Free Watches with a mixed Reaction
The Chickasaw Nation provided statehood centennial watches to all of Oklahoma’s 142 legislators and eight statewide elected officials, although a handful of lawmakers returned the Movado watches.
The watch, which has the official state centennial emblem on it, cost nearly $100, according to a report filed with the state Ethics Commission.
The Chickasaws, the only one of 39 tribes in the state that is a sponsor of the state’s centennial celebration, spent $13,596 on the watches kept by the 142 legislators, according to a report filed by the tribe’s lobbyist, Gary Charles Bastin. An additional $766 was spent on the watches for the statewide elected officials.
Six legislators returned the watches, valued at $95.75. Another legislator, Rep. Mike Shelton, paid for the watch himself rather than accept it as a gift.
“It was such a nice watch, I paid for it out of my own pocket,” said Shelton, D-Oklahoma City. “I just didn’t feel good about accepting a gift like that.”
Those who returned the gifts said they did so not because of any ill will toward the tribe, but because they were frustrated with receiving unsolicited gifts or were apprehensive about receiving such an expensive item.
The Chickasaws offered the gifts to lawmakers and statewide elected officials as a sign of goodwill, said Robyn Elliott, a Chickasaw spokeswoman.
“We purchased a number of the watches to show support for the Oklahoma centennial,” Elliott said. “We’ve given these watches to several individuals as part of our celebration of this historic time in Oklahoma history. We are supportive of the centennial and its events.”
The tribe was not offended by the legislators returning the watches, Elliott said.
Rep. Dennis Johnson, R-Duncan, said he doesn’t have a problem with legislators getting trinkets and small gifts, saying he often passes those on to constituents and friends.
“This just seemed a little bit extravagant to me to just pass on to somebody else,” he said. “So I thought, ‘Well, I’m going to send this one back.’”Rep. David Dank, R-Oklahoma City, said he is troubled that some of the tribe’s income is from gambling operations.”The casinos are the armpit of the state,” Dank said. Sen. Mike Johnson, R-Kingfisher, said he gave the watch back because he didn’t need one and “it seemed like a pretty expensive gift.” Sens. Mike Schulz, R-Altus, and Anthony Sykes, R-Moore, also did not accept the watches. Rep. Jason Murphey, R-Guthrie, said he gave the watch back because he has pledged to refuse all gifts from lobbyists.
Everything was nice although a handful of lawmakers returned the Movado watches.
Related Posts
Tags: GoldWatches, Info, Movado, Movado Watches, Watch, Watches
