Democrat Party Chair Indicates Governor has Broken Law

The recent comments of the chairman of the Oklahoma Democratic Party indicate Gov. Brad Henry has made illegal contributions, state Rep. Mike Reynolds said today.
Reynolds urged the governor to publicly address the campaign finance controversy.

“State Democratic Party Chairman Ivan Holmes recently said the Young Democrats of Oklahoma are an official affiliate of the state party, which means Governor Henry has illegally exceeded the maximum donation allowed to a state party under Oklahoma law,” said Reynolds, R-Oklahoma City. “It’s time the governor publicly addresses this issue or seeks the return of the contributions.”

Earlier this month, Reynolds questioned the legality of Henry’s contributions to the Young Democrats of Oklahoma. Campaign reports show that Henry donated $5,000 from his surplus campaign funds to the Young Democrats of Oklahoma in 2007 and again in 2008 – a combined total of $10,000.

However, it is illegal for a candidate to give campaign funds to any partisan organization other than a state party and its affiliates (which are normally just county parties).

In an Oct. 2 article in the Tulsa World, Holmes claimed the Young Democrats are an official affiliate of the state party.

If Holmes is correct, Gov. Henry has violated annual state limits on campaign contributions to a political party once his gifts to the Young Democrats are combined with separate donations to the official state party, Reynolds noted.

“It appears the governor has either violated contribution limits or illegally donated surplus funds to a partisan group that is not a party affiliate,” Reynolds said. “If Chairman Holmes’ comments are true, the governor’s actions would either be illegal or unethical.”

Reynolds also noted that other Democratic lawmakers have made similar contributions from surplus funds to non-party affiliates. At least nine Democratic legislators have given in excess of $26,000 from their surplus campaign funds to a Democratic legislative PAC (WIN PAC).

“Apparently, Chairman Holmes has advised these lawmakers that WIN PAC is also a party affiliate,” Reynolds said. “He seems to have a pattern of violating or skirting state laws and willing to facilitate illegal activity. Oklahomans deserve better.”