Hiett Pays Off Campaign Debt Under Unique Rules, Deadlines
New Oklahoma corporation commissioner collects enough to pay off $200,000 campaign loan
by Nolan Clay
Under a tight deadline, new Oklahoma Corporation Commissioner Todd Hiett collected enough this year from donors to pay off a $200,000 family loan to his 2014 campaign and have money left over, his latest contributions report shows.
“I think I finally got my head above water,” Hiett said Friday.
Hiett, R-Kellyville, collected almost $80,000 in donations between Jan. 1 and March 31, mostly from donors in the oil and gas industry, the report shows.
Hiett faced a strict fundraising deadline. By law, donors regulated by the Corporation Commission could only contribute to him for 120 days after last November’s general election. Those donors cannot give to him again until 2020 — 120 days before the primary election, if he runs again.
“Of all the years I’ve been around politics, I didn’t know corporation commissioners had this limitation,” Hiett said. “It’s a good thing for my family not to be left with the expense of the campaign. My wife and I are obviously very pleased. Campaigning has become more and more expensive through the years.”