Walt Roberts, Darryl Roberts cited for failing to follow FEC rules

TULSA, Okla. (AP) -- Failure to follow rules on filing campaign<br>finance reports has drawn two unsuccessful candidates for<br>Oklahoma's 3rd District congressional seat to the attention of the<br>Federal

Tuesday, September 14th 1999, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

TULSA, Okla. (AP) -- Failure to follow rules on filing campaign
finance reports has drawn two unsuccessful candidates for
Oklahoma's 3rd District congressional seat to the attention of the
Federal Election Commission.

The FEC has cited both former state Rep. Walt Roberts of
McAlester and former state Sen. Darryl Roberts of Ardmore for
failure to file mid-year reports on their 1998 campaign accounts,
the Tulsa World reported in today's editions from its Washington
bureau. Walt Roberts won the Democratic nomination in a runoff, but
lost to U.S Rep. Wes Watkins, the Republican incumbent, in last
year's general election.

Under federal law, unsuccessful candidates must continue to file
updated reports with the FEC covering the status of their campaign
funds. Both candidates ended up in debt.

Their latest mid-year reports were due July 31.
"It is important that you file this report immediately with the
Federal Election Commission. The failure to file this report may
result in an audit or legal enforcement action," an FEC official
wrote in mailgrams sent to campaign treasurers for both candidates

Neither Walt Roberts nor Darryl Roberts returned phone calls
seeking comment.

Each has attracted FEC attention before. The way Walt Roberts
financed his campaign, including a cattle deal and an art auction,
drew a request for an FEC investigation from Oklahoma's
all-Republican congressional delegation. No action has been taken.

According to the year-end report filed by his campaign earlier
this year, Walt Roberts' campaign still had debts or other
obligations totaling $147,150, with cash on hand totaling $30.75.

Darryl Roberts has had contact with the FEC over use of campaign
contributions made for use in the general election. The FEC wrote
him last year that candidates who fails to make it to the general
election cannot use funds that were donated to finance a general
election campaign.

His campaign reported receiving more than $10,000 in donations
for the general election last year. His year-end report filed
earlier this year listed only one refund totaling $100.

That report also indicated that his campaign still had debts and
other obligations totaling $66,852 with $2,768 cash on hand.