 |
Wednesday, July 19, 2006
 By ANGEL RIGGS World Capitol Bureau
Howard Barnett says his opponent, Dan Keating, has a history of mishandling his finances.
OKLAHOMA CITY -- Treasurer candidate Howard Barnett launched a negative advertising campaign Tuesday, pointing to opponent Dan Keating's financial problems.
"I think this information is pertinent to voters who are deciding who is going to handle the state's checkbook," Barnett said in a news release Tuesday.
Barnett, 56, who worked as former Gov. Frank Keating's chief of staff for more than three years, is competing against Dan Keating, 62, the governor's twin brother, for the Republican nomination in the treasurer's race.
"My opponent has a history of mishandling his finances, while I have an unblemished history of financial success," Barnett said.
Dan Keating said he has no financial problems now and that Barnett is "trying to drudge up anything that happened in my 35-year career."
The strategy shows that Barnett thinks he is losing, Keating said.
"Howard is desperate," he said. "The front-runner never goes negative."
Barnett's ads, which began Tuesday, claim that Keating has been sued six times for not paying bills and that he had an account garnished for nonpayment.
The ads also point to foreclosure proceedings on Keating's house and tax liens filed against his property for 1 failing to pay state income taxes.
Barnett released copies of Oklahoma Tax Commission documents detailing Keating's financial problems.
Keating, now president of Summit Consolidated Group in Tulsa, said he has received a presidential appointment and that his record has withstood inquiry from the FBI.
He said his financial problems stemmed from his involvement as an underwriting member of Lloyd's of London, which faced major losses in the 1980s.
Keating said he "never expected Lloyd's to be the fraud that it is and certainly was" and that the process took about 15 years and $300,000 "to get away from."
The experience has made him a proponent of tort reform, he said.
Keating said his campaign will begin ads this week that will "focus a little bit more on Howard's record."
Keating has raised about $183,270, and has about $4,341 left. Barnett has raised more than $734,580 and has $158,790 unspent.
Barnett's funds include nearly $504,000 that he loaned to his own campaign, according to a quarterly finance report.
Keating, who did not list any loans on his report, questioned Barnett's move.
"He's put around half a million of his own money in the campaign, and he's going to lose it," Keating said.
"You have to say, as a smart businessman, what kind of a return is that?"
Posted at 7/19/2006 09:45:00 AM  
|
|
|
