Politicans, candidates raising money for 2008

While the 2008 election is still more than a year away, many Cleveland County elected officials have already begun to tap supporters and donors, raising thousands of dollars in campaign funds during the first half of the year.

State Ethics Commission filings show a total of $115,253 has been raised by nine area incumbents — and two recently announced candidates — during the first six months of 2007.

Those funds, listed in the commission’s contributions and expenditures report, supplement about $92,726 in funds carried over by candidates from the 2006 election cycle.

And though $115,253 may seem like a large amount for this time of year, at least one political professional says the figure is actually typical for an off-election year fundraising cycle.

“Generally, at this point in an election cycle most of the money raised is for debt retirement,” said Pat McFerron, a partner with CMA Strategies, an Oklahoma City-based political consulting firm. “It’s not that much at all. Quite frankly, the first real test of strength will be the last reports filed this year.”

Those reports, McFerron said, come when “most people really look at mounting a challenge.”

And even though fundraising may be a bit earlier, McFerron said the cycle is similar to last year’s.

“Overall, everything in politics is kicking up a month or two faster that it used to be,” he said. “But I don’t see that as unique.”
Still, not all candidates raise money equally.

In Cleveland County, state Sen. John Sparks, a Norman Democrat, raised the most funds during the first half of 2007.

Sparks, a freshman lawmaker, generated $24,118 in campaign funds from January to June. That figure includes $1,750 in contributions and a $5,000 loan Sparks made to his campaign Jan. 31. Sparks raised another $17,368 from April 1 to June 30.

Sparks’ largest donors included Craig and Anna Parker, $1,000; lobbyist Barry Moore, $500; and Karel Brewster, daughter of former Oklahoma Congressman Bill Brewster, $500.

Sparks was followed closely by fellow state Sen. Jonathan Nichols.

Nichols, a Norman Republican, raised $23,850 during the first half of the year — including a $6,000 loan to his campaign Feb. 9. He raised $17,850 from April 1 to June 30.

Major donors to Nichols’ campaign include Oklahoma City oil and gas executive Aubrey McClendon, $5,000; the Chesapeake political action committee, Energy for Oklahomans, $3,000; and Edmond attorney Andrew Skeith, $1,500.

Norman Democrat Wallace Collins, who retook his House seat last year from Republican Thad Balkman, generated $16,770 during the six month period. Collins raised $4,750 from Jan. 1 to March 31 and $12,020 from April 1 to June 30.

Records show Collins’ top donors include: Patrick Bahn, CEO of TGV Rocket, $750; OU President David Boren, $500; and the Chickasaw Nation, $250.

In Moore, state Rep. Randy Terrill, a Republican, earned $9,950 for his campaign from January to June. Terrill banked $9,400 from Jan. 1 to March 31. The remaining $550 was contributed from April 1 to June 30. Terrill’s largest donors include Norman businessman Domer Scaramucci, $1,000; the Central Liquor Company, $700; and the Devon Energy’s political action committee, $500.

But Paul Wesselhoft, another Republican House member from Moore, raised only $750. Wesselhoft’s largest donors were Dan Freidkin, a Houston business executive, $500; and the Enid-based OPSA political action committee, $250.

Newly elected state Senator Anthony Sykes — whose district includes Moore and south Oklahoma City — raised $4,900.
Sykes, a freshman lawmaker, generated $2,950 from Jan. 1 to March 31 and raised another $1,950 from April 1 to June 30.

Sykes’ major donors were Jeffrey Davis, a Tulsa restaurant owner, $1,000; Oklahoma City lobbyist Barry Moore, $500; and Norman’s FKG political action committee, $1,000.

While he didn’t raise as much as other Norman lawmakers, former Norman Mayor Bill Nations added $5,410 to his campaign war chest. Nations raised $4,810 from January to March, then generated $600 more from April 1 to June 30.

Nations’ major contributors were OU President Boren, $250; the AT&T political action committee, $500; and the Oklahoma Bankers Public Affairs committee, $500.

Scott Martin, serving his first term in the House of Representatives, raised $500 during the first half of the year. Martin, a former municipal employee, received the donations from Jan. 1 to March 31.

Martin’s donors include himself, $150; the Oklahoma Society of Certified Professional Accountants, $150; Norman banker Charles Hollingsworth, $100; and the Oklahomans for Public Transit political action committee, $100.

Cleveland County District Attorney Greg Mashburn added $4,450 to his campaign fund during 2007. Mashburn, a Republican, banked $4,450 from Jan. 1 to March 31 and another $500 in funds during second quarter of the year.

Mashburn's largest donors include: Roy Oliver, an Oklahoma City businessman, $1,200; Chuck Thompson, CEO of Norman’s Republic Bank, $1,000; and Michael S. Homsey, an attorney, $500.

In the campaign for state Senate District 45, former Oklahoma City councilman Jerry Foshee raised $14,250 during the first three months of the year.

Foshee, an attorney, generated $5,250 in donations and loaned his campaign $9,000 during the same time. Foshee’s largest donor was the Fraternal Order of Police political action committee, $5,000.

Foshee’s opponent, Kyle Loveless, raised $9,805 for his race from April 1 to June 30. Loveless generated $4,580 in contributions and added another $5,225 in in-kind contributions.

Loveless’ major donors include Gary and Denise Loveless, the owners of Loveless Orthopedic, $1,000; Wesley Stevens of Oklahoma City, $1,000; and Ralph and Maxine Harvey, the owners of Marlin Oil, $500.

With just four months remaining in the year, political fundraising, McFerron said, will increase.

“For open seats, like Senate District 45, the candidates start raising money earlier,” he said. “And things will get busier by the end of the year. I wouldn’t be surprised if some candidates are having fundraisers during the OU football games.”