Campaign Reports Not Always Detailed, Newspaper Review Finds

Sunday, November 26th 2006, 2:22 pm

By: News On 6

TULSA, Okla. (AP) A review of campaign finance reports by the Tulsa World finds that most of the more than $30 million spent by candidates for Oklahoma political offices went toward advertising.

But the newspaper reports that the purpose of at least $470,000 in expenditures could not be determined from the reports.

That's because of vague explanations on the report or because the expense was for less than $50, meaning a description of the expenditure isn't required.

The analysis covered campaign spending between January 1st and October 23rd. The election was held on November 7th.

Advertising expenditures, more than $18.43 million, accounted for about 60 percent of all campaign spending.

Candidates spent $2.4 million on consultants, $2.54 million on mailing costs and postage and $500,000 on travel.