Election's big givers identified

By Nolan Clay and Ryan McNeill

Published: November 5, 2006

At least 6 exceed $90,000 in gifts

Oil men, a floral company founder and an attorney are among the biggest individual donors to Oklahoma candidates seeking election this year to statewide offices, the state Legislature or Congress, records show.

At least six prominent Oklahomans gave more than $90,000 each to those state candidates or state political party-related committees.

"I'm spent out," joked one big donor, oil man David Chernicky.

Some of the biggest givers favored Republicans; one gave only to Democrats.

Some Indian tribes flush with money from gaming also have been big donors to statewide races, legislative candidates and political party-related committees.

The Chickasaw Nation, Choctaw Nation and other tribes gave more than $620,000 in the last two years. The most went to Gov. Brad Henry more than $30,000.

"Gov. Henry received support from Oklahomans of all walks of life business people, educators, farmers, doctors, retirees and on and on," said a Henry spokesman, Paul Sund.

Tribal donations went to three times as many Democrats as Republicans, records show.

Chesapeake Energy Corp.'s political action committee was among the biggest donors of the specialty political action committees.

It gave more than $350,000 to candidates and other political action committees over the last two years.

Another group, the Oklahoma Independent Energy political action committee, gave more than $275,000 the last two years.

These big donors intend to get access from giving and also favorable policies, said James Davis, an Oklahoma State University political science professor who specializes in political campaigns.

"If you had two phones ringing, and you're an elected official, and one was a major interest giving you $5,000 and the other is a teacher who gave you $100, which phone are you going to pick up, you know?" Davis said.

The Oklahoman identified the top donors from an analysis of millions of dollars in contributions over two years to the races for governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general and other statewide offices as well as to this year's candidates for the state Legislature or Congress.

The Oklahoman also included in the analysis donations over two years to six key political party-related committees the Oklahoma Democratic Party, Democrats of the Oklahoma State Senate, Oklahoma House political action committee, the Oklahoma Republican Party, the Oklahoma State Republican Senatorial Committee and the Republican State House Committee of Oklahoma.

The analysis did not include donations to judges, district attorneys, county candidates, specialty political action committees and races in other states.

Larry Nichols, chairman of Devon Energy Corp., was the biggest individual giver, the analysis showed.

He donated more than $131,000 to statewide races, legislative and congressional candidates, and party-related committees in the last two years.

Nichols also gave more to other races and political action committees, including Oklahoma County District Attorney Wes Lane and the Oklahoma City Business Council.

The Oklahoma City-based company has its own political action committee, which also made donations.

"Regardless of whether a candidate is a Republican or a Democrat, I look at their platform and their voting record," Nichols said. "If they demonstrate that they are fiscally conservative, address issues that are important to creating jobs in Oklahoma and keeping the state competitive, I will support them."

Chernicky gave $114,000, records show.

Chernicky, of Tulsa, manages New Dominion LLC, which was formed in 1998 to redevelop oil fields of central Oklahoma.

"I am trying to do what I think is right for Oklahoma," he said. "I don't believe in the far left. I don't believe in the far right. I believe in people who want to bring it back to the middle. ... I've been doing it for 20 years. ... I just try to put it where I think it's going to do the most good for the greatest number of people."

He said he gives more to charities and churches.

Herman Meinders, of Oklahoma City, gave more than $102,000, mostly to Republicans, the analysis showed.

Meinders founded American Floral Services flowers-by-wire company. His generosity to Oklahoma City University enabled it to build a new business school.

George Krumme, owner of Krumme Oil Co., gave more than $93,000 in Oklahoma, focusing on Democrats.

Krumme, of Tulsa, is perhaps the top political contributor overall among Oklahomans because he also gave thousands of dollars to Democrats running for Congress or the U.S. Senate in other states.

He said he does not have a budget. "I give where it appeals to me," he said. "I'm fortunate to have some money.

"I just happen to be a strong Democrat, I guess, is all I can say," Krumme said. "I believe ... even though the Republicans mean well, the Democrats, despite all their failings, do a better job."

Stephen Jones, an Enid attorney, gave more than $98,000 to the state races, state legislative and congressional candidates, and Republican committees.

He also gave thousands of dollars more to candidates running for district attorney and judgeships.

"I have a lot of friends in politics," Jones said. "I've been doing it for decades."

He said he gave his first donation two quarters when he was 12 to Dwight Eisenhower.

Jones favors Republicans. He is a former Republican Party state chairman and has run as a Republican for U.S. Senate and for attorney general. He also is known for defending Oklahoma City bomber Tim McVeigh.

Jones also gives to Democrats, including $500 to Cal Hobson's failed lieutenant governor campaign. Jones said he admires Hobson for climbing back from personal problems.

Ralph Harvey, owner of Oklahoma City's Marlin Oil Corp.,gave more than $99,000.

"I wouldn't know," he said of his total. "I just try to pick out good candidates. Whenever they ask me, I check them out. If they pass muster, I try to help them out a little bit."

Harvey said, "I certainly favor Republicans over Democrats, because the Republicans are generally the conservative ones and the Democrats are generally the liberals."

The Chickasaw Nation gave $312,150 to statewide races, state legislative races and political party-related committees. Its gaming operation, Chickasaw Enterprises, gave another $11,000.

"They give for the same reason everybody else gives to elections to get their man elected so that they have access," said Neal McCaleb, a consultant to Chickasaw Gov. Bill Anoatubby.

The Choctaw Nation was the second biggest tribal contributor, giving $178,000.

"Historically, we've always given," said Assistant Chief Mike Bailey. "We just see a need to stay involved."

The Oklahoman analysis also showed controversial workers' compensation attorney Richard Bell and his employees donated more than $85,000 to Democrats.

Bell pleaded guilty in 1993 for his role in a campaign contribution scandal involving former Gov. David Walters.

The Working Oklahomans Alliance political action committee donated more than $176,000 to various candidates and other political action committees over the last two years. It is funded by Bell, other workers' compensation attorneys and their clients.

Another lawyers' political action committee, called LEGAL, donated more than $140,000.