Oklahoma state Senate candidate arrested Saturday

Fred E. Ray Smith was picked up Saturday on two outstanding warrants, said Pontotoc County Sheriff John Christian. Smith is challenging Sen. Susan Paddack, D-Ada, for the state Senate District 13 seat.

“He is currently still in jail because our money has been going to campaigning, so he will serve the time he needs to serve until we can get funds to get him out,” Smith's campaign manager, SunShine Fox, said Tuesday. “The fact is we should have found other resources to possibly pay that.”

Smith owes $2,921.46 in child support and $1,850 in fines to the city of Ada, Christian said. According to county court clerk's records, the fines are for two separate incidents: one in which he was caught driving with an open container and a suspended license and another in which he was driving with neither a driver's license nor insurance and also had expired tags.

Fox, who is engaged to Smith, said it was a simple oversight that Smith didn't pay the fines and that Smith has been making regular payments in child support, but recently became unemployed.

Fox said all of Smith's paycheck goes to child support every month.

“Don't you wish all men would do that?” Fox said.