty of conspiracy.
   If Mrs. Hofmeister is guilty though, I think the district attorneys in all counties should take a hard look at all clients of AH Strategies, as the firm had several more out there who won elections on Tuesday. Remember, the charges of conspiracy stem from the fact that Joy Hofmeister and Fount Holland coordinated "dark money" attack ads against Janet Barresi. If Fount Holland is guilty of conspiring with Hofmeister to coordinate "dark money", then he must be guilty of coordinating "dark money" with several more clients out there. Maybe, or maybe not. In the case of Hofmeister, the evidence appears to be a confiscated cell phone, so the Oklahoma County DA, David Prater, just lucked into it. As in Hofmeister's case, a county district attorney would just have to "luck into" evidence which indicates a crime was committed. One such candidate who is a client of Fount Holland is Tim Downing of the District 42 House in Garvin and McClain Counties. He won in a landslide on November 8, over Liz George of Blanchard. There is no doubt that "dark money" attacked Liz George, as many voters received campaign cards in the mail from the "dark money" group "American Federation for Children" (AFC) in the days leading up to November 8. As a matter of fact, I received 2 cards in the mail from the AFC, telling me what a great legislator Tim Downing will make. Many people believe that Mr. Downing was fully aware of the dark money group, and knew what they were doing. Downing said early on, though, that his campaign knows nothing of the dark money attack ads and phone calls from the AFC and another "dark money" group - Nation United (Catalyst Oklahoma) also out of Washington D.C.. I suggest though, that if a candidate completes an application for funding from a dark money group, they certainly KNOW about the ads and mailers. I, in fact, received the AFC questionaire to fill out and return for possible campaign funding, but trashed it immediately, as I knew what it was - dark money.
   I know it's possible that Mr. Downing has no idea about "dark money" or that prior knowledge can be a crime, so it would be premature to jump to conclusions. Evidently, many people believe that Mr. Downing knew nothing about the dark money attack ads or phone calls, or they simply don't care, as he won handily on November 8, 2016.