Transcript Staff Writes

A handful of attorneys, an official with the Oklahoma Conservative Political Action Committee, several friends and two personal loans were the main sources of revenue for Republican Ron Davis' successful primary campaign for state Senate District 16.

Davis defeated fellow Republican Wayne Maxwell by 138 votes July 25 to win the GOP nomination for state Senate District 16. Davis earned 1,739 votes to Maxwell's 1,601. Davis will face the winner of the Democratic primary runoff election, Aug. 22.

Ironically, Davis won the Republican primary despite being outspent by more than $10,000.

"I won because I went door-to-door and campaigned eyeball to eyeball," Davis said. "Basically, I used my own money, went where I was unknown and knocked doors. My deal was getting the message out to Norman."

State Ethics Commission records show that Davis, an insurance agent, raised just $12,205 for his race. Of that figure Davis, himself, gave $5,000 in the form of two loans on March 8 and July 10. He reported spending only $8,488 and has $3,716 remaining.

Davis said he had no problem funding almost half of his campaign.

"Well, I just feel like that's what you should do," he said. "You don't need to spend someone else's money if you don't have confidence in yourself. You need to invest in yourself first, before other people invest in you."

While his loans accounted for the bulk of his campaign funds, Davis also received personal contributions from Charlie Meadows, an official with the Oklahoma Conservative Political Action Committee. Meadows made four contributions to Davis totaling $505: $200 on Jan. 12, $100 on March 28, $100 on May 11 and $105 on June 8.

Meadows, from Guthrie, lists his profession as "window cleaner" on Davis' campaign records. However, Meadows is also well-known as a fundraiser for OCPAC and is listed as the contact on OCPAC's newsletter.

In its February newsletter, Meadows urges conservatives to contribute to OCPAC, saying "your contributions will be used as wisely and effectively as possible to elect truly conservative Republicans to office as well as attempt to hold them accountable to conservative principles."

Davis said he met Meadows and "convinced him" to support his candidacy. "Every time he washed a window he gave me money," he said. Davis said Meadows only made personal contributions. "I didn't get any money from his PAC," he said. "But I'd like to have a contribution (from the PAC) now."

Davis also received $850 from the owners of H and H Plumbing, Carl and Clarence Hendrix. Carl Hendrix gave $250 on April 17 while Clarence Hendrix contributed $600 on June 22.

And while Davis succeeded with a low-budget approach for the primary election, that style, he said, is changing for the fall election. "For the primary, I didn't spend much time trying to raise money. I spent my time talking to people who would vote. But for the general election I've got to gear it up a lot higher."

Davis said his campaign has been in contact with state GOP leaders seeking their help. "I've talked to Tom Daxon (Oklahoma Republican Party chair) and Sen. Coffee (the state Senate's minority leader) and they have both been supportive. But we've got lots of work to do."