The Oklahoma State Capital

GUTHRIE, OKLA -- It was a frosty morning on January 2nd, in Oklahoma's territorial capital, with temperatures hovering just above freezing. An array of county officials and family members gathered in the main courtroom of the Logan County Courthouse. The occasion was the swearing-in of four county officials. For four of them, it was routine, having been re-elected without or with minor opposition. However, for the fourth—a newcomer—his path to the oath that cold January morning marked a notable first in Logan County politics.

As onlookers captured the moment with cell phones in hand, Guthrie-area resident Floyd Coffman took the oath of office to become the newest member of the county commission.

The bitter cold outside seemed far removed from the hot August primary, when Coffman defeated District 2 incumbent and conservative firebrand Charlie Meadows.

Also likely distant were the memories of what was likely a historic first in Logan County politics: an organized, dark money campaign by a sophisticated actor that targeted Meadows and promoted Coffman.

The dark money campaign was so comprehensive that there was little evidence of Coffman needing to pay for campaign mailers; the dark money handled it for him. In fact, it's believed that Coffman didn't engage in a traditional door-to-door campaign, the type that has often been a decisive factor in recent Logan County elections.

As Coffman took the oath, the peculiar circumstances of his election didn’t likely occupy even a moment of audience's attention. And, why should it, there was likely barely a mention of the matter in the local press. Yet, it was an election poised to reshape the county’s politics for the next two years.

Seated prominently in the courtroom’s jury box, Logan County District 3 Commissioner Monty Piercy watched as Coffman was sworn in. Coffman, widely perceived as an ally of Piercy, is expected to shift the balance of power on the commission. This shift would weaken the influence of current commission chairman, District 1 Commissioner Mark Sharpton, an ally of Meadows who has frequently praised Sharpton. With Coffman residing in the northern part of District 2, and having been elected on the votes of those who live in the north part of the district, the commission’s focus is expected to tilt away from the rapidly growing neighborhoods of southern Logan County and take a more Guthrie-centric approach.

But for those that are not incurious, questions remain.

What does this mean for Logan County? Will future county races also be influenced by dark money? Will voters base their decisions not on which candidate conducts the best outreach but on which candidate garners the most support from anonymous financiers?

And who was the sophisticated actor who felt compelled to intervene in a down-ballot county commissioner race? What motivated them? What did they want, and why?

No doubt, the perpetrators of the dark money campaign would prefer to disappear into obscurity, never to be questioned again. But allowing that would mean acquiescing to a culture of incuriosity—one that avoids tough questions and fails to uncover the truth. It is the essential duty of the press to provide citizens with the tools to understand our shared history and only then can truly informed decisions be made about the future.

The circumstances of the 2024 primary election are now in the past, but they received little meaningful press coverage at the time. It is now up to those in Logan County, who have curiosity, and a desire to know reality, to not be manipulated by those with a special interest, to come together, ask tough questions, and seek the truth.

To that end, The Capital is launching an ongoing series examining the events of the 2024 election and the elections that preceded it. This series will aim to uncover the circumstances that brought the county to its current state, and most importantly, reveal the truth.

If this project succeeds, it will shine a light on those who thrive in the shadows, challenging the complacency of the incurious and ensuring that accountability is not evaded.

We cannot write our history without first knowing the objective truth.

Stay tuned.