Jail, recall elections decided across the state

<br>ENID, Okla. (AP) _ For Garfield County commissioners, the fourth time is the charm. <br><br>Residents in the north-central Oklahoma county approved a 15-year quarter-cent sales tax to build a new city-county

Thursday, November 7th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

ENID, Okla. (AP) _ For Garfield County commissioners, the fourth time is the charm.

Residents in the north-central Oklahoma county approved a 15-year quarter-cent sales tax to build a new city-county jail to replace an aging, crowded lockup state officials have threatened to close.

Unofficial figures showed 11,402 voted in favor of the sales tax proposal and 5,455 were opposed to the project, which is expected to cost about $10.5 million.

``It's a big relief,'' said Garfield County Commissioner Wendell Vencl, who was surprised by the margin of victory.

``I think it shows that a large number of the voters really understand the problem,'' Vencl said.

This is the fourth time in three years that commissioners have approached voters for money for the jail.

It didn't take residents in Seminole that long to decide whether they wanted to keep members of the City Council.

In a recall issue included on the ballot, Evelyn Hammond-Willingham, Bill Benn and Gary Houck were ousted on Tuesday. They could not immediately be reached for comment on Wednesday.

Council members Ken Pryor, D.D. Patterson and Chayne Fisher withstood the recall attempt and remain in office.

Councilors Luci Deere Harjo and Matt Rose were not recalled because they had been in office for only a short time. Connie Colwell, the former mayor who was also a recall target, resigned earlier this year.

The recall petition that was circulated in the spring arose after the city eliminated six full-time firefighter positions and replaced them with about 30 volunteers to save money.

Some petition organizers also didn't like the way the city handled its annexation of land north of the city to Interstate 40, claiming the city couldn't provide police and fire protection or utility service there.

In Jay, an incumbent who wasn't ousted in a recall election isn't happy about his close loss.

Delaware County Commissioner Bruce Poindexter said Wednesday he may protest the results of the election, which he lost 1,999 to 1,998 to Jim White.

``I can't remember anything like this,'' said Earlene Bradford, county election board secretary. ``You can't say one vote doesn't count.''

Poindexter said he isn't sure whether he will ask for a recount or contest the election based on voting irregularities.

``I have gone through some of the registrations and noted several people who have moved and never changed their voting registration,'' Poindexter said.

He said he would continue to review voter registrations before making a decision.

In Enid, the decision has come after attempts by Garfield County officials to find money for jail project.

A half-cent sales tax was deleted from an election ballot in 1999 after Enid officials opposed the cost.

In November 2000, voters rejected a one-twelfth of a percent sales tax for operations until they could devise another jail plan. Voters rejected a proposal in March for a $14 million jail, which also was opposed by city leaders.

During that time, inmates have sued the county over poor conditions and the Attorney General's Office has sought to close the jail.

Commissioner Olin Unruh said he believes the tax passed this time because commissioners changed the scope of the jail _ which lowered the price _ and received the support of city leaders.

``The whole process let the citizenry realize we weren't doing it for the comfort of the prisoners,'' he said. ``At the same time, it was for the protection of the citizens.''