The Tulsa Tribune
August 19, 1983
Conviction reaction mixed in Miami
By Mike Ward
Tribune Writer
MIAMI – A cloud of mixed emotion blanketed this Ottawa County city today after favorite-son Rep. Joe Fitzgibbon was convicted of federal vote fraud charges Thursday night in Muskogee.
Reactions to the conviction against Fitzgibbon, a local Democrat political strongman and state House Majority leader, ranged from shock and sadness to hope and elation.
“People really liked Joe, and they were surprised and saddened,” said Fern Toye, chairman of the Ottawa County Republican Party.
“One man told me he read the paper and wept. He wept for our political system and the man.”
The comments were echoed by Deanna Phillips, county Democratic Party chairman, who said the verdict hit “like a ton of bricks.”
“I didn’t think the government had a strong case, and was shocked,” she said. “I don’t know what effect this might have on future races. Joe is very well liked around here.”
State Sen. William Schuelein, D-Miami, said the Fitzgibbon conviction will reflect on all legislators. But he said he expects little reaction at the polls.
“It’s a shame any time something like this happens,” Shuelein said.
“We (legislators) can’t counteract public suspicion about something like this. We can just continue to do our jobs. The U.S. Congress is facing the same type of problem with image.”
In Ottawa County, where Democrats outnumber Republicans more than five to one, some residents said they expect Fitzgibbon to resign to save further embarrassment.
“The verdict was a real surprise, but I have to assume the (Muskogee) jury made the right decision,” said Tom Phipps, a Miami resident who ..........
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