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CAPITOL WATCH

M. Scott Carter
M. Scott Carter

M. Scott Carter reports on politics, legislation and other issues from the State Capitol.


Former Gov. Brad Henry and former U.S. Congressman Wes Watkins – both retired from public service – haven’t completely given up on politics.

At least they haven’t when it comes to making campaign donations.

According to last-minute campaign filings from the Oklahoma Ethics Commission, Republican Gov. Mary Fallin received $1,024 from Watkins on June 20. Watkins served as a Democrat in Congress from 1977 until 1991, then held the same seat as a Republican from 1997 until 2003.

Fallin also received money from high-profile contributors such as Ed Malzhan, owner of the Charles Machine Works in Perry, $500; state Capitol architect Duane Mass, $1,000; Oklahoma City auto dealer Robert Howard, $5,000, and the Quapaw Tribe, $2,500.

Henry, a Democrat who served as governor from 2003 until 2011, contributed $1,500 to Joe Dorman, the Democratic challenger in the gubernatorial race. Gerald Adams, Henry’s former chief of staff, also gave Dorman $1,500.

Dorman also collected last-minute contributions from tribal governments. He received $2,500 from the Osage Nation. In addition, Dorman received two donations from the Moore Firefighters political action committee totaling $1,100, and $833 from former Oklahoma House Speaker Lloyd Benson and his wife, Judy.

Records show Dorman raised $53,188 in last-minute contributions from June 12 through August 25.

Fallin’s campaign reported last-minute contributions totaling $42,604 from June 11 though June 23.

Last-minute contribution reports, required within 24 hours of accepting $500 or more in the aggregate from a contributor, were required to be filed from June 10 through June 23 for the primary election and from Aug. 12 through Aug. 25 for the primary runoff election.


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