Last-minute gifts boost campaigns
Fourteen legislators challenged by members of their own party.
Last-minute gifts boost campaigns

By Michael McNutt

Published: July 27, 2008

Many of the 14 legislators being challenged by their own political party in Tuesday's primary election are out seeking last-minute contributions to help them in their bid to return to the state Capitol.

Winners in half those races will win the legislative seat Tuesday as they face no opponent in the Nov. 4 general election. Winners in the other seven have an opponent in November.

Legislators usually don't draw opponents from within their own party, and most of the incumbents are favored to win Tuesday. Name recognition helps, and having gone through at least one election also is a boost in fundraising.

However, some close races are developing, and in one instance the challenger has raised more than twice as much as the incumbent.

•Rep. Randy Terrill, R-Moore, had raised slightly more than challenger Curtis Bruehl of Norman, according to campaign reports filed early last week. Terrill had raised $50,144, and Bruehl reported raising $44,399. Terrill reported having $32,332 on hand, and Bruehl reported having $33,310.

Bruehl almost took the lead in fundraising by getting $5,000, the maximum allowed, from Larry Nichols, chief executive officer of Devon Energy Corp. The winner in Tuesday's primary faces either Troy Green of Oklahoma City or Charles Barnes of Moore in November.

•Rep. Mike Reynolds, R-Oklahoma City, finds himself behind 2-to-1 in raising money in his race.

Reynolds reported raising $37,737 and Jon Echols of Oklahoma City reported raising $74,525. Echols, who received $23,500 from committees, increased his fundraising lead by getting another $2,500 in last-minute contributions, including another $1,000 from a committee.

According to last week's campaign reports, Reynolds had $21,772 left and Echols had $18,431. Tuesday's winner will win the House District 91 seat.

•Rep. Jabar Shumate, D-Tulsa, got some last-minute financial help from University of Oklahoma President David Boren. Boren gave $500, and a Walmart political action committee also gave $500 as Shumate took in $3,250 in late contributions.

Shumate's campaign report showed he had raised $35,705 and had $16,030 on hand. His challenger, Kevin Matthews of Tulsa, reported getting $1,000 in last-minute money from two firefighter political action committees. His report showed he had raised $22,905 and had $2,286 remaining.

Tuesday's victor will win the House District 73 seat.

•Sen. Judy Eason McIntyre, D-Tulsa, also is out seeking last-minute contributions even though her opponent has not filed a report. She raised $20,350 in last-minute contribution — more than she reported having raised through July 14. Her report showed she had raised $17,230 through mid-July and had $16,407 remaining.

Her opponent, Prophet Kelly Clark Sr. of Tulsa, had not filed campaign reports. The winner in Tuesday's race will win the Senate District 11 race.

•Rep. David Derby, R-Owasso, has two GOP challengers. He's reported raising $42,579 and having $15,530 on hand. Robert Jerome of Owasso reported raising $8,155 and having $2,275 left while Bob Batterbee of Owasso reported raising $500 and having $380 left. Tuesday's winner will win the House District 74 seat.

•Rep. David Dank, R-Oklahoma City, raised $5,000 in last-minute contributions — $2,500 each from Aubrey McClendon and Clay Bennett, who are among the owners of Oklahoma City's new NBA team. Dank earlier reported raising $29,234 and having $17,895 left; he also is reporting to loaning his campaign $115,000; his opponent, Chris Oliver of Oklahoma City, has raised $200 and spent it. The winner will face Democrat Bart Jay Robey of Oklahoma City in November.

•Rep. John Trebilcock, R-Broken Arrow, raised $13,000 in last-minute contributions. He had reported raising $38,850 and having $18,006 left as of July 14. John Newhouse of Broken Arrow reported raising $11,845 and having $1,628 left. The winner will face a Democrat, Greg Frederick of Broken Arrow, in November.

•Dustin McGowen of Moore reported raising $1,398 and having $293 left in mid-July as he tries to unseat Rep. Paul Wesselhoft, R-Moore. Wesselhoft reported last-minute contributions of $8,350, including $2,500 from the Choctaw Nation. He earlier reported receiving $25,939 and having $12,437 still available. Tuesday's winner claims the House District 54 seat.

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