"Overzealous campaign worker" distributes campaign signs in capitol parking lot
With less than month left until the July 25th primary, Speaker Hiett's campaign is not wasting any time promoting their candidate, even if it means violating state ethics laws. The
AP is reporting that dozens of yard signs promoting House Speaker Todd Hiett's campaign for lieutenant governor were distributed in a state Capitol parking lot Friday.
From the AP:
"Hiett, said he did not know the signs were distributed to some House member's cars and trucks in the Capitol's east parking lot and ordered them removed as soon as he learned about it. Hiett attributed their distribution to an "overzealous campaign worker."
"Their intentions were good. They just didn't use good judgment," Hiett said. "That is clearly inappropriate." Hiett did not identify the campaign worker and said no action is planned.
Hiett said he has not used his office for campaign purposes but has been focused on state budget issues. Hiett was presiding over the House during its special budget-writing session when he learned of the yard sign issue.
Ethics Commission rules prohibit the distribution of political campaign material "on sidewalks, common grounds or parking lots and within public buildings" used to conduct state government business.
The signs were placed against the sides of several parked cars, pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles driven by Republican House members and staffers who had requested them. Others were placed in the beds of lawmakers' pickup trucks.
One House member, Rep. Odilia Dank, R-Oklahoma City, said she had not considered the ethical implications of distributing the campaign signs on state property.
"Somebody told me they might put them there," Dank said. "I will see that they get removed."
Another, Rep. Thad Balkman, R-Norman, said he agreed to take several of the signs a few weeks ago. A bundle of blue plastic signs, bearing the words "Hiett Lieutenant Governor" in white letters, were left leaning against his pickup truck.
Hiett said he was not consulted before the signs were distributed.
"I knew better," he said. "It's clearly inappropriate and it shouldn't have happened."
The House's Democratic leader designate, Rep. Danny Morgan, D-Prague, said he was concerned about the use of state property for Hiett's campaign activity. He said ethics guidelines prohibit campaign activity in "our offices, our desks and I'm assuming our parking lots."
Sen. Scott Pruitt, R-Broken Arrow, who is also running for lieutenant governor, said distribution of the signs at the state Capitol "could be a problem."
Hiett faces Pruitt and Sen. Nancy Riley, R-Tulsa, in the July 25 Republican primary for lieutenant governor."
Posted at 6/26/2006 08:20:00 AM
