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March 1, 2010

Kevin Clark Stillwater NewsPress The Stillwater News Press Mon Mar 01, 2010, 11:23 AM CST

Well, it seems those who have appointed themselves the guardians of the city, the “watchdogs” of our government, cannot follow the simplest of campaign finance laws. Managing a local campaign’s finances is not rocket science.

I know this from experience, having successfully campaigned for school board three years ago. If a campaign committee limits contributions by any individual to $1,000, discloses all expenses incurred and contributions in excess of $200 on the designated forms, refuses direct corporate contributions and runs all transactions through the campaign’s checking account 99 percent of the ethical battle is already won.

Candidates who file for elections in Oklahoma are provided information regarding limitations on campaign contributions, required forms and reporting deadlines and how to contact the Oklahoma Ethics Commission to get questions clarified.

My campaign proactively called the Ethics Commission to assure that we understood all of the guidelines and requirements. It appears that some running for city council could have benefited from such a call.

“It boils my blood,” to quote Dr. Sidney Williams’ advocacy ads in both local newspapers, that those individuals managing Dennis Gronquist’s campaign did not bother to understand and follow the simplest of campaign finance laws.

Those who hold themselves up as the watchdogs of our city government must be held to the highest possible ethical standards in their own conduct. The Gronquist campaign has failed in this regard.

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