Comanche County Sheriff candidate contests fellow Republicans running for office

A candidate for the race for Comanche County Sheriff is contesting the candidacy of two of his Republican rivals for the post.

On Tuesday, Andy Moon, 46, of Lawton, petitioned a contest of candidacy through the Comanche County Election Board requesting hearings regarding the candidacies of Dell Galloway, 58, of Lawton, and Michael Merritt, 56, of Lawton.

Moon alleges Galloway has not been a resident of the state of Oklahoma for two years; the state statute states a candidate must be a state resident for at least two years. Moon alleges Galloway lived in Cabot, Ark., in 2022 and the majority of 2023.

Moon also alleges Galloway has not served “as a duly-certified peace officer, in a full-time capacity as a duly certified peace officer,” as state statutes mandate.

Moon also alleges that Merritt has not served as a duly-certified peace officer, in a full-time capacity, for four or more years prior to filing for office. Merritt retired from Comanche County Emergency Management in 2021 and began work for the Comanche County Sheriff’s Department on Sept. 7, 2021.

In his filing, Moon believes Merritt will allege he served from July 1, 2013, through Nov. 30, 2014, with the Comanche County Sheriff’s Department.

Hearings for both petitions will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday in Room 206 of the Comanche County Courthouse.

According to the contest of candidacy information sheet from the election board office, the petitioner, Moon, must prove the allegations from the petition. A contestee who doesn’t appear for the hearing to answer the petition is deemed to be in default and is considered to have admitted to the petition allegations. If disqualified, the candidate would be removed from the ballot.

The Comanche County Election Board members will ultimately decide either to retain or strike a candidacy.

Democrat David Stroud, 66, of Elgin, remains on the ballot, along with Moon.