A finance professional has pledged that if he is elected state treasurer, the office will comply with the letter and spirit of Oklahoma’s Open Records Act.

In signing FOI Oklahoma’s Open Government Pledge for statewide candidates, Charles de Coune also promised “to support at every opportunity” the state’s public policy that “the people are vested with the inherent right to know and be fully informed about their government so that they can efficiently and intelligently exercise their inherent political power.”

An independent from Oklahoma City, de Coune faces state Rep. Randy McDaniel, R-Edmond, in the Nov. 6 general election. Republican incumbent Ken Miller didn’t seek re-election.

The state treasurer is the chief financial officer of the state and acts as the state banker. The office manages the state’s cash deposits, monies from bond sales and other securities and collateral, and directs the investments of those assets. It also operates the state’s unclaimed property program. The treasurer serves on the Oklahoma College Savings Plan Board of Trustees, the State Pension Oversight Commission, Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust Fund Board of Investors and State Board of Equalization.

De Coune’s campaign website emphasizes transparency as one of his core values. He has released his 2016 federal income tax returns. (Read Few state candidates voluntarily disclose financial information by Oklahoma Watch.)

FOI Oklahoma invites all candidates for state, local and legislative seats to sign the pledge on FOI Oklahoma’s website, where a list of signers also can be found.

Since FOI Oklahoma began the pledge in 2008, 186 candidates have signed — with 95, or 51 percent —being elected at least once. FOI Oklahoma began the Open Government Pledge as part of a national effort to spur public commitments to government transparency from candidates for president down to city council contests.

Joey Senat, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
OSU School of Media & Strategic Communications

@Joey_Senat

Mass Communication Law in Oklahoma