LARGENT raises $588,000 in three months

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ U.S. Rep. Steve Largent has already raised $588,000 for a governor's race that is still more than a year away. <br><br>The former NFL wide receiver plans to leave Congress on Nov.

Wednesday, August 1st 2001, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ U.S. Rep. Steve Largent has already raised $588,000 for a governor's race that is still more than a year away.

The former NFL wide receiver plans to leave Congress on Nov. 29 to run for governor. Gov. Frank Keating, a Republican, is completing his second and final term as governor.

Largent, R-Okla., has set a $3 million fund-raising goal for the campaign.

So far, he has spent $77,700 on mailings, consultants, salaries and office expenses, leaving about $519,000 in his campaign account, according to campaign reports released Tuesday. The reports cover a period from April through June.

Most of his money came from individual contributors, including Express Services Inc. owner Bob Funk, former U.S. Rep. Tom Coburn, accountant Jay Stephens as well as thousands of dollars from company executives, college professors, businessmen and attorneys.

Independent gubernatorial candidate Gary Richardson, who is running as an independent, reports contributing nearly $1.1 million to his own campaign. The wealthy Tulsa attorney has spent about $59,798 on polling, consultants, a commercial and for a list of independent voters.

A special election will be called to replace Largent in Congress but no date has been set for the vote.

Keating's wife, Cathy Keating, is running to replace Largent. She has raised $511,505 for her campaign, five times as much as opponent, state Rep. John Sullivan, R-Tulsa. State Sen. Scott Pruitt, R-Broken Arrow, reported raising $35,899.

The only Democratic candidate to file a report was former Tulsa school board member Doug Dodd, who reported raising $27,498.

Keating received $492,000 of her money from individual contributors.

She has set a $1 million fund-raising goal.