Candidate says rumors that he wants to fire Bixby police chief are untrue

In politics, candidates try to get their message out, but a suburban city council race might turn on a rumor.<br/><br/>It's about a city hall shakeup - that the target of the rumor claims isn't

Wednesday, March 29th 2006, 5:38 pm

By: News On 6

In politics, candidates try to get their message out, but a suburban city council race might turn on a rumor.

It's about a city hall shakeup - that the target of the rumor claims isn't true. The election is next Tuesday in Bixby.

News on 6 reporter Emory Bryan says the signs are everywhere for a city council election in Bixby, but it's a rumor that's got everyone looking at the race.

The rumor is that candidate Ray Bowen wants to fire the police chief and maybe several other city department heads. Bowen says it's not true, "I have no idea how that rumor could have started, but there's no true to that whatsoever."

But the rumor has turned the police officers union against Bowen, even though it may just be rumor.

The rumor of a big shakeup was taken seriously at city hall, prompting the city council to approve contracts to protect department heads.

The city attorney says it guarantees their salary for 10 months after a council election.

The rumor about Bowen could hurt his campaign - and help his opponent Allen Jenkins. He won the endorsement of the police and fire unions, in part because of the rumor, which he thinks is fact.

Bowen says he's a supporter of police and fire and happy with the jobs both chiefs are doing, but he's worried voters might listen to the rumors instead of what he's saying.