Democratic Legislators Accuse Governor of Revenge in Lack of Water Board Appointment

 

revenge

 

“The governor is screwing rural southeastern Oklahoma again.”

 

Governor Mary Fallin’s failure to appoint a southeastern Oklahoman to the Region 9 seat on the Oklahoma Water Resources Board prompted four legislators to ask for an Attorney General’s opinion this week. The four Democrats also accuse the Republican governor of seeking revenge over a lawsuit filed in a water fight.

Representatives Brian Renegar and Donnie Condit of McAlester, Johnny Tadlock of Idabel and Ed Cannaday of Porum made their request in a letter to Attorney General Scott Pruitt.

They accuse the governor of not complying with state law and pointed to Senate bill 965 which was passed by the legislature and signed into law by Gov. Fallin in 2013. It changed the composition of the nine-member OWRB from congressional district and at-large representation to regional representatives.

“Governor Fallin is seeking revenge because Choctaw and Chickasaw tribal members filed a lawsuit against the State of Oklahoma,” charged Rep. Renegar. “And it isn’t the first political slap-on-the wrist we’ve seen this year.”

“The governor is screwing rural southeastern Oklahoma again, just like her Corrections Department director did when he closed inmate work centers in the southeast,” charged Rep. Tadlock. “Another example of failed state leadership.”

Rep. Conduct accused the Governor of bowing to pressure from the board and doesn’t want to follow the law.

“I am dismayed at Governor Fallin’s blatant disregard of a statutory mandate calling for the timely appointment of a member to the Water Resources Board,” added Rep. Cannaday. “The Governor is obligated to comply with the law rather than pretend that she has acquired new authority that trumps state statutes.”

The District 9 is made up of Atoka, Bryan, Coal, Choctaw, Haskell, Hughes, Latimer, Leflore, McCurtain, Pittsburg and Pushmataha counties. The governor had until May to name a replacement of long-time OWRB member Richard Sevenoaks of Tulsa and his term has expired.

The legislators also claim that an 18-year old Attorney General’s opinion allowing board members to stay on until their replacements are sworn in does not apply. They also say since SB 965 was signed into law three years ago, “there is no longer an  ‘at-large position’ in the present makeup of the OWRB.”