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Rick Brinkley
Rick Brinkley is a former Republican member of the Oklahoma State Senate, representing District 34 from 2010 to August 20, 2015. He resigned before admitting in federal court that he stole $1.8 million from the Better Business Bureau.[1] More information on the court case can be found here.
Brinkley served as assistant majority floor leader in 2015; he stepped down in June following accusations of embezzlement.[2] He previously served as majority whip.
Biography
Brinkley graduated from Langston University and later from Oral Roberts University’s School of Theology and Missions. His professional experience includes being a television producer, an investigative producer, a writer, an on-air personality, a pastor and the president/CEO of the Better Business Bureau for Eastern Oklahoma.[3]
Committee assignments
2015 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2015 legislative session, Brinkley served on the following committees:
| Oklahoma committee assignments, 2015 |
|---|
| • Appropriations |
| • Energy |
| • Finance, Vice-Chair |
| • Pension, Chair |
| • Rules |
Brinkley stepped down from both of his leadership positions in June following accusations of embezzlement.[2]
2013-2014
In the 2013-2014 legislative session, Brinkley served on the following committees:
| Oklahoma committee assignments, 2013 |
|---|
| • Appropriations |
| • Energy |
| • Finance, Vice chair |
| • Pension, Chair |
| • Rules |
2011-2012
In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Brinkley served on the following committees:
| Oklahoma committee assignments, 2011 |
|---|
| • Appropriations |
| • Business and Labor |
| • Finance |
| • Health and Human Services |
Elections
2014
- See also: Oklahoma State Senate elections, 2014
Elections for the Oklahoma State Senate took place in 2014. A primary election took place on June 24, 2014. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was April 11, 2014. Incumbent Rick Brinkley was unopposed in the Republican primary. Brinkley was unchallenged in the general election.[4][5][6]
2010
- See also: Oklahoma State Senate elections, 2010
Brinkley defeated Tim Coager in the Republican primary on July 27 by a margin of 4,727-2,502. He ran unopposed in the general election. Vote totals were not reported.[7][8][9][10]
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
Scorecards
A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.
Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.
Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of Oklahoma scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.
2015
In 2015, the 55th Oklahoma State Legislature, first session, was in session from February 2 through May 22.
- Greater Oklahoma City Chamber: 2015 Scorecard
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to growth and development of the Oklahoma City region.
- OCPA Impact: 2015 legislative scorecard
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to the Second Amendment.
- Oklahoma Sierra Club: 2015 Environmental Report Card
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental issues.
- Research Institute for Economic Development: 2015 Reid Report
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
- The Oklahoma Constitution: 2015 Oklahoma Conservative Index (Senate)
- The Oklahoma Constitution: 2015 Oklahoma Conservative Index (House)
- Legislators were scored based on their voting record on ten bills.
2014
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2014, click [show]. |
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In 2014, the 54th Oklahoma State Legislature, second session, was in session from February 3 to May 23.
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2013
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2013, click [show]. |
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In 2013, the 54th Oklahoma State Legislature, first session, was in session from February 4 to May 24.
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2012
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2012, click [show]. |
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In 2012, the 53rd Oklahoma State Legislature, second session, was in session from February 6 to May 25.
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2011
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2011, click [show]. |
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In 2011, the 53rd Oklahoma State Legislature, first session, was in session from February 7 to May 27.
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Noteworthy events
Embezzlement accusation
Brinkley is a former CEO and COO of the Tulsa branch of the Better Business Bureau. In January 2015, Brinkley repaid the BBB nearly $49,700 from his campaign fund, and in April, he reimbursed the campaign from a personal account. Brinkley stated that the initial payment was in error and was intended to come from his personal checking account and that he had informed the state ethics commission.[11] The BBB board of directors fired Brinkley as COO on April 26, 2015. In early June, it was reported that the state bureau of investigation had been inquiring into the transactions.[12] The BBB also filed a lawsuit claiming that Brinkley took more than $1 million to pay "his mortgage, pool cleaner, personal credit card invoices, and to support a hidden gambling habit." As of June 12, 2015, Brinkley had not been charged with a criminal offense, but the state ethics commission moved to launch its own investigation that day. Also as of that date, he had not divulged the reason for the initial transaction.[11]
On June 5, 2015, the Better Business Bureau of Tulsa filed a civil suit against Brinkley. The suit alleged that Brinkley embezzled more than $1 million over the span of 15 years.[13]
On August 20, 2015, Brinkley admitted in federal court that he stole $1.8 million from the Better Business Bureau.[1] He pleaded guilty to five counts of wire fraud and one count of tax evasion.[14] According to NewsOK, Brinkley "agreed to pay $1,829,033 in restitution to the Better Business Bureau of Tulsa and $165,625 to the Internal Revenue Service in unpaid taxes."[14]
On March 11, 2016, Brinkley was sentenced to 37 months in prison. He was also ordered to pay $1.8 million in restitution and to complete 50 hours of community service.[15]
Personal
Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Brinkley has one son and one grandson.[3]
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Rick Brinkley Oklahoma Senate. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
See also
- Oklahoma State Senate
- Senate Committees
- Oklahoma State Legislature
- Oklahoma state legislative districts
External links
- Profile from Open States
- Campaign contributions via Follow the Money
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 koco.com, "Oklahoma state senator pleads guilty to wire fraud, tax evasion; resigns position," accessed August 20, 2015
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 NewsOK, "Oklahoma state senator steps down from committee chairmanships amid embezzlement allegation," June 8, 2015
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Project Vote Smart, "Biography of Sen. Rick Brinkley," accessed May 23, 2014
- ↑ Oklahoma State Election Board, "Candidates for State Elective Officials 2014," accessed April 15, 2014
- ↑ Oklahoma State Election Board, "Official Results Statewide Primary Election — June 24, 2014," accessed July 10, 2014
- ↑ Oklahoma State Election Board, "Official General Election Results, Federal, State, Legislative and Judicial Races — November 4, 2014," accessed November 5, 2014
- ↑ Oklahoma State Election Board, "Oklahoma Candidates for State Elective Office 2010," accessed May 25, 2014
- ↑ Oklahoma State Election Board, "Summary Results Primary Election — July 27, 2010," accessed May 25, 2014
- ↑ Oklahoma State Election Board, "Summary Results Runoff Primary Election — August 24, 2010," accessed May 25, 2014
- ↑ Oklahoma State Election Board, "Summary Results General Election — November 2, 2010," accessed May 25, 2014
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Tulsa World, "State Ethics Commission next to investigate Sen. Rick Brinkley," June 12, 2015
- ↑ The Oklahoman, "OSBI investigating Oklahoma state senator over BBB funds," June 1, 2015
- ↑ publicradiotulsa.org, "Brinkley Asks for Stay in Civil Suit Proceedings," accessed July 23, 2015
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 NewsOK, "Oklahoma Sen. Rick Brinkley pleads guilty to fraud charge after stealing more than $1.8M from BBB," accessed August 20, 2015
- ↑ kjrh.com, "Fmr Okla. Senator Rick Brinkley sentenced to 37 months in prison for embezzlement case," accessed March 12, 2016
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Randy Brogdon (R) |
Oklahoma State Senate District 34 2010–August 20, 2015 |
Succeeded by J.J. Dossett (D) |
