Senate District 15 race nets huge contributions

District 15 race
nets huge contributions

The Norman Transcript

A local race for state Senate already has generated almost $300,000 in political contributions, documents filed with the Oklahoma Ethics Commission show.

With the June filing period still several weeks away, the contest between incumbent state Sen. Jonathan Nichols, a Republican, and his announced Democratic opponent, Diane Drum, has seen a total of $290,546 donated with $109,072 of those funds raised between Jan. 1 and March 31 of this year.

Nichols reported a total of $200,340 raised for his campaign. Of that figure, $111,432 was carried forward from his previous campaign; $133,240 came in personal contributions, $51,100 from political action committees, and $16,000 in personal loans.

During the first three months of 2008, Nichols raised $69,265 -- $40,165 in personal contributions, $19,100 in contributions from political action committees and $10,000 in personal loans.

Expenditures for the Nichols campaign totaled $25,882 to date, with $6,240 being spent during the first three months of 2008. Nichols reported $174,457 in remaining funds.

Nichols said the amount reflects the support of his legislative work.

"I'm humbled by this showing of overwhelming support," he said. "I believe this reflects the concentrated effort over the past eight years to build Oklahoma, to improve our quality of life and to secure a future for our children."

Fundraising is never easy, he said, and "it's only one part of a successful re-election."

"Speaking with the voters is the most important part and that's what we'll be doing over the next several months," he said. "It's encouraging that a majority of our fundraising is from individuals and a majority of those individuals are residents of Senate District 15."

Drum -- seeking the Senate seat for the first time -- reported a total of $90,206 in campaign contributions. Much of it has come from attorneys. She carried over $44,373 from last year and listed a total of $81,440 in personal contributions; $4,000 from political action committees, $1,957 in loans and $2,809 in in-kind contributions.

During the first quarter of 2008, Drum raised $39,935 in personal contributions and $872 in in-kind contributions.

Total expenditures for Drum's campaign were $5,463 with $1,374 spent from January to March of this year. Drum also listed $1,957 in loans owed by her committee and $81,934 in remaining funds.

Drum said those large numbers "represent a combination of several factors."

"It's a combination of the demographics of the area, along with my motivation for running," she said. "There's a lot that's going on in the political environment, from nationals all the way down to the local level."

Her fundraising, she said, "has tapped into a group of people who are motivated about this year

Both candidates' contributor lists read like who's who of Oklahoma politics.

Nichols listed more than 80 individual contributors in his latest filing including former Norman state Sen. Gary Gardenhire, $100; University of Oklahoma President David Boren, $500; former OU athletic director Steve Owens, $1,000; Tom Love, CEO of the Love's convenience store chain, $5,000; former OU head football coach Barry Switzer, $1,500; and Republic Bank President Chuck Thompson, $1,000.

Other donors to Nichols' campaign include: former mayor candidate Trey Bates, $1,000; restaurant magnet Hal Smith, $3,500; auto dealer Mark Heitz, $500; former Democratic state Rep. Danny Hillard, $300; former state Democratic Party Chairman Pat Hall, $500; Norman attorney Blake Virgin, $500; the Chickasaw Nation, $500; Norman architect Ben Graves, $250; House of Representatives candidate David Hopper, $50; OU executive Trip Hall, $100; and Norman Republican activist Steve Byas, $100.

Drum's listed more than 70 donors, including many lawyers, such as David Riggs, a principal in the Oklahoma City law firm of Riggs Abney Neal, $500; James Frasier, a Tulsa attorney, $1,070; Frank Frasier, a Tulsa attorney, $135; Patrick Carr, Tulsa, $625; Ed Able, an Oklahoma City attorney, $1,000 and Molly Griffis, a Norman author, $100.

Other donors to Drum's campaign include: Norman attorney David Little, $500; R.L. Reynolds, a Norman auto dealer, $1,000; William Prescott, a minister, $200; Mark Ashton, a Lawton attorney, $750; and Kevin Coffee, an Oklahoma City attorney, $375.

M. Scott Carter 366-3545 scarter@normantranscript.com

Tulsa Lawmakers Author Language to Close Loophole in State Rape Law

Sen. James A. Williamson and Rep. Pam Peterson have unveiled language to close a loophole in Oklahoma criminal statutes. The Tulsa Republicans crafted the measure after a Tulsa County judge was forced to reduce charges against an accused rapist from first-degree rape to second-degree rape.

“There’s a case in Tulsa County right now where a male nurse is accused of raping a patient who was sedated,” Williamson said. “The nurse was initially charged with first-degree rape, but the judge said under current law, a victim who has been drugged or is unconscious at the time of the assault can only be charged with second-degree rape. It is tragic a crime had to occur before this problem came to light, but now it is our responsibility to amend this law to allow the strongest punishment possible.”

Williamson said he had approached Sen. Jonathan Nichols, R-Norman, about amending one of his bills to include the language clarifying the definition of first-degree rape. Nichols said he would support such an amendment.

“As a former prosecutor, and father of two daughters, I am thankful that Senator Williamson has identified and is closing this terrible loophole in the laws against rape,” said Nichols. “Rape committed by use of sedatives or any such drugs should absolutely be first-degree rape and carry the maximum punishment.”

Peterson said she was stunned to learn that an assault on someone who had been drugged could only result in a charge of second-degree rape.

“If you’ve been given an intoxicating narcotic or anesthetic, there is no way you can consent to sex. It seems obvious to any lay person the charge should be first-degree rape, but the way the law is currently written, it isn’t,” Peterson said. “I contend it shouldn’t matter that the victim was drugged at the time. Rape is rape.”

Tulsa County District Attorney Tim Harris said the difference is a maximum penalty of 15 years for second-degree rape versus up to life in prison for first-degree rape. He applauded the lawmakers for their efforts to correct the language in current law that prevents the charge of first-degree rape from being pursued

“It is frustrating to find an oversight in state law that thwarts justice, but I am very pleased to have been able to work with Senator Williamson and Representative Peterson to fix this law,” Harris said. “I think it is important for the safety of Oklahoma citizens everywhere.”