Murphy, Johnson Exchange Words In GOP Race For Corporation Commission
Republican Corporation Commission candidate Dana Murphy today criticized another Republican in the race, Rep. Rob Johnson, for playing what she said is a "shell game" in the reporting of his fundraising. Johnson responded by describing Murphy as a "desperate candidate."
"It seems disingenuous for my opponent to boast of his fundraising for this particular race when a closer look at his donations reveals a disparity between what is said and what is done," Murphy said. "Review of Ethics Commission reporting shows money raised by Representative Johnson has actually been contributed to his House account from many of those with a vested interest in legislation this session. As of April 29, 2008, there was not a report showing any funds contributed into his Corporation Commission account. He finally rolled over his House account contributions into his Commission account on April 30, 2008." Johnson reported the second highest total among the three candidates, $107,581 during the quarter. That total includes $86,655 from individuals, $20,000 from committees and $409 from in-kind contributions. Johnson also reported having $164,307 on hand to start the reporting period.
Johnson's top individual contributors who gave the maximum $5,000 mostly were connected to the energy industry, including Mike Cantrell, an Ada oil and gas man; Randel Polk, a geologist with BR Polk, Inc.; Charles Harmon, a Tulsa oil and gas producer; and Joel Craft, an executive with Alliance Coal, his report showed. Johnson also received $5,000 contributions from the Chickasaw Nation; Mike and Judy Johnson, the owners of a Kingfisher car dealership; and Jim and Judith Carter, self-employed auto dealers.
Murphy said, "the average voters who are aware of this shell game for fundraising from one account to another have already indicated their dislike for yet more political gamesmanship."
She also says that the diversity and number of her campaign contributions from retirees, individuals and small and large business owners all across Oklahoma underscores her broad appeal as the best candidate for this position.
Murphy reported she raised more than $64,000 for her campaign in the first three months of the year. Later in the day, Johnson responded with this news release: "Desperate candidates say desperate things when they find themselves lagging far behind their opponents, but Dana Murphy should at least get her facts straight. Republican Rob Johnson showed nearly twice as much cash on hand as Murphy when he filed his fundraising report yesterday with the Oklahoma State Ethics Commission. Johnson had $251,981 to Murphy’s $128,458.
"In a negative political attack today against leading Republican Rob Johnson, Murphy
played loose with the truth when she tried to spin her fundraising failures by fabricating
the facts.
“'Dana Murphy’s campaign is using funny numbers and funny dates to make bogus
claims,' said Keili Hicks, a spokesperson for the Johnson campaign. In an attempt to
strengthen her own fundraising shortfall, Murphy argued that Johnson’s campaign had
rolled over his State House account on April 30th.
"Hicks said Murphy’s facts were clearly wrong. Johnson launched his Corporation
Commission account January 30, nearly three months earlier than Murphy falsely
claimed.
"Not only did Johnson have twice as much cash on hand, he also raised nearly twice as
much as Murphy in the fundraising quarter.
“'If there’s someone playing a shell game, it is clearly Dana Murphy who actually
violated state ethics rules when she filed her report several days late during the January
reporting period,' Hicks said.
“'The biggest disappointment is that Murphy has violated Ronald Reagan’s 11th
Commandment once again, which was to not attack a fellow Republican,' Hicks said.
“'Dana Murphy should spend more time focusing on the needs of Oklahoma voters and
less time on false negative attacks. Perhaps conservative Republican Party leaders should
remind Murphy that our battle is with the liberal Democrat incumbent and not each other.
"'Tactics like these may be the reason her primary campaign failed in 2002,' Hicks said."
"It seems disingenuous for my opponent to boast of his fundraising for this particular race when a closer look at his donations reveals a disparity between what is said and what is done," Murphy said. "Review of Ethics Commission reporting shows money raised by Representative Johnson has actually been contributed to his House account from many of those with a vested interest in legislation this session. As of April 29, 2008, there was not a report showing any funds contributed into his Corporation Commission account. He finally rolled over his House account contributions into his Commission account on April 30, 2008." Johnson reported the second highest total among the three candidates, $107,581 during the quarter. That total includes $86,655 from individuals, $20,000 from committees and $409 from in-kind contributions. Johnson also reported having $164,307 on hand to start the reporting period.Johnson's top individual contributors who gave the maximum $5,000 mostly were connected to the energy industry, including Mike Cantrell, an Ada oil and gas man; Randel Polk, a geologist with BR Polk, Inc.; Charles Harmon, a Tulsa oil and gas producer; and Joel Craft, an executive with Alliance Coal, his report showed. Johnson also received $5,000 contributions from the Chickasaw Nation; Mike and Judy Johnson, the owners of a Kingfisher car dealership; and Jim and Judith Carter, self-employed auto dealers.
Murphy said, "the average voters who are aware of this shell game for fundraising from one account to another have already indicated their dislike for yet more political gamesmanship."
She also says that the diversity and number of her campaign contributions from retirees, individuals and small and large business owners all across Oklahoma underscores her broad appeal as the best candidate for this position.
Murphy reported she raised more than $64,000 for her campaign in the first three months of the year. Later in the day, Johnson responded with this news release: "Desperate candidates say desperate things when they find themselves lagging far behind their opponents, but Dana Murphy should at least get her facts straight. Republican Rob Johnson showed nearly twice as much cash on hand as Murphy when he filed his fundraising report yesterday with the Oklahoma State Ethics Commission. Johnson had $251,981 to Murphy’s $128,458.
"In a negative political attack today against leading Republican Rob Johnson, Murphy
played loose with the truth when she tried to spin her fundraising failures by fabricating
the facts.
“'Dana Murphy’s campaign is using funny numbers and funny dates to make bogus
claims,' said Keili Hicks, a spokesperson for the Johnson campaign. In an attempt to
strengthen her own fundraising shortfall, Murphy argued that Johnson’s campaign had
rolled over his State House account on April 30th.
"Hicks said Murphy’s facts were clearly wrong. Johnson launched his Corporation
Commission account January 30, nearly three months earlier than Murphy falsely
claimed.
"Not only did Johnson have twice as much cash on hand, he also raised nearly twice as
much as Murphy in the fundraising quarter.
“'If there’s someone playing a shell game, it is clearly Dana Murphy who actually
violated state ethics rules when she filed her report several days late during the January
reporting period,' Hicks said.
“'The biggest disappointment is that Murphy has violated Ronald Reagan’s 11th
Commandment once again, which was to not attack a fellow Republican,' Hicks said.
“'Dana Murphy should spend more time focusing on the needs of Oklahoma voters and
less time on false negative attacks. Perhaps conservative Republican Party leaders should
remind Murphy that our battle is with the liberal Democrat incumbent and not each other.
"'Tactics like these may be the reason her primary campaign failed in 2002,' Hicks said."
Labels: Corporation Commission, Dana Murphy, Rob Johnson
posted by Mike McCarville @ 11:47 AM
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