The Greater Oklahoma City Chamber has jumped into the Oklahoma County assessor race, backing Republican challenger Ferlin Kearns despite his past felony conviction and subsequent pardon. The endorsement instantly raises the stakes in a quiet but important local contest that will help decide how property is valued and, in turn, how much residents pay in taxes.
According to The Oklahoman, the Chamber’s political action committee announced its pick on Wednesday, siding with Kearns over incumbent Larry Stein. The Oklahoman reports that Kearns was convicted in an earlier case and later received a pardon, and it notes that Stein said he was “floored” by the Chamber’s decision.
The Republican primary is set for June 16, 2026, with early voting beginning the week before, according to KXII. Whoever emerges from that primary will move on to the November general election.
County records list Kearns, 61, of Edmond, as the Republican challenger to 70-year-old incumbent Larry Stein, with Democrat John Gibbons slated for the fall ballot, according to Oklahoma County candidate filings. Kearns has also served on county advisory panels, including the Criminal Justice Authority Citizens Advisory Board, per the Oklahoma County Legistar.
What A Pardon Means Here
The state’s pardon process, handled by a Pardon and Parole Board with a final action by the governor, does not erase a conviction but can restore civil rights and remove some legal disabilities, according to the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board. Policy guides on restoration of rights note that Oklahoma law can bar a person with a felony conviction from holding public office for up to 15 years after completing a sentence unless those disabilities are removed by a pardon, which helps explain why Kearns’ pardon matters in this race.
The Chamber’s backing gives Kearns access to business PAC networks and a level of institutional support that can shift fundraising and voter attention in the final weeks before June 16. Since the assessor’s office sets valuations that affect property taxes and county revenue, a Chamber-endorsed challenger has a clear path to influence how local government is financed and operates if elected.
