OKLAHOMACITYAdebateregardingcampaignethicsboilsdowntooneword:interest.
AsittingOklahomacorporationcommissionerisrunningforstatewideoffice.Thosecommissionersfacethemost
stringentcampaignlawsinthestatebecausetheyregulatesomeofOklahomasmostpowerfulindustries,including
petroleum,telecommunications,andelectricity.Thestatutesdictatethatofficialscantakecontributionsfrom
regulatedindustries,butonlyduringashortwindow.
CommissionerDanaMurphyisrunningforlieutenantgovernorandisalreadyfundraising.Shesaidshefeels
confidentnavigatingtherules,andthatshewontbetakingcontributionsfrompeoplewhoworkinthoseindustries
untilitisappropriate.Hercriticssaidthatitsnotsosimple.Thelawbanscontributionsfromnotonlypeoplewho
workintheregulatedindustriesbutalsothosewhoholdanyinterestinthem.
A.J.FerateistheattorneyfortheOklahomaRepublicanPartyandhasworkedforacorporationcommissioner.He
saidthatthelawistougherthanitseemsonthefirstread.
IfeelreallybadlyforCommissionerMurphybecausetherestrictionissoonerousinthisstate,hesaid.Itcreates
areallyrestrictive,andfrankly,inmyopinion,toorestrictiverequirement.
Hesaidthatinterestedpartieswouldincludeanyonewhomademoneyinanywayfromtheregulatedindustries.
Insteadofincludingonlythoseemployed,thisinterpretationwouldincludepeoplewhoownstocksinaregulated
company,shareholderswhosemutualfundownsstockinthecompany,andinthecaseofoilandgas,royalty
owners.
Hesaidthoseruleswouldmeanmorepressureonthecandidate.
Therewillbepeoplegoingthroughherdisclosurereports,hesaid.
MurphyrequestedlettersfromboththeattorneygeneralsofficeandtheEthicsCommission,andeachsaidthelaw
wouldallowsittingcorporationcommissionerstorunforhigherofficeandthattheycancampaignandraisefunds.
Thelawdictatesthecommissionerswouldfollowallethicsrulesanyothercandidatewouldwhenaccepting
donationsfrompeopleunaffiliatedwithregulatedindustries.
AbbyDillsaver,generalcounseltotheOklahomaattorneygeneralsoffice,respondedinalettertoMurphysrequest
forclarificationonMay9.
Astofundingfromregulatedentities,commissionersandcommissionemployeesareprohibitedfromreceiving
transportation,presents,orgratuitiesfromsuchanentityorfrompersonshavinganinterestinsuchanentity,the
letterreadsinpart.
Thereisawindowthatbegins120daysbeforetheprimaryelectionandends120daysafterthegeneralelectionin
whichcandidatescanacceptdonationsfromanyoneaffiliatedwithregulatedindustries.
Taggedwith: DANAMURPHY
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