By Conrad Easterday, CTCN Editor

A Duncan man who was one of three candidates for the city manager’s position at Comanche earned the job and then rejected it a short time later when the town’s mayor began questioning his personal and political views at the behest of unnamed people who are not residents of Comanche.
Before seeking the city manager’s position, Daren Coats was vice president of the Oklahoma Blood Institute for more than 12 years, from 2008-2021. He was also a USHealth sales director for two years and once worked for Harbor Freight.
He was interviewed in executive session Aug., 13 by the Comanche City Council along with Anthony White and the interim city manager Wayne McCasland. Coats showed up for what was ostensibly a follow-up interview only to be told he had the job. The Council voted unanimously to hire him Aug. 29. If he hadn’t rescinded his acceptance, his first day at work would have been Sept. 9.
According to a letter Coats sent to the Comanche Times and others in the community, Mayor “Smokey” Dobbins called him on Labor Day morning.
“He was concerned about some of my political views after having received a few phone calls and messages regarding my personal beliefs as seen from other people’s perspective,” Coats wrote in the letter. “He further stated that none of those who’d called were Comanche citizens.”
Although a registered Republican, Coats says he aligns more with Libertarian/Independent viewpoints and has nothing in common with the extreme right or the extreme left.
In his Labor Day phone call, Dobbins also told Coats, “he would have to call a special session of the Council to discuss those beliefs.” And if the Council voted to rescind the offer, the Mayor told Coats he would have to answer publicly why the offer was withdrawn. He did not want to do that (Dobbins did not respond to a request for comment from the News.)
“He assured me I didn’t either,” Coats said in his letter.
Coats ultimately took the first step, rejecting the offer in the first line of his letter to the community.
The acceptance and rejection of the offer has impacted Coats’ relationship with his employer in Duncan.
“To say it caused some complications would be an understatement,” he told the News.
Looking back, Coats said there were signs of what was ahead.
“There were some red flags in the interview,” he said. “But nothing that led me to believe we would be where we are today.”
Coats spoke off the record about some aspects of the affair, but he addressed publicly his respect for the residents of Comanche and the relationship with the community that might have been.
“I really think I could be a great fit and a great help to (Comanche),” he said. “I stand by the letter.”
The letter to the “Citizens of Comanche” is lengthy and could not be published in its entirety in the print edition of the News. See the full letter below.

Citizens of Comanche,

I am writing to formally rescind my acceptance of the offer for the position of City Manager for Comanche, OK. After careful consideration, prayer and discussion with my wife, I believe this decision is in the best interest of both myself and the community.
I have been deeply honored by the opportunity to possibly serve as City Manager for such a community with a vibrant spirit and engaged citizens. I understand that the decisions made in city governance often require balancing various interests and pressures. However, it has become clear that the will of the citizens, whose voices are the cornerstone of any democratic community, has not been fully acknowledged in this process. It is my belief that the role of City Manager must be one that unites and empowers the community, fostering trust and collaboration between the elected officials and the people they represent.
Labor Day morning, I received a phone call from the current Comanche Mayor. He was concerned about some of my political views after having received a few phone calls and messages regarding my personal beliefs as seen from other people’s perspectives. He further stated that none of those who’d called were Comanche citizens. As I see it, non-constituents were given undue influence inside the Comanche City Council this weekend. He stated he would have to call a special session of the council to discuss my beliefs as he’d been informed by others, and I was welcome to attend, but if they chose to withdraw the offer, he would have to answer questions publicly about why it was withdrawn. He stated he didn’t want to have to answer any questions about this subject, and he assured me that I didn’t either.
For the record, I am a registered Republican, but my beliefs lean more Libertarian/Independent. I disagree with the extreme views of the left, and the right. I am not a right wing extremist nor am I a left wing activist. I’ve heard both about myself in the last 72 hours. I am a Christian, who firmly believes in all the liberties and freedoms bestowed upon me at birth and documented within the US Constitution and the Bill of Rights. I will not apologize for either of those beliefs. To me, those rights are vital, even when someone disagrees with me and even when it’s inconvenient or uncomfortable. Respectful debate creates strength and understanding. Those who lack the courage to speak up and who seek to limit or eliminate the freedoms of fellow citizens are a threat to our communities and our Republic. Yet, I do believe in the rule of law.
I spoke up against city wide mask mandates during the COVID-19 pandemic because I believed it was government overreach.
When employers began to mandate the experimental COVID-19 vaccine, I expressed concerns because it was a violation of 45 CFR 46 and because it was impossible to provide informed consent for an experimental vaccine. The safety profiles were unknown at that time and the long term impact is still not fully understood. I think it’s important for citizens to choose whether they want to receive an experimental injection or not and should not be forced or mandated.
I recently supported candidates to unseat two locally popular politicians because I didn’t believe those politicians had our local interest prioritized above their own personal agendas, and each is no longer in those roles. I participated by speaking up. I did so properly, and I voted and encouraged others to do the same. Therein lies the issue. I spoke up.
It’s a very sad state of affairs when elected leaders lose the ability to use their own discernment regarding those who seek to influence them via twisting a personal vendetta to manipulate an outcome. Slander is a despicable thing, but cowardice may be worse. Poor leadership discourages good hearted people with valuable experience from wanting to seek roles that would impact a community and make it a better place for all its citizens.
I have no further interest in justifying or defending my American principles, and will continue exercising my freedoms. I refuse to compromise my integrity for the sake of popularity. I also have no desire to work in a dysfunctional group. A person exercising their civil rights should never be a detriment to a career field. Sadly, being labeled in any direction politically creates divisiveness and distraction from problem solving.
As someone deeply committed to the principles of unity and service, I feel that stepping aside is the most responsible course of action. My intention is not to contribute to any further division but rather to allow Comanche the opportunity to find a leader who can bridge the gap between the administration and the community it serves.
Thank you for the opportunity to be considered for this role, and I wish Comanche every success in its future endeavors. The citizens of Comanche deserve much better than they’re currently getting and did not win today.
Sincerely,
Daren M. Coats