Officials in McCurtain County, Oklahoma were caught on a recording seemingly plotting to kill a local newspaper publisher and his son. Those officials also lamented that it’s no longer possible to lynch black people and get away with it.
Two of those caught on the recording are elected Republican officials: Sheriff Kevin Clardy and McCurtain County Commissioner Mark Jennings (District 2). They have resisted pressure from everybody from the governor down to a local state legislator to resign. They are also under investigation by state and federal law enforcement agencies.
Oklahoma governor calls on officials to resign over recording of racist and threatening remarks
McCurtain County is a backwater even by Oklahoma standards. It’s in the southeastern corner of the state next to Texas and Arkansas.
This incident shows why it’s important to monitor what public officials are up to – even in remote places. It points out the importance of local media like the McCurtain Gazette-News which broke the story.
Wherever we live, we should not neglect local elections. Candidates should get a thorough vetting. It would be interesting to know whether Clardy and Jennings have anything in their past where they displayed KKK or mafia style thinking.