Will Farrell says he was a serious candidate
A failed candidate for office said Thursday he was wrongly portrayed on social media by a member of state schools Superintendent Joy Hofmeister’s cabinet following Tuesday’s Republican primary.
Heather Griswold, Hofmeister’s public affairs chief, remarked on Twitter: “I am sick to my stomach knowing that an opponent for state Supt thought it’d be a joke to run for this office. Wow. 700k kids lives at stake. Sounds like a joke to me.”
In a subsequent post, Griswold identified candidate Will Farrell of Tulsa, who finished third with 94,805 votes, or 22.11 percent. Hofmeister, 200,807 votes (46.84 percent) and Linda Murphy, 133,103 votes (31.05 percent) advanced to the Aug. 28 runoff election.
Farrell, 32, is a student at Oklahoma State University and a legal assistant at a Tulsa law firm. He said his candidacy was “certainly not a joke,” adding that he traveled across the state promoting his vision for public education.
“Ever since I declared on April 13, I’ve been working hard, driving all over Oklahoma, knocking on doors, meeting at community forums,” he told The Oklahoman.
“I’m always willing to talk to people, make earnest connections with people to discuss change for public education in Oklahoma and progress.”
By his estimates, Farrell has logged 3,000 miles during the campaign.
“I know I do get a few jokes about my name,” he said. “But I am very real.”
Farrell called the remarks “disappointing,” while Murphy said they sound “a bit like sour grapes to me.”
Attempts to reach Griswold for comment were unsuccessful.
In a statement, Hofmeister said “the staff member was speaking for herself and only herself, and she has since removed the post. I know Mr. Farrell is a fine man who ran a sincere and engaged campaign.”
She did not identify Griswold by name.
Murphy said she has found Farrell to be “a serious young man.”
“I don’t know him personally, but I’ve talked to him a few times and in my opinion he’s sincere about wanting education to be improved,” she said.
Murphy said she frequently crossed paths with Farrell on the campaign trail, including recent speaking events in Lawton, Enid and Oklahoma City.
“I’ve talked to him a couple of times and I’m going to be meeting with him,” she said. “I’d like to have his support.”
Farrell said Hofmeister called him to apologize on Griswold’s behalf.
“I did appreciate her call, and her apology,” he said.