The owner of a local business who was outraged by the decision to dissolve the Cleveland County Budget Committee will ask voters to elect him as the next District 3 commissioner.
Rusty Grissom, a Republican, business owner and Noble resident, will face incumbent President Harold Haralson in the June election. Democrats JD Krohmer and Mona “Mo” Vaughn, who will fight for a seat, also won the election.
Haralson and District 2 Commissioner Darry Staci voted on February 21, 2021 to dissolve the board, while District 1 Commissioner Rod Cleveland voted against. The decision sparked a protest from district residents who believed the move had reduced transparency. Budget committees allow all eight county-elected officials to vote on the district budget, while the excise committee - which district currently uses - relies on three nominated members to give approval before the commission adopts it.
Grissom, the 37-year-old owner of Grissom Landscape Nursery, said his top priority would be to restore the budget committee and strengthen relations with other elected officials to improve the county’s business.
“It will be my first job,” he said. “I don’t think it should be just a vote of county commissioners. There is a lot more supervision if you have all the district officials, because they know their budget more than the district commissioners. They all need to be involved and have a voice. ”
The budget committee as a model for approving district budgets was established in state law after the myth scandal of the 1980s, when 200 district commissioners across the state were indicted or found guilty of financial crimes.
The district government may add a budget committee to its excise committee to approve budgets for all elected district officials.
The decision of the commissioner to dissolve the budget committee provoked a protest among the citizens who said that the more they look at the budget, the better.
Haralson and Stacey said the board was an unnecessary duplication of the district government and argued that the move increased transparency, as excise board meetings were held in the commissioners’ committee room. The budget committee was held in another building.
Both meetings are open to the public.
Several elected officials opposed the decision, including the district assessor, the district treasurer and the court clerk. Grissom said the decision to dissolve the board had worsened relations in the district.
“There is so much disagreement in the courtroom at the moment,” he said. “Once I get there, we’ll work together and improve Cleveland County.”
The candidate said that he brings to that position the experience in the government and the list of achievements in several committees.
He served 12 years on the Cleveland County Fair Board and oversaw numerous fair facility improvements. Grissom also served 21 years on the Oklahoma Electric Cooperative Board and was selected by the board to serve as his representative on the Western Farmers Electric Cooperative Board for 16 years.
During his tenure on those committees, he advocated fiber optic cable, an achievement that became critical during the COVID-19 pandemic, when a high-speed Internet service was launched.
“I went to a class on fibers [cable] and so I brought it in [OEC] board and then we started studying, “he said. “We had a very successful fiber project and it was a huge success. It was great for our members. During the pandemic, we had high-speed internet for all the people who had to stay at home, the children who had to stay at home and do their homework. Hard time.”
Grissom said he would increase participation and communication with all district officials to improve transparency and set goals.
A recent series of layoffs at Haralson County Maintenance Stables also prompted Grissom to run for office. Haralson fired three employees in January after reporting theft against one employee.
After that officer was fired, two more were fired. Haralson requested an audit from the Office of the State Auditor and Inspector. County spokeswoman Joy Hampton said that those two employees were fired “due to lack of confidence in their abilities”, writes The Transcript.
To date, no criminal charges have been filed. State Auditor Cindy Byrd expected the investigation to be included in the state’s annual audit.
Grissom said that he would spend the time needed in the barn to ensure that the procedures are followed.
“If you had to lay off three employees, something serious is happening there,” Grissom said.
Grissom said he has time to run the district now that his son and wife are running kindergarten operations.