logo
Login Subscribe
Google Play App Store
  • News
    • Obituaries
    • Lifestyle
    • Opinions
  • Sports
  • E-edition
  • Calendar
  • Archives
  • Contact
    • Contact Us
    • Advertisers
    • Form Submission
    • About Us
    • News
      • Obituaries
      • Lifestyle
      • Opinions
    • Sports
    • E-edition
    • Calendar
    • Archives
    • Contact
      • Contact Us
      • Advertisers
      • Form Submission
      • About Us
Walters wants to hire someone to get more national media exposure
news
November 8, 2023
Walters wants to hire someone to get more national media exposure
By Jennifer Palmer Oklahoma Watch,

The state Education Department is looking to hire someone to manage national media appearances, raising concerns the agency would be boosting Superintendent Ryan Walters’ national profile at taxpayer expense.

A firm is being sought to provide print and digital op-eds to national outlets, coordinate national events and appearances for executive staff, write speeches and handle some communications. Records show the department wants a minimum of three opeds, two speeches and 10 media bookings per month.

Walters, who is less than one year into a four-year term as superintendent, is already a frequent guest on conservative television and radio programs. And on Wednesday, Walters announced he’s joining Donald Trump’s presidential re-election campaign team, but didn’t provide specifics on how it would affect his role as state superintendent.

Critics of the contract said the public shouldn’t have to pay for Walters’ political ambitions.

“Why would an Oklahoma elected official need a paid staff person to arrange national media appearances in order to do their job in the state of Oklahoma?” said Erin Brewer, communications chair for Oklahoma Parent Legislative Advocacy Coalition, a grassroots education advocacy group. “It sounds like campaigning to me.”

Walters’ administration already employs Dan Isett as the director of communications and Abby Baerveldt as the deputy communications director, as well as Matt Langston as chief policy advisor. Langston is also Walters’ campaign manager.

There are no payment terms listed in the proposal, which is open through Nov. 9, according to Oklahoma Office of Management and Enterprise Services records.

Isett did not answer questions Oklahoma Watch posed Tuesday.

Brewer said she finds the proposal stunning and concerning. She questioned how such a contract would serve Oklahoma schoolchildren.

“You have to think that he (Walters) believes that he is destined for some other office, some higher office, some different role, and it seems like he’s using his current position to leverage his own opportunity,” Brewer said.

In just the month of October, Walters’ posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, eight TV and radio interviews he did with conservative news and talk shows and an op-ed he wrote about Hamas and Israel.

Appearances like those wouldn’t violate state ethics rules unless there was overt campaigning, like advocating for or against a specific candidate in a specific election, Ethics Commission Executive Director Ashley Kemp said, speaking in general terms about the commission’s work.

James Davenport, associate dean for social sciences at Rose State College, said nobody begrudges a public official who does an interview every now and then to tout the work their administration has accomplished. The emphasis Walters’ administration has placed on those interviews is different, he said.

“His national reputation has become a priority with that department,” Davenport said. “People have a right to say, ‘Can we justify that?’ At some point, is this becoming a distraction to actually doing the work of state superintendent of public instruction?”

The person behind Walters’ messaging style is Langston, his campaign manager and chief policy advisor at the department. His dual roles could run afoul of state ethics laws depending on how he splits his time, experts said.

Walters’ 2022 superintendent campaign is still fundraising even though he isn’t running for anything at the moment.

State ethics rules prohibit using state resources, funds or time for political activities. State officials and employees are required to separate time, money and resources spent on official duties from that used for campaigning.

Kemp said there’s no rule prohibiting a state employee from also being a campaign manager, but the employee would need to tread carefully.

“You really do have to walk a fine line to ensure state resources are never being used for campaign purposes,” Kemp said.

The department is also looking to contract with a firm to produce videos, according to a second request for proposals. The scope of that work includes creating video clips from department board meetings, at least two videos per month relaying education priorities and at least 10 digital communications per month.

The department has come under fire for producing inflammatory videos before, including a highly-dramatized, anti-teacher union video that was shown during the state Board of Education meeting in May. The Department paid $22,500 to Texas-based Precision Outreach LLC for 30 minutes of produced video, according to public records obtained by KOSU.

Jennifer Palmer has been a reporter with Oklahoma Watch since 2016 and covers education. Contact her at (405) 761-0093 or jpalmer@oklahomawatch.org. Follow her on Twitter @ jpalmerOKC.

Eufaula Memorial Library
A: Main, news
Eufaula Memorial Library
July 2, 2025
A llama and a youngster got acquainted at a petting zoo at the Eufaula Memorial Library Wednesday, June 25. Dozens of kids and adults enjoyed the llama, goats, donkey and other animals, provided by Ma...
A: Main, news
Eufaula hosting July 4 Celebration
July 2, 2025
Mayor James Hickman and the City of Eufaula are honored to invite residents and visitors to the annual Fourth of July Fireworks Celebration on Friday, July 4. The fireworks will begin shortly after su...
A legacy lives on
A: Main, news
A legacy lives on
By LaDonna Rhodes Staff Writer 
July 2, 2025
Selby Minner’s Celebration of Life on Saturday at the Checotah Performing Arts Center was a beautiful 3-hour-long tribute to an amazing soul who loved the blues and more importantly, loved people. As ...
Lightning strike kills Eufaula woman in cemetery
A: Main, news
Lightning strike kills Eufaula woman in cemetery
By JERRY FINK MANAGING EDITOR 
July 2, 2025
A 57-year-old Eufaula woman was killed by lightning during a routine stroll through a cemetery Friday evening. Joy Ann Rogers was walking through Greenwood cemetery shortly before 7 p.m. when a thunde...
A: Main, news
Native American Arts & Crafts show Saturday
July 2, 2025
Eufaula Indian Community will host an Arts and Crafts show and sale Saturday, July 5 at the IEC Center, 800 Birkes Road, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. In addition to this event, a chair volleyball tournament...
Olivia Shackelford honored with 2025 Youth Prevention Award
news
Olivia Shackelford honored with 2025 Youth Prevention Award
July 2, 2025
On June 5, local student Olivia Shackelford of Eufaula was recognized as the recipient of the prestigious 2025 Youth Prevention Award in Oklahoma City at the Heartland Conference. This past week Olivi...
United for Oklahoma
ePaper
google_play
app_store
Editor Picks
Family, friends and fans bid farewell to Blues legend
news
Family, friends and fans bid farewell to Blues legend
By LENORE BECHTEL 
July 2, 2025
Her casket rested below center stage at the Checotah Performing Arts Center, open for friends, fans, and family to view her precious body before her life’s celebration began. No one lingered long. Tha...
Another busy week in the district
commentary
Another busy week in the district
By REP. TIM TURNER 
July 2, 2025
I started last Saturday June 21, bright and early at Stigler Reunion Days. I kicked things off at the Haskell County GOP Tent, answering questions and catching up with friends and supporters. Then I h...
Killing them with kindness
commentary
Killing them with kindness
July 2, 2025
What a month it’s been for me personally and in our close-knit communities. Trying to cope with the loss of loved ones has been extremely difficult and downright demanding. Yet having to come to terms...
‘Big Beautiful Bill’ overhauled in Senate, would cause even more government borrowing
commentary
‘Big Beautiful Bill’ overhauled in Senate, would cause even more government borrowing
By JOE DORMAN OICA CEO 
July 2, 2025
OKLAHOMA CITY – Over the past month, I have highlighted portions of the federal “Big Beautiful Bill” as passed by the U.S. House of Representatives. Currently, the bill is under consideration by the U...
Hays Supports MOHA Executive Order
commentary
Hays Supports MOHA Executive Order
July 2, 2025
OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Neil Hays, R-Muskogee, today expressed strong support for Gov. Kevin Stitt’s new “Make Oklahoma Healthy Again” (MOHA) executive order, which targets artificial food additives and ...
Facebook

THE EUFAULA INDIAN JOURNAL
100 N. 2nd Street
Eufaula, OK 74432

(918) 689-2191

This site complies with ADA requirements

© 2023 THE EUFAULA INDIAN JOURNAL

  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Accessibility Policy