Chickasaws Buy Centennial Watches For Lawmakers

Monday, August 6th 2007, 6:48 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- The Chickasaw Nation provided statehood centennial watches to all of Oklahoma's 142 legislators and eight statewide elected officials for a price tag of about $13,000.

But a handful of lawmakers returned the watches, saying they were frustrated with receiving unsolicited gifts or were apprehensive about receiving such an expensive item.

Reports filed with the state Ethics Commission show the watch cost about $100.

Six lawmakers returned the watches. Another legislator , Democrat Mike Shelton, paid for the watch himself rather than accept it as a gift.

Other lawmakers who returned the watches were Representatives Dennis Johnson of Duncan, David Dank of Oklahoma City, Jason Murphey of Guthrie and Senators Mike Johnson of Kingfisher, Mike Schulz of Altus and Anthony Sykes of Moore.