Oklahoma Ethics Director Questions Poultry Ads

Monday, September 18th 2006, 6:02 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- The director of the Oklahoma Ethics Commission questions whether advertising paid for by Arkansas poultry companies is meant to influence the state attorney general's race.

Commission director Marilyn Hughes says the advertisements she's seen on the Web site of the Poultry Community Council walk "a fine line." The ads also appear on television, radio stations, and newspapers.

The advertisements don't mention Attorney General Drew Edmondson by name, but several refer in general to, quote, "the attorney general."

They also don't mention the federal lawsuit filed by Edmondson against the companies.

Archie Schaffer, a senior vice president for Tyson Foods -- one of the companies funding the Poultry Community Council -- says the advertising isn't meant to harm Edmondson or help his Republican opponent, James Dunn.

Schaffer describes the ads as educational.

Edmondson has sued the poultry companies, including Tyson Foods, alleging that poultry operations have polluted the Illinois River, which flows through Oklahoma and Arkansas.