Election Limbo Part II Day 23: A Man Who Needs No Introduction

Say you are getting ready for the biggest day of your life-- something you’ve been working towards for years. You are throwing a party. You get to pick the person who introduces you to the world in your new role. Do you pick a guy who is best known for pleading guilty to campaign finance violations while in office and spending 34 months of a 48 month term facing impeachment before narrowly escaping? No? Well, that may be why you aren’t about to be chief of the Cherokee Nation and Bill John Baker is!

When Baker said David Walters was introducing him, we were thinking maybe there was a respected Cherokee elder somewhere out there also named David Walters that he was bringing in.  But nope.  It’s this guy…

Former OK Governor David Walters

Certainly David Walters isn’t the worst guy in the world, but he is a walking scandal.  His election campaign was so crooked it resulted in 20 indictments, including his own.  He was personally charged with eight felonies but got out of them by pleading guilty to a misdemeanor.

Right to left: State Rep. Anastasia Pittman (OKC), David Walters, Kalyn Free

Walters has made a comeback.  After all, he was a big shot for Barack Obama at his presidential convention three years ago.  If you don’t believe us, just ask the "barackopedia." 

Tell us what you think.  Does having a non-Cherokee scandal magnet headlining your inauguration seem like a smart move to you?

2 Days Until the New Election: Baker Finance Reports

As we’ve already mentioned, Smith and Baker have combined to make this a million dollar campaign.  We’ve already looked at Smith’s latest finance report, so today it’s Baker’s turn.

 

In the last reporting period, Baker raised $150,330, and had expenditures by others for another $2521.97 for a fundraising total of $152,851.97.  Notable Baker contributors include former Chief Joe Byrd at $2000, former Governor David Walters at $1000 and former CNI boss Bryan Collins.  By our quick count, he had 285 contributors with an average donation of $536.32. 

 

His biggest expenses were $62,337.68 for printing, $41,260 for mailing and $29,665 for miscellaneous, which includes money to a DC firm for phone calls.

 

A new employee seems to be Mrs. Chuck Hoskin Jr., but of course it could be some other January Hoskin.   

 

Baker’s total expenditures for the reporting period, which for him ended on the 15^th, were $150,325.53, leaving him $63,702.69 to spend over the last nine days of the campaign.  Which works out to about $7,000 day.  Assuming he doesn’t raise/loan himself another penny.  

Reminder:  Go Vote Saturday.