Petitioners urge court to review candidate's acts
Capitol: Lawmaker's campaign under scrutiny
State law forbids accepting donations from corporations.
Petitioners urge court to review state candidate's acts

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By Michael McNutt
Published: July 17, 2008

JAY — A petition seeking a grand jury to look into alleged campaign violations by state Rep. Doug Cox is being circulated in Delaware County.

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Cox, R-Grove, denied any wrongdoing Wednesday.

"If there's any illegal contributions, it was unintentional,” Cox said. "If I need to refund any of it, I certainly will.”

The petition, ruled sufficient last week by a Delaware County district judge, alleges Cox and his wife, Drenda,who serves as treasurer of his House District 5 campaign committee, violated state law by accepting contributions from corporations.

Timothy Beauchamp,vice president of the Delaware County Democratic Party and spokesman for a Tulsa group called Oklahomans for Integrity in Government, said Cox also gave more than the maximum $5,000 allowed by law to a political action committee.

Beauchamp, who is helping circulate petitions, said organizers have less than 40 days to gather about 1,700 signatures of registered county voters.

About donation laws
State law forbids corporations from giving money to candidates, said Marilyn Hughes, executive director of the state Ethics Commission. Corporations contribute to candidates by giving money to political action committees.

Licensed liability corporations may give if they don't have a corporate owner, Hughes said.

Beauchamp said the allegedly illegal contributions came from TPC Enterprises ($100), Island Enterprises doing business as Grand Lake Regional Airport ($250) and Rose & McCrary ($100). Rose & McCrary is listed as a "PC,” which could stand for "professional corporation.”

Ethics Commission records show Cox gave $4,000 and $1,000 on Oct. 16, 2006, to Doc's Pac, which adds up to an allowable $5,000. Doc's Pac is a political action committee.

Cox, elected to the House of Representatives in 2004, is seeking re-election. He has a Democratic opponent — Kelly Kerr, 39, of Grove.

A grand jury may return indictments that could result in felony charges, while the Ethics Commission may only return civil penalties.


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Related Topics: U.S. State Government, U.S. Government, Politics, U.S. Politics, U.S. Democratic Party Politics, Political Parties


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One would be wise to research Rep. Cox's outstanding efforts to promote our Great State of Oklahoma while looking into Beauchamp's political motivations. My vote goes for Rep. Doug Cox, M.D. a respectable Oklahoman with a proven record, stong ethical intentions and endless energy to positively contribute to our State.
Gale, Tulsa - Jul 18, 2008 11:53 PM
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Don't forget to check out the background on this Timothy Beauchamp fellow, interesting to say the least. Also, the democratic opponent, Kelly Kerr is a former trial lawyer. That's one thing we don't need anymore of in out state government.
Matt, Katy - Jul 18, 2008 11:23 PM
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