Oklahoma candidate deletes campaign content filmed in school classroom

OKLAHOMA CITY — A Republican candidate for state superintendent said he removed campaign video content filmed in his Little Axe High School classroom after receiving a complaint from the district’s leadership.

James Taylor, a U.S. history and government teacher, said on Saturday he had no intent to misuse school resources, and the district had nothing to do with the videos. He said his campaign removed the content from his social media platforms after the superintendent of Little Axe Public Schools emailed him Saturday with concerns.

“As both an educator and a candidate for State Superintendent, I take full responsibility for the content that was posted and at no point did Little Axe Public Schools have anything to do with my filming in the school,” Taylor wrote in a statement.

Taylor and Robert Franklin are seeking the Republican nomination for state superintendent in an Aug. 25 runoff election. The winner will face Democrat Jennettie Marshall in the Nov. 3 General Election.

Creating political campaign content on public school property is “an improper use of school resources and may be a violation of campaign ethics rules,” Little Axe Superintendent Jay Thomas wrote in a public statement Saturday.

Thomas said the district, located in Norman, had been alerted earlier that day about an employee running for state office who had “made multiple campaign ads using school resources, including a school classroom.” His statement did not name the employee.

“After repeated requests to remove the posts from his social media platforms and his failure to do so, it is necessary to explain that Little Axe Public School does not endorse any candidate for any office,” Thomas wrote in the statement. “Nor does Little Axe Public School District endorse the use of district property in this way.”

Oklahoma ethics rules require that no public funds, property or time be used for activities designed to influence the results of an election for state office. Employees of any governmental entity are prohibited from these activities during their official work hours and while wearing a uniform or identification of their employment, according to state ethics rules.

Taylor appeared to be sitting in his classroom wearing a Little Axe schools lanyard in one now-deleted video, which Oklahoma Voice reviewed before its removal. He spoke in the video about his plan to support rural schools, if elected state superintendent. 

In another video, also seemingly on school grounds, he criticized Dr. Anthony Fauci, a chief medical adviser to the White House during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Oklahoma Ethics Commission can’t confirm or deny whether it received a complaint about Taylor, executive director Lee Anne Bruce Boone said Monday. The commission must designate a case as a matter of public interest for it to publicly share details of a complaint.

The Ethics Commission meets next on Aug. 13. That is the earliest date the commission could decide whether to investigate a complaint or determine a matter is of public interest, Bruce Boone said.