Tulsa County Democratic Party Wants Ethics Investigation Of Regalado Campaign

The Tulsa County Democratic Party wants an investigation into the Republican candidate for Tulsa County Sheriff.

The party requested an Ethics Commission investigation of possible straw donors to the Vic Regalado campaign. Regalado won the Tulsa Republican primary election for Tulsa County Sheriff on March 1.

Democrats want an investigation into whether contributions were made in the name of another person so as not to exceed the limit of $2,700 for individual donors. They will hold a news conference at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday.

2/26/2016 Related Story: TCSO Sheriff Candidate Receives Over $34,000 In Donations From One Company

Regalado received the most donations of all the Republicans in the primary. News On 6 and our partner, The Frontier, discovered about a quarter of those donations came from employees at one manufacturing company.

The Tulsa County Democratic Party states in a news release: 

Recent media reports have called into question more than a dozens substantial contributions to the Regalado campaign, made by employees of ISTI Plant Services, a Rogers County based Port of Catoosa manufacturing concern.  The contributions total approximately $40,000 and make up about 25% of the campaign’s primary election receipts.  ISTI employees and their spouses contributed the maximum or near maximum of $2,700 each.

It is very unusual for such individuals to give such large amounts, strongly suggesting others provided the funds, others who must have maxed out on donations. 

Rex Berry is the Democratic candidate for Sheriff. The election is April 5, 2016.