Mike Reynolds Returns Improper Donations

Lawmaker returned donations
By MICK HINTON World Capitol Bureau

Two contributions to the lawmaker — who accused the governor of illegal donations — vio- lated an ethics rule.

OKLAHOMA CITY — Rep. Mike Reynolds, who has accused the governor of making illegal campaign donations, recently returned contributions he received in violation of an ethics rule, records show.

A state Ethics Commission rule states that six months must pass before a candidate can accept a maximum $5,000 donation from the same contributor for two separate committees. Reynolds, R-Oklahoma City, accepted contributions for both his 2006 and 2008 campaign accounts from two people during six-month periods.

"It was a rule I was not aware of," he said Friday. "As soon as I found out I was in violation, I corrected it."

Records indicate that Reynolds accepted contributions three months apart that exceeded the $5,000 limit from Ralph Harvey, president of Marlin Oil of Oklahoma City.

Reynolds returned $5,000 to Harvey on July 22.

Ethics Commission records also show that Mike Marshall, CEO of 5 Star Co. of Oklahoma City, gave $2,500 to Reynolds' 2006 committee on Jan. 31, 2007, and $5,000 to Reynolds' 2008 committee on May 29, 2007.

Reynolds returned $5,000 to Marshall on Aug. 1. That same day, Marshall wrote another check for $5,000 to Reynolds because the six-month waiting period had elapsed.

Reynolds this week accused Gov. Brad Henry of illegally contributing $5,000 in excess campaign funds to the Young Democrats in 2006 and 2008.

Reynolds said the group is not connected to the state party and thus was ineligible for the contribution.

State Democratic Party Chairman Ivan Holmes said Reynolds failed to do his research because the group is affiliated with the Democratic Central Committee.