Insurance Interests Flood Holland With Cash

Insurance interests, many of them out of the state, have flooded the campaign of State Insurance Commissioner Kim Holland with cash, a study of her Ethics Commission paperwork shows. As commissioner, Holland regulates the industry.

Thus far this year, more than 300 donations from those in the insurance industry have been logged by her campaign as part of the $700,000 total she's raised. Follow The Money reports Holland has received $75,687 from insurance interests and $35,375 from lawyers and lobbyists, many of whom are connected to the insurance industry.

Not all the insurance industry donations to Holland are in cash. On October 23rd, her most recent finance report shows, the chairman of American Fidelity Group in Oklahoma City, William Cameron, made an in-kind contribution of $2,035 to pay for what apparently was a fundraising party. The sum brought Cameron to the maximum donation of $5,000.

Holland's finance reports show that in the period January 1st to March 31st, at least 86 insurance industry donations were received; in the period April 1st to July 10th, the total was at least 70; in the period July 11th to August 7th, the total was 10; in the period August 8th to October 23rd, the total was at least 132.

Among the donors is Capitol lobbyist Justin Whitefield, who donated $1,500; he represents several insurance entities, including the American Insurance Association.

Holland's donations from those in the insurance industry have figured in the attack launched against her by the secret Texas group, "Just The Facts America." That group has now been tied to an "of counsel" attorney (Jill Graham of Goodyear, Arizona) to the law firm of Enid attorney Stephen Jones, who represents Texas insurance company owner Bradford A. Phillips, son of Gene E. Phillips, the businessman who became well know here during the scandal that enveloped former Commission Carroll Fisher. (For details, see our archives for the last two weeks.)

Holland also has received donations totaling more than $60,000 from those associated with Ada-based Pre-Paid Legal. Founder Harland Stonecipher and others have showered Holland with donations; the firm's business is not regulated by the OID although have suggested it should be since its product is pre-paid legal insurance.

Holland's most recent campaign finance report shows she's spent $635,000 and has about $43,000 in cash on hand. Her most recent expenditure was for television commercials.

Holland is facing her first election; she was appointed to the post by Governor Brad Henry after Fisher resigned. She faces a tort claim filed by her former executive administrative assistant, who was fired a year ago and alleges Holland has put workers on her staff who spend most of their time working on her campaign. (See our archives for the full story.)

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