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In a stunning reversal, newly elected Pawhuska city council members abandoned their campaign promises to fire convicted felon city manager Jerry Eubanks, instead quietly moving him to the water department during a closed-door executive session. The decision came after months of citizen pressure and promises of accountability from candidates who rode voter anger to victory in recent elections.
The Felon They Cannot Fire
Jerry Eubanks brings a criminal resume that reads like a cautionary tale. After serving 240 months in federal prison for aggravated assault, he was later convicted of meth trafficking and illegal firearm possession. Most recently, he pleaded guilty to embezzling from the city of Fairview while working in their public works department. Yet Pawhuska's solution is to move him to their own public works department, overseeing water utilities and taxpayer infrastructure.
Campaign Promises Meet Political Reality
The two new council members swept into office on explicit promises to remove Eubanks from city management. Citizens packed polling stations in what became the highest voter turnout in years, driven by frustration over Eubanks' continued employment despite his criminal history. But during Tuesday's executive session, those same officials chose compromise over confrontation, accepting Eubanks' resignation from the manager position while immediately rehiring him for utilities.
Taxpayers Fund Felon's Legal Bills
Adding insult to injury, the city council recently voted to give Eubanks $25,000 in December to pay his felony restitution for the Fairview embezzlement case. This payment came as the same council voted to lay off other city employees, creating a stark contrast in priorities. Citizens watching the decision unfold expressed disbelief that taxpayer money would fund a convicted felon's court-ordered payments while cutting services elsewhere.
First Amendment Clash at City Hall
When journalist Ron attempted to address the council about Eubanks' criminal history during public comment, newly elected council member Rachel Prather interrupted and ultimately had him removed from the meeting. Despite being within his allotted three minutes to discuss agenda item number eight regarding Eubanks' resignation, Prather claimed his factual recitation of court records constituted inappropriate personal attacks. The removal occurred in a building with questionable exit access, raising both constitutional and fire code concerns.
The Executive Session Controversy
The closed-door meeting included participants not listed on the public agenda, potentially violating Oklahoma's Open Meeting Act. Eubanks himself sat in on discussions about his own employment termination, alongside the police chief and others who were not designated as executive session participants in the required public notice. This procedural violation could invalidate any decisions made during the session.
What Happens Next Remains Unclear
As tensions reached a boiling point and the journalist was escorted from the building, the full scope of Eubanks' new role and the council's long-term plans remained unresolved. The crowd inside continued deliberating while supporters and critics of the decision faced off in the hallway, leaving the ultimate outcome hanging in the balance.
Watch the complete confrontation and see how this political drama unfolds when promises collide with small-town power dynamics.
