Gov. Kevin Stitt on Friday called the recent audit’s criticism of pandemic spending and contracting practices “frustrating” and “unfair.” (Photo by Janelle Stecklein/Oklahoma Voice)
OKLAHOMA CITY — Gov. Kevin Stitt on Friday convened a recent state audit and called for the resignation of members of his administration in response to “upsetting” political attacks from state leaders preparing to run for high office. .
“What Oklahomans need to understand is that there are members of the state legislature who have already announced that they are running for governor, and there is also a comptroller who is running for lieutenant governor,” Stitt said. spoke at a weekly media briefing. “Within an hour, they adjusted the press statement on this 200-page report. So what I’m saying is, when you politicize, when you try to attack other political opponents, it’s Oklahomans. I mean, it’s very frustrating for people.”
State Auditor and Comptroller Cindy Byrd did not immediately respond to a request for comment Friday, but released a scathing report Tuesday detailing how Oklahoma has lost tens of millions of dollars in pandemic relief funds. He questioned whether the agency had scrutinized the state’s practice of awarding contracts without competition. bid.
Oklahoma Comptroller and Comptroller Cindy Byrd questioned no-bid contracts and millions of dollars in pandemic relief spending in an audit this week. (Photo by Nuria Martinez-Keel/Oklahoma Voice)
Byrd also raised conflict of interest concerns over former Oklahoma Employment Security Commission Executive Director Shelly Zumwalt, who approved $8.5 million in payment and extension of a no-bid contract change order for a software company where her husband is vice president. I raised it.
Attorney General Gentner Drummond said the audit showed “totally inappropriate and potentially illegal conduct” and called for Zumwalt’s resignation. Mr. Zumwalt currently serves as executive director of the state Department of Tourism and Recreation and Mr. Stitt’s cabinet secretary for tourism.
Drummond Attorney General Phil Bacharach said Friday that “Attorney General Drummond stands by his statement regarding the audit findings and will continue to work toward accountability on behalf of Oklahoma taxpayers.”
Zumwalt said he will not resign because there has never been a conflict of interest issue. She disclosed her relationship with that software vendor before she was hired by OESC, and that her husband, who is not the owner of her company, had never worked with her state. said.
Stitt said it was “unfair” to criticize the use of no-bid contracts during the early months of the pandemic, when a state of emergency was in effect and the OESC had to process a surge of unemployment claims. ”
The governor expressed support for Zumwalt to continue as head of the state agency.
“I think she should remain director of tourism,” Stitt said. “All of this was known by the Senate a year ago during her (confirmation) hearing, and she has already been confirmed.”
Tourism and Recreation Director Shelley Zumwalt came under fire after the state audit was released Tuesday. (Photo by Janelle Stecklein/Oklahoma Voice)
However, the governor said his term as Cabinet Secretary may end.
In another dispute between the attorney general and the governor, Mr. Drummond issued a legally binding opinion in February on dual positions that called into question the status of Mr. Zumwalt and other Cabinet members.
The opinion focused on Transportation Secretary Tim Gatz, who heads the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority and was a member of the governor’s cabinet. The governor said the opinion also threatens the ability of other secretaries to serve in the Cabinet and lead state agencies at the same time.
Mr. Stitt, Mr. Zumwalt, and two other secretaries sued Mr. Drummond to contest this opinion.
The governor said Zumwalt had tendered his resignation from the Cabinet.
“She said, ‘Hey, I don’t need to be in the spotlight here.’ If I’m causing problems for this administration, I’m going to resign as secretary and focus on tourism.” ‘And it might happen. ”
State lawmakers appear to share the state auditor’s concerns about the use of at-will contracts by the Department of Management and Enterprise Services. The Legislature sent a bill to the governor’s desk Wednesday that would require competitive bidding for the purchase of all equipment, products and services.
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The post Stitt calls scathing state audit a political attack, voice of support for tourism chief appeared first on Oklahoma Voices.
