Mike Reynolds: GOP Money Use Seems 'Improper'
Some of the 2004 campaign funds reportedly under investigation by the Oklahoma Ethics Commission appear to have been steered toward the campaign of a former eastern Oklahoma lawmaker, the Muskogee Phoenix reported today in a story that also quotes Republican lawmaker Mike Reynolds (pictured) as saying use of the money seems "improper."
Reynolds was named earlier by former Oklahoma Republican Party Chairman Chad Alexander as the possible source of the complaint filed with the Oklahoma Ethics Commission.
The Phoenix reported that the Oklahoma County Republican Committee footed at least part of the bill for public opinion polls conducted on behalf of former District 13 Rep. Stuart Ericson, R-Muskogee.
Ericson, who now works as an assistant prosecutor for the Sequoyah County District Attorney’s Office, said he was unaware of the surveys that appear to have been funded by the Oklahoma County GOP.
“Our races were so contested, I was just out there campaigning as hard as I could,” Ericson said. “I was knocking on doors and reaching out to the people.”
Fount Holland, Ericson’s 2004 campaign manager, said he wasn’t at liberty to discuss the polling or any connection there may have been with regard to campaign contributions to or from the Oklahoma County Republican Committee.
There have been no allegations that Ericson did anything unethical or illegal, and Ericson said he has not been contacted by anybody but the Phoenix with regard to the ethics panel probe.
While the ethics panel will not comment about its investigation, political experts say the practice of transferring funds from one political action committee to another makes it easy to launder campaign contributions. If the ethics panel finds evidence of wrongdoing, it can impose monetary penalties on parties involved.
Reynolds, of Oklahoma City, told the Phoenix that he has become alarmed about what he described as “potential campaign violations.”
“I am not in a position that I can document any violations,” Reynolds said. “On the surface it would certainly seem to be improper.”
Reynolds was named earlier by former Oklahoma Republican Party Chairman Chad Alexander as the possible source of the complaint filed with the Oklahoma Ethics Commission.
The Phoenix reported that the Oklahoma County Republican Committee footed at least part of the bill for public opinion polls conducted on behalf of former District 13 Rep. Stuart Ericson, R-Muskogee.
Ericson, who now works as an assistant prosecutor for the Sequoyah County District Attorney’s Office, said he was unaware of the surveys that appear to have been funded by the Oklahoma County GOP.
“Our races were so contested, I was just out there campaigning as hard as I could,” Ericson said. “I was knocking on doors and reaching out to the people.”
Fount Holland, Ericson’s 2004 campaign manager, said he wasn’t at liberty to discuss the polling or any connection there may have been with regard to campaign contributions to or from the Oklahoma County Republican Committee.
There have been no allegations that Ericson did anything unethical or illegal, and Ericson said he has not been contacted by anybody but the Phoenix with regard to the ethics panel probe.
While the ethics panel will not comment about its investigation, political experts say the practice of transferring funds from one political action committee to another makes it easy to launder campaign contributions. If the ethics panel finds evidence of wrongdoing, it can impose monetary penalties on parties involved.
Reynolds, of Oklahoma City, told the Phoenix that he has become alarmed about what he described as “potential campaign violations.”
“I am not in a position that I can document any violations,” Reynolds said. “On the surface it would certainly seem to be improper.”
Labels: Ethics, Fount Holland, Mike Reynolds, Stuart Ericson
posted by Mike McCarville @ 11:26 AM
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