One of the candidates for Oklahoma Corporation Commission called it “unbelievable” that current Commissioner Bob Anthony sees the need to ask for a state Attorney General’s opinion over documents withheld from him by the commission.
Justin Hornback, a Broken Arrow hopeful for the GOP nomination in the race to succeed Anthony who is term-limited and cannot serve another term on the Commission, responded to OK Energy Today’s story this week about Anthony seeking an AG’s opinon.
“For the last two years I have campaigned about increasing transparency in politics. I spoke about denied requests of information when engaging with the OCC in my experience. Now today I read an article relating to Commissioner Bob Anthony also running into issues requesting information.(https://www.okenergytoday.com/2024/04/corporation-commissioner-wants-ag-opinion-whether-agency-is-obstructing-him-over-public-records/ – Jerry Bohen)”
Anthony filed his request stating his agency’s own staff has refused to comply with his constitutional empowered requests for more details of the costs of the 2021 Winter Storm Uri ratepayer-backed bonds approved for major utilities.
“It’s unbelievable that at the same time I am talking with voters about the lack of transparency I see between the Commission and the public that Commissioner Anthony is bringing his experience to light,” stated Hornback in an email to OK Energy Today.
“I’m not an attorney, but if the Corporation Commission is withholding records from Bob Anthony, that’s just wrong. The events of the Winter Storm Uri in 2021 is a topic that impacts all of Oklahoma.”
Hornback, making his second campaign for the Corporation Commission went on to state that if everything about the winter storm “was legit, they shold have no issue making it all public.”
He believes Commissioners should be able to see everything about the costs and that “Unelected bureaucrats should not be allowed to hide things from the elected officials that are supposed to represent us.”
“I hope the AG’s office steps up and makes that clear,” he added.
Hornback, a Pipeline Welder by trade has campaigned on increasing transparency and industry experience on the commission.