Henry Gives Campaign Funds To State Democratic Party

Wednesday, August 1st 2007, 2:23 pm

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ Gov. Brad Henry, who raised nearly $5 million in his re-election campaign, still has $615,0000 in his war chest, according to records filed with the state Ethics Commission.

He gave $15,000 from his re-election campaign to help out the debt-ridden Oklahoma Democratic Party, records show. The party still owes about $35,000, mostly expenses incurred by Brad Carson's unsuccessful 2004 congressional bid.

The deadline to file reports was Tuesday.

Reports for the period from April 1 to June 30 show Henry's campaign generated about $8,200 during that time, mostly in the form of interest earned on invested campaign funds.

Henry's campaign reported expenses of nearly $47,000, some of which went to a part-time employee to administer his campaign account and make sure everything is kept up-to-date, said a Henry spokesman.

Henry's opponent, former U.S. Rep. Ernest Istook, showed little progress in whittling down his campaign debt of $34,500, his report shows.

Istook took out loans of $22,000 and $12,500 and loaned the money to his campaign.

Istook's campaign took in $4,400 during the last quarter and spent about $6,100; some went to bank charges and $5,000 went for fundraising, his report shows.

Former House Speaker Todd Hiett was able to raise $55,000 to pay off some of his debt.

Hiett, who has formed a new committee -- Friends of Todd Hiett for Lieutenant Governor 2010 -- still owes $95,000, his report shows. The Republican borrowed $200,000 to loan to his campaign in the waning days of last fall's general election.

The new committee is for accounting purposes, Hiett said. He has not made any plans for making a run for any political office.

Lt. Gov. Jari Askins, who provided more than half the $1.7 million raised in her successful campaign, has about $7,600 available in campaign funds, her report shows. She gave her campaign $880,000.