LAWTON – A candidate for a state legislative office has been banned from Lawton Public Schools property over a heated dispute that apparently stemmed from a paycheck issue.
The LPS police department issued a “stay away” edict to Johnny Jernigan, 44. The Lawton Democrat is a candidate for the Oklahoma Senate District 32 seat held by Lawton Republican John Michael Montgomery, 30.
The circumstances are murky, and the school district declined to provide an explanation, but recent Facebook postings by Jernigan provide clues.
In a 1-minute, 32-second post dated April 25, Jernigan recorded a video in which a security officer informed him, “I’m here to tell you that you’re not welcome back on Lawton Public Schools property, and if you show back up on any Lawton Public Schools property you will be arrested for trespassing. This is a trespassing warning.”
When Jernigan asked why, the security officer replied, “I’m not privileged to know why, but that’s what I’ve been instructed to tell you.”
Jernigan pressed the matter and the security officer said, “Probably because of the actions you conducted earlier [message inaudible]. I was just told you weren’t acting appropriate.”
Jernigan was then escorted out of the building by two uniformed officers. While walking down a hallway he said, “This is why there were two cop cars parked in visitor parking when I got here.”
“You have to really move past normal to get a ‘stay away’ letter,” Dr. Jason James, chief operating officer of Lawton Public Schools, told Southwest Ledger. “Parents who get ejected a second time at an OSSAA [Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association] event get one. Parents who threaten people with credible violence may get one. We see three to five a year.”
As Jernigan exited the building he said, “I just wanted to know about being a substitute.”
Text that accompanied his video reads: “During the shutdown, Lawton Public Schools paid me against my will to try and keep me from drawing my unemployment benefits. I told my supervisor [Lawton High School Activities Director] Kylee Montgomery [Senator Montgomery’s wife], the principal Charlotte Oats [Life Ready Center Director Charlotte Oates], and [Executive Director of Human Resources] Jean Hastings that it was a gross misuse of school funds to pay me and that Mrs Hastings is a fool. I was told I could resign to which I responded that I’m not under any contract and the website I use to accept jobs is down. I worked 8 years for Cactus drilling and had paid into my unemployment and then some. During the shutdown unemployment benefits went up to $1200 a week for my family. The school was forcing me to take $65 a day. I was told my character was questionable for doing what was best for my family. Since then the school has targeted me. I’ve been trying to tell the story to no avail. I’m not doing this to trash their names but to defend my own.”
Jernigan’s post includes a photo of an ID card dated June 2021, identifying him as a substitute, part-time employee.
Lynn Cordes, executive director of communications for LPS, told an attorney for the Ledger that Jernigan’s claim that “the school has targeted me” is not true.
The Ledger asked Cordes what course(s) Jernigan taught and what triggered his expulsion from LPS property, but was told it was a personnel matter and therefore they were “unable to disclose” that information.
A reporter for the Ledger called Jernigan Saturday morning at 11:06 a.m., identified himself, and prepared to ask Jernigan about the LPS dustup, what course(s) he had taught, and to request clarification about the unemployment benefits issue.
However, Jernigan quickly said, “You have to set up an appointment.” Before the journalist could pursue the matter further, Jernigan hung up.
Jernigan critical
of election process,
state judiciary
In a related matter, Jernigan posted comments on Facebook recently that were critical of the election process and the state judiciary.
“We will never have fair elections as long as we continue to allow candidates to raise funds,” he posted on June 3 at approximately 12 noon. “What that gives us is corporate representation. KSWO-7 News will tell you the legislature voted to ban abortion but not how our representatives voted. That’s to protect their bottom line. When politicians start paying for overpriced ads nobody wants to worry about bad press. Cowardly on a whole new level.”
[Note: all floor votes taken in the Oklahoma Legislature are available online.]
On June 2, Jernigan posted a pair of photos supporting a Comanche County district judge candidate. “I wish I had support like that,” Jernigan wrote. “This is what narcissism looks like. When your goal is to hurt someone you will find success. What the courts do to dads in this state is reprehensible. In a state that has laws for equity men have no representation. The judges in this town are just as crooked as the lawyers. KSWO7News, Lawton Police Department and Lawton Public Schools worked together like a well oiled machine. You can either elect people who call others out or people who cover up others bad behaviors.”
Jernigan’s wife of nine years filed for divorce in January, and each filed for a protective order against the other on successive days in February. Mrs. Jernigan has temporary custody of the children and the family home in Lawton.