Chris Casteel The Oklahoman State Rep. Mike Turner, who has put $625,000 of his own money into his Oklahoma congressional race, is being backed by a political action committee that has received $135,000 from other Turners.
The Democracy Values Fund — a recently-established super PAC — received $125,000 from a trust held by Michele G. Turner and $10,000 from Jack E. Turner, of southwest Oklahoma City, an executive with Beckham Operating, according to a report filed with the Federal Election Commission.
An attorney for the PAC said Thursday he did not know what relation Michele Turner had, if any, to the candidate.
Democracy Values Fund reported Thursday that it has spent $121,000 — mostly for advertising — on behalf of Turner’s campaign. Turner, 27, serves in the state House and owns an interest in the family business, S.M.J. Corp. , which includes Turner Bros. Trucking, Turner Bros. Crane and Rigging and Beckham Operating. He is one of six Republicans running for the nomination to replace Rep. James Lankford, R-Oklahoma City, who is running for the U.S. Senate.
Turner’s self funding gave him the biggest campaign war chest in the race. Corporation Commissioner Patrice Douglas reported raising $559,000 through June 4. Only Douglas has been able to come close to matching the money Turner and the Democracy Values PAC have spent on advertising. The primary is June 24.
Is that even legal? What are the FEC rules about this? Sounds like there’s more to this one than meets the eye.
There should not be any limits on what a candidate for office can personally contribute to his campaign. I think that’s better than PAC money. Leave it to the voters to decide.
Voters tired of these politicians playing games and shuffling money around. That’s why people don’t vote. Stories like this just enforce voter skepticism, and distrust of our political system. Time after time, wherever there’s smoke, there’s usually fire.
It’s best just to steer clear and vote for someone with a clean record, not under suspicion. Personally I don’t think he’s one of them.