Tulsa Standard

Republican Joel Kintsel, who recently announced his candidacy to unseat Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt (R) seized upon a series of corruption allegations against Stitt, saying the sitting governor has “never worried” about being ethical.

After questions arose about alleged misuse of state funds, wasteful contracts being awarded and other allegations against the Stitt administration in recent months, Kintsel, who announced his candidacy April 8, commented on the allegations yesterday.

"The Stitt (administration) has never worried about ethics," Kintsel said in a May 5 Tweet.

Joel Kintsel | Oklahoma.gov

Kintsel, who previously had served as executive director of the Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs, weighed in on the allegations against Stitt, which included misusing federal COVID-19 relief funds, wasteful spending related to the pandemic and approving a series of corrupt contracts with a food service vendor at Oklahoma State parks, according to Sooner State News.

According to AP News, Kintsel announced on April 8 that he would enter the race for the Republican nomination for governor. Kintsel is a lieutenant colonel in the Oklahoma Air National Guard, and he served as the Oklahoma House parliamentarian for 14 years under various House speakers. He resigned as executive director of the Department of Veterans Affairs upon entering the governor's race.

Kintsel’s announcement initially was brushed off by Stitt, who called Kintsel a "career bureaucrat,” reported The Norman Transcript.

According to his website, Kintsel is a combat veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom who also served in the Oklahoma National Guard and Air National Guard.