By Andrew Knittle
The Norman Transcript
Norman — The City of Norman’s Enforcement Authority spent the better part of an hour Monday afternoon discussing less than $300 in campaign contributions leading up to last week’s municipal elections in Ward 4.
The authority, which oversees campaign financial activity during city elections, discussed at length contribution and expenditure reports for the Ward 4 for Austin Dyches Committee and The Citizens for the Ethical Treatment of Taxpayers Committee, raising several questions about missing receipts and a resident’s refusal to answer their questions.
Authority Chair Mary Francis said Ward 4 resident Jeanette Coker was responsible for the two committees — as well as two others active during the campaign season — and had failed to provide adequate records regarding expenditures. Francis also raised questions as to why Coker, who received a certified letter informing her of Monday’s meeting, failed to show up.
Francis said she felt as though Coker hasn’t been “forthcoming” during the reporting process and that Norman residents deserve full disclosure — regardless of how small the amount — leading up an election.
“That’s why this authority was created,” Francis said after the meeting. “The citizens have a right to know where the money is coming from, who it’s coming from and how it’s being spent.”
City Attorney Jeff Bryant said the situation with Coker is a delicate one.
“Nobody really knows what she was thinking ... we won’t really until she comes in,” Bryant said. “It’s a delicate balance, you don’t want to discourage participation but those expenditures have to be reported.”
Coker didn’t return messages seeking comment Monday.
Bryant said a municipal criminal complaint could be filed against an individual if the Enforcement Authority decided the person willfully withheld information on campaign contribution and expenditure reports.
The authority also received a letter from Councilman Hal Ezzell regarding his campaign contribution report, which showed he gave $46,273.92 in the form of a self-loan. A complaint from a resident had been lodged with the Enforcement Authority questioning whether Ezzell had simply given his mayoral campaign committee the money or if it was in fact a loan.
In Norman, city campaign rules restrict individual contributions to $1,000 or less.
Ezzell, who didn’t attend the meeting, sent a letter to the authority clearing up the complaint.
“The loan is from my personal assets,” Ezzell wrote. “It is a loan and I fully intend to continue to raise funds to repay that loan, which you will see in future reports filed with the City Clerk’s office.”
The authority also reviewed contribution and expenditure reports from the Cleveland County Republican Party PAC ($860) and Friends of Aaron Stiles ($2,050), which were found to be in order.
Final campaign financial reports are due March 31.
Coker was given until April 5, the authority’s next meeting, to produce the receipts related to the Ward 4 for Austin Dyches Committee and The Citizens for the Ethical Treatment of Taxpayers Committee.
The Enforcement Authority is scheduled to provide a final report on last week’s elections to the Norman City Council on March 23 during council’s regular meeting.
Andrew Knittle 366-3540 aknittle@normantranscript.com
