Filing for city offices closed Wednesday, with four candidates for mayor, two for Council Ward II and four for the Ward IV Council seat.

The latest filings created the possibility of a runoff election in the mayor’s race and the Ward IV race.

Muskogee businessman John Robert Coburn, 58, and local volunteer Teresa Carol Garris, 61, both added their names to the list of mayoral candidates.

They join incumbent John Tyler Hammons, 21, a college student and substitute teacher, and Chris James, 49, a travel agent, as mayoral candidates.

Incumbent councilors David Jones and James Gulley drew no opponents for re-election to their seats in Wards I and III.

Filing for the Ward II post were incumbent David Ragsdale Jr., 48, who works for the VA Regional Office, is a minister and part-time funeral home employee, and Randy Howard, 56, a salesman.

Jim Ritchey, 47, who is disabled and serves as a local volunteer, filed for re-election to the Ward IV seat, drawing three opponents:

• Paige Lane Frix, 48, attorney, certified public accountant and volunteer.

• Elbert Cedric Johnson, 77, a retired educator.

• Kenneth Wayne Payne, 48, business owner and security officer.

Primary election in all the races will be April 6. Unless a candidate gets more than 50 percent of the vote in any race, there will be a runoff election May 11.

Coburn, who is a first cousin of U.S. Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Muskogee, said he is running for mayor because he thinks his background and experience in manufacturing management, in retail business and in property management give him the background he needs to serve Muskogee.

“I think that has given me a variety of things in my past that would be helpful to provide the leadership that is needed with the council and with the city,” Coburn said. “I’m excited about it, and here we go!”

Garris said she has attended several council meetings and strongly believes Muskogee’s mayor and council should not draw pay for their work.

She is a volunteer with Muskogee Emergency Management and other organizations, she said.

The period for withdrawing from the race or filing protests of candidacy opens at 8 a.m. today and runs through 5 p.m. Friday.

However, City Clerk Pam Bush said she already has received a protest.

Stephen D’Agostino sent a declaration of candidacy and the required $1 fee to Bush but did not have his signature witnessed by the clerk’s office or a notary public.

City officials said it did not meet the requirements and it was not accepted, Bush said.

D’Agostino said in an e-mail that he was unable to do either.

He stated in another e-mail to Bush Tuesday afternoon that he is protesting James’ and Hammons’ candidacy because of his exclusion from the race.

He said Bush gave him faulty instructions on filing.



Reach Liz McMahan at 918-684-2926 orClick Here to Send Email