By Emma Murphy | Reporter
“When a judge ignores years-long investigations by multiple state agencies and a jury of Oklahoma citizens who thoroughly reviewed all the evidence, public confidence in the justice system is undermined.” - Gentner Drummond of an Oklahoma County judge’s sentencing for Brent Swadley
From right, Cyndi Munson and Mike Mazzei are pictured at public appearances. (Photo of Munson by Janelle Stecklein/Oklahoma Voice. Photo of Mazzei by Jessica Tobias/For Oklahoma Voice)
By Barbara Hoberock
Cyndi Munson acknowledges she has less money to spend and a lot of Republican voters to sway, but said she has one thing her leading opponent doesn’t: momentum.
Even as Republican Mike Mazzei has pumped millions of his own money into his campaign for governor, Munson, 41, said she senses a bipartisan swell of support behind her Democratic candidacy for governor heading into the Nov. 3 general election.
The Oklahoma City resident faces Mazzei, 61, and independent candidates Jerry Griffin, 82, of Tulsa, Robert E. Brooks Sr., 47, of Moore, and Orlando Lynn Bush, 61, of Edmond.
Brent Swadley, left, escorted by one of his attorneys and a police officer, enters a courtroom at the Oklahoma County Courthouse on Oct. 21, 2026, for his sentencing after being convicted for defrauding the state. (Photo by Emma Murphy/Oklahoma Voice)
By Emma Murphy
A restaurant owner convicted of defrauding the state will serve no prison time, but must pay $1.2 million in restitution, an Oklahoma County judge ordered.
The Oklahoma State Board of Education meets June 8 at the Oklahoma State Department of Education building in Oklahoma City. The board voted Thursday to downgrade the accreditation status of dozens of school districts for poor academic performance. (Photo by Nuria Martinez-Keel/Oklahoma Voice)
By Nuria Martinez-Keel
Fifty-nine school districts, including the three largest in the state, have had their accreditation status downgraded over poor reading and math test scores.
ICYMI
Inflation hits Oklahoma road, bridge construction | Barbara Hoberock
UPCOMING EVENTS
Oklahoma Voice staff will participate in the following events:
2:45 p.m. Oct. 27, Omni Hotel in Oklahoma City. Education reporter Nuria Martinez-Keel will moderate a panel about the impact of the state’s tax credit voucher program at The Oklahoma Education Policy Conference. Host: University of Oklahoma
If you're interested in having us talk in your town, email Janelle Stecklein at [email protected]
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