Candidate wants to unseat commissioner
After several protests and multiple days of chaos within Oklahoma County government politics, a local community member has officially announced her intentions to challenge District 3 Commissioner Kevin Calvey in 2022.
Cacky Poarch, a longtime Oklahoman who is involved in the local film industry and sits on the Oklahoma County Sheriff's Office Community Advisory Board, said Friday she decided to run because “Calve y' s actions are reprehensible.”
Since Calvey is not up for reelection until 2022, no candidates have officially filed for the seat. But several individuals have threatened to run against Calvey after he forced through a vote to give more than 75% of the county's federal COVID-19 relief dollars to the county jail without any public comment.
His funding plan caused dozens to protest, and he later called the demonstrators “bullies.” A video of Calvey pushing a member of the public out of a room has also circulated online.
Calvey previously served as a state representative, and several demonstrators have said they plan to support other candidates.
Poarch said she has been trained by Sally's List, a local group that helps progressive women get elected, and that she is studying to receive a leadership degree to be a “more principled steward of Oklahoma tax dollars,” according to a news release.
“This is a marathon, not as print, to 2022,” Po arch said. “Together, we can make Oklahoma County a more transparent and accountable government.
District 3 in Oklahoma County includes The Village, Nichols Hills and Edmond.