SD 12: Stipe Law Firm Donations Biggest Issue?

It's considered a key race for Republicans as they fight to take control of the Oklahoma State Senate this year, and the acceptance of a $5,000 donation by Democrat John Mark Young from the law firm founded by disgraced former Senator Gene Stipe in McAlester may be the biggest issue in the Senate District 12 battle in Creek-Tulsa-Okfuskee counties.

Young, an attorney, received $5,000 from the law firm and also received $2,750 in donations from law firm members James Belote of Edmond, Tony Laizure of Tulsa, Eddie Harper of McAlester and John Thetford of Tulsa, plus $5,000 in donations in $2,500-each sums from attorneys John Harlan and Mike Jones and smaller donations from other attorneys; the Stipe law firm donations of $7,750 comprise about 21 percent of the $38,000 Young had received as of his last Ethics Commission report filed in early August. The two Stipe family members still in the firm, Clyde and Jack, are not listed as donors. Gene Stipe was forced to surrender his law license and resign from the Senate as part of federal charges that came as the result of laundered money going into the congressional campaign of Stipe protege Walt Roberts.

Republican Rep. Brian Bingman, who is giving up the House seat he won two years ago in his first meeting with Young, had raised about $195,000 as of his last report. He reported having spent $54,300, $8,000 of it going to his campaign consultant.

Bingman hasn't been talking about the Stipe law firm donations, but others have. "Taking that money was a huge mistake," said a Bingman supporter and longtime Creek County GOP activist. "Even some Democrats have a hard time with that," he added, and he said it doesn't make any difference that Gene Stipe is no longer associated with the firm. "It's still the 'Stipe Law Firm' and everybody knows who that is," he said.

Bingman defeated Young by 1,820 votes in their House race two years ago. Young says he has a better chance in the Senate district because it is larger and contains more Democrats.

For Tony Laizure's thoughts on this article, read them by clicking on the comments button at the bottom of this story.

Bingman, 52, has been talking about illegal immigration, economic development and education. Young, 56, has been talking about education, health care and the economy. Bingman is a land manager for Uplands Resources of Tulsa. Young has the support of term-limited Senator Ted Fisher and the Oklahoma Senate Democrats organization has been pushing the endorsement. Young claims Bingman won two years ago in the House race because he had a popular Republican president at the top of the ticket. Some in the district, however, say they saw no signs of "coattails" from President Bush. They also concur that Young could benefit in this race from party-line Democrats who might be enthused enough about Governor Brad Henry to go to the polls and vote a straight ticket.

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