By Matt Coday
Recently, I and Oil & Gas Workers Association (OGWA) were attacked in an “Odessa Headlines” article written by Matthew Stringer.
The published lies of two former board members, Wallace Dunn and Mike Cummings, Jr., have caused great reputational and financial damage to OGWA, a grassroots, independent, nonpartisan trade association working to secure, grow, and sustain American oil and gas jobs. We are sending cease and desist letters and demanding retractions and public apologies from each person.
The article came after a Facebook account named “Josiah Vargas” brought up my criminal record in a social media argument. My record includes a 1996 hot check case and DWI’s. I struggled with alcoholism and drug addiction for many years. For the record, God got me off the dope in 2014. God got me completely sober Aug. 21, 2018. I am grateful God lets me have this life, and I share these facts openly. God did not save me from that life for me to not tell people how Good God is.
Some people pray for you in public, smile to your face, and stab you in the back. That seems to be the case with this “Josiah Vargas” Facebook account and people like Ector County Republican Party Chair (ECRP) Tisha Crow.
Crow and the ECRP spent a lot of time and money to get Mayor Javier Joven, Councilman Mark Matta, and Councilwoman Denise Swanner elected, so they have a lot invested in control of City Council.
In the “Odessa Headlines” article, Tisha Crow said she would pray for me. That may be fake news as well. When I asked the ECRP Chairwoman if she cared that a story was false, Tisha Crow’s response was, “I truly do not care”.
This problem of fake news is made worse when elected representatives lend credence to fake social media accounts. This week, Odessa City Councilwoman Denise Swanner thanked “Josiah Vargas” in a Facebook post. Swanner claimed she met Vargas and thanked him for paying for her lunch. Mayor Javier Joven liked the post and others commented on the post. Mayor Joven, Councilman Mark Matta, and others have reacted to previous posts by “Josiah Vargas”.
After texting Councilwoman Swanner and then commenting on her post asking for her to prove “Josiah Vargas” exists, Swanner blocked me from her Facebook page. She and I had been Facebook friends.
“The truth does not mind being questioned. A lie does not like being challenged.”
A search of public records confirms what many of us believe. “Josiah Vargas” is very likely a fake account. I have found no record of “Josiah Vargas” in either Odessa or Pecos, the two cities listed as the current city and hometown. The Elections Office confirmed there is no “Josiah Vargas” registered to vote in Ector County, contradicting a Facebook comment by the account claiming to have voted.
Fake social media accounts are a growing problem, and they often take time and effort to build. Fake accounts build their friends lists and have others react to posts and comment on them in order to “legitimize” the fake accounts.
This makes Councilwoman Swanner’s actions even more disturbing. As an elected representative, it is incumbent upon Councilwoman Swanner to serve with integrity. Swanner’s actions show she may not have any. Mayor Joven’s and Councilman Matta’s integrity is in question, too.
I once had great respect for Councilwoman Swanner. I am deeply disappointed if her actions were to give credibility to what is likely actual “fake news”. I have emailed Swanner, Mayor Joven, and every Member of the City Council.
I called on Councilwoman Swanner to prove the existence of this “Josiah Vargas.” If she cannot and if she participated in this “fake news,” I call on Councilwoman Swanner to resign immediately.
Betraying this great community’s trust is despicable. Now is the time for the Odessa community to hold Councilwoman Swanner accountable.
Matt Coday is the President & Founder of Oil & Gas Workers Association, a grassroots, independent, nonpartisan trade association working to secure, grow, and sustain American oil and gas jobs.
He can be reached at [email protected].
