What we know about the two new prospective Oklahoma County jail trust members
Monday's regular meeting of the Oklahoma County commissioners is set to decide two jail trust positions as the board votes on whether to fill a monthslong vacancy created by former trustee Joe Allbaugh's resignation and to replace current trustee Loretta Radford, who is also set to resign.
Allbaugh resigned to run for Kay County Commissioner. Oklahoma County commissioners have not moved to fill his position, but received a recommendation to appoint Adam Luck, CEO of CityCare and former chair of the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board.
Pastor Derrick Scobey, of Ebenezer Baptist Church in Oklahoma City, is named as the new prospective appointee to fill Radford's seat. According to District 3 Commissioner Kevin Calvey, Radford resigned to take a special judge position in Tulsa County, where she is from originally.
"She said it had been a dream of hers for a long time in her resignation email to Chairman [Jim] Couch," Calvey said.
Calvey said he does not foresee any issues with either appointment being finalized Monday, however, District 2 Commissioner Brian Maughan called them "controversial choices."
"My guess is there will be public input," he said Friday.
District 1 Commissioner Carrie Blumert said she is "happy to support" Luck and believes both he and Scobey "will be great additions" to the trust.
Who are the recommended jail trust appointees?
Scobey is the lead pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church, in northeast Oklahoma City. He is also a community organizer and activist.
Scobey was arrested on NE 23, across from the governor's mansion, by members of the Oklahoma Highway Patrol in November ahead of the planned execution of Julius Jones. Scobey said he was praying with other members of the public and supporters of Jones. The district attorney's office charged him with two misdemeanors related to impeding the flow of traffic. Scobey's case is pending in Oklahoma County District Court.
Scobey, who currently serves on the jail trust's Citizens Advisory Board, quickly seconded a motion to recommend Luck over himself for the role on the jail trust during a meeting in July. He said he did so because he believes Luck is highly qualified.
He said now, with Blumert's choice to put him up for possible appointment, he feels there is some reason his name continues to be brought into the conversation.
"God continues to bring it back to my doorstep," he said. "I must walk through the door that He is opening for me, in order for me to continue to help the most vulnerable in Oklahoma County."
Scobey said he wants to "help effect positive change" and hopes his serving on the trust will be a voice for those in the jail "who in most cases do not have a voice."
"I keep in rhythm with the heartbeat of this District 1 community in many different ways, so there are things that are brought to me — certainly on a weekly basis — from community members, relating to relatives and friends, who are currently being detained in the Oklahoma County Detention Center," he said.
Luck served on the pardon and parole board from the time of his appointment by Gov. Kevin Stitt in February 2019 until resigning at Stitt's request in January 2022. He presided over multiple clemency hearings when the state lifted its moratorium on executions, including hearings for Julius Jones and Bigler Stouffer, both of whom the board recommended for clemency.
Luck is also the CEO of CityCare Inc., which operates Oklahoma City's no-barrier night shelter for those experiencing homelessness and supportive housing and also provides mentorship and literacy programs for children.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Two new Oklahoma County jail trust members could be appointed Monday
