LAWTON – A candidate for a state legislative seat in southwest Oklahoma has been sued again in small-claims court over another allegedly unpaid campaign debt.
Shameka Charise Walker of Lawton sued Shykira Smith, a candidate for state House District 63, for $1,000; Walker alleges nonpayment of a contract for services she provided as Smith’s campaign manager. Walker also seeks “at least $1,200” as compensation for “lost wages”.
The case was filed Aug. 17 in Comanche County District Court. A hearing in the case is scheduled for 9 a.m. Sept. 21 before Special District Judge Grant Sheperd.
Smith, 43, a Democrat, filed for the HD 63 seat this year. Republican incumbent Trey Caldwell, 33, a farmer/rancher and insurance agent from Lawton, filed for a third consecutive two-year term in the Legislature. Caldwell and Smith will meet in the Nov. 8 general election.
Brandi Sims of Lawton, founder and CEO of Brandinc PR, sued Smith for $2,400 in Comanche County District Court on July 14.
Smith signed a three-month contract with Sims to provide social media services for Smith’s legislative campaign, Sims claimed. Instead, on Day 29 Smith informed Sims she intended to cancel the contract.
After hearing from both parties on Aug. 16, Judge Sheperd awarded Sims $600, apparently, at least in part, because only a portion of the contract period had transpired, and two months remained unfulfilled. The judge decreed that both women were to pay their own court costs.
Sheperd also ordered Smith to pay Sims the $600 “today,” a court document shows. However, two days later Sims informed Sheperd that she still had not been paid, and on Aug. 19 Sims paid $126.64 in court fees to revive her claim.
In late August Shepherd ordered Smith to appear in his court for an asset hearing, and on Sept. 6 Smith paid Sims $726.64, court records reflect.
Smith is the owner and founder of Concierge Service Management, which according to its website provides a transportation and relocation service. She also was a medic in the U.S. Army.
HD 63 encompasses all of Tillman and Cotton counties, the eastern half of Kiowa County and, roughly, the western half of Comanche County. Towns represented in HD 63 include Cache, Chattanooga, Davidson, Faxon, Frederick, Geronimo, Grandfield, Hollister, Indiahoma, Lawton, Loveland, Manitou, Medicine Park and Tipton.
The most important task of an Oklahoma legislator is development of the state budget. This year Oklahoma lawmakers appropriated $10.68 billion for the operation of state government in Fiscal Year 2023, which began July 1, 2022.