Calvey wins GOP primary; Democrats head to runoff

Republicans selected a nominee for Oklahoma County District 3 commissioner in Tuesday’s primary, while the top two Democratic votegetters for the District 1 seat will meet in a runoff.

District 3: Calvey wins State Rep. Kevin Calvey edged out Rick Buchanan in the District 3 Republican primary.

With all 84 precincts reporting, Calvey had 20,022 votes, or 51.9 percent, to 18,526 votes, or 48.1 percent, for Buchanan.

District 3 includes sections of northwest Oklahoma City north of Wilshire Boulevard, The Village and Nichols Hills, and Edmond.

Calvey is a state representative from Oklahoma City and was barred from seeking re-election to the House because of term limits.

Buchanan is District 3 Commissioner Ray Vaughn’s chief deputy. Vaughn is retiring when his term ends in January.

Calvey promised to promote fiscally conservative management of county funds and contended the county has for decades been controlled by a small group of people.

“That ends tonight,” he said Tuesday.

Calvey said county leaders need to address, with a sense of urgency, management shortcomings and overcrowding in the Oklahoma County jail.

There have been “far too many deaths in that jail,”Calvey said. “I would say of all the things, the jail is the biggest black eye for the community.”

He said he would prioritize transparency and accountability, and said there needs to be a “thorough accounting” of where the county’s various revenue streams are going.

District 1: Blumert, McAffrey in runoff

Carrie Blumert and Al McAffrey will meet in a runoff Aug. 28 to decide the Democratic nominee for District 1 Oklahoma County commissioner post.

With all 91 precincts reporting, Blumert had 14,587 votes, or 45.8 percent, in Tuesday’s primary election to 8,747 votes, or 27.4 percent, for McAffrey.

Tainted by allegations that he converted funds intended for charity to his own use, former Oklahoma City Councilman John A. Pettis Jr. ran third and missed the runoff.

Blumert works at the Oklahoma City-County Health Department, directing the Wellness Now Coalition.

McAffrey is a businessman, former state legislator and former Oklahoma City police officer.

Pettis collected 6,235 votes, or 19.6 percent. A fourth Democrat, Ben M. Janloo, drew 2,312 votes, or 7.3 percent.

In the District 1 Republican primary, Brad Reeves had 11,294 votes, or 72.6 percent, to 4,266 votes, or 27.4 percent, for Chad Albee.

Reeves is second deputy in the office of the Oklahoma County court clerk.

District 1 includes northeast Oklahoma City, Del City and Midwest City, and northeast Oklahoma County communities of Jones and Luther.

Longtime Democratic District 1 Commissioner Willa Johnson is retiring.