SD 16: Money Favors Democrat John Sparks

If money is the key factor in the race for the State Senate District 16 seat that includes Norman and Purcell, the advantage clearly goes to Democrat John Sparks. But if barely surviving a bitter primary runoff where the man who lost by 76 votes still hasn't endorsed you is a disadvantage, Sparks has that as well.

Sparks has spent almost three times as much to pay his various campaign consultants as Republican Ron Davis has raised. At least that was true as of the filing of their early August campaign finance reports with the Oklahoma Ethics Commission. Davis had, at that time, raised $15,535. Sparks, at that time, had paid numerous consultants $41,305, including $21,084 to Evolve Research Strategies, Oklahoma City market research firm, and $2,340 to Carrier Marshall & Associates, Oklahoma City political consulting firm. He also paid Zata 3 Consulting, Washington-based polling firm, $3,488 and Butler & Associates $5,000.

Sparks' last report shows he had raised $264,000 and spent $211,000. He loaned his campaign $31,835. Most of Sparks' larger donors are outside the district; many are outside the state. Inside the state but outside the district, his largest donors are Don Smith of Smith Cogeneration of Oklahoma City, $3,000, and Dr. Kyle Toal of Oklahoma City, $5,000.

Most of Davis' donors are inside the district, and gave small amounts. He loaned his campaign $5,000 of the total $15,535 he raised. He spent $8,673. His largest donor is Hoyt Mayes of First American Bank in Norman, who gave $1,000. Guthrie window washer Charlie Meadows, who also heads the Oklahoma Conservative Political Action Committee, donated $705.

Two weeks ago, Davis told a reporter he's raised considerably more money since his last report was filed, and several observers say that's true. Insiders say Davis' campaign picked up steam following the bitter Sparks runoff with Tim Emrich, who dismissed Sparks by saying he didn't know when he would speak to him or whether his supporters would vote for Sparks. One group of Emrich supporters ran an ad calling on Sparks to apologize for his campaign and fire his campaign consultants. That upheaval prompted Republican leaders to put the race on their radar screens as a possible GOP pickup in their fight to win control of the Senate. The seat is now held by Cal Hobson, who has endorsed Sparks. Senator Minority Glenn Coffee said Davis "is a strong candidate." State GOP Chairman Tom Daxon said, "Two months ago, we were keeping an eye on this district, but realistically looking at more favorable districts elsewhere. However, that is no longer true. Ron Davis is putting himself in a position to win and he has the full support of the Oklahoma Republican Party."

Davis, 53, is a Purcell insurance agent and Oklahoma State University graduate. Reforming state government is his primary goal. He said state funding has grown by 33 percent in the past two years but money isn't "going into the classrooms. I want to know where all that money is going." Sparks, 37, is a Harvard University graduate and obtained his law degree from the University of Oklahoma Law School. He is president of the Cleveland County Bar Association. He is talking about education and health care, two issues Hobson stressed during his sometimes-rocky years in the Senate. Both candidates also are discussing prison funding; the district has two large prisons.

Most observers give Sparks the edge in this race, but barely; they say the split in the Democratic Party created by the harsh runoff remains and note that some Democrats have formed "Democrats for Davis." Some think Emrich's voters won't vote for Davis, but they could stay home or just avoid voting in the race and that could create a problem for Sparks in this district which includes six House districts, four of which are held by Republicans, and in which Republican registration has increased in recent years.

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