A group of lawmakers in the House of Representatives have issued a statement today after the recent termination of General Counsel Clay Bruner by the Association of County Commissioners of Oklahoma (ACCO).
The ACCO is currently under investigation by the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI) and the state Auditor’s Office following allegations of fund misappropriation.
Reps. Bobby Cleveland (R-Slaughterville), Lewis Moore (R-Edmond), Jason Murphey (R-Edmond), Jon Echols (R-Oklahoma City), Travis Dunlap (R-Bartlesville) and Dan Fisher (R-El Reno) released the following statement:
“The action taken by ACCO to terminate Clay Bruner is both shocking and outrageous. Mr. Bruner blew the whistle on what he believed to be wrongdoing and the wasteful spending of public money. This has led to investigations by the State Auditor and Inspector and the Oklahoma County District Attorney.
“The public deserves to know how its funds are being spent. Transparency – not secrecy – should be the foreword of every entity transacting the public’s business. As legislators, we are offended by ACCO’s action to hire an attorney to write a twenty-page letter to the state Attorney General arguing against openness in government. The public’s trust in government has been badly eroded and actions firing those who have enough courage to speak out against wrongdoing further damages public confidence.
“ACCO’s precipitous and retaliatory action in terminating Mr. Bruner cannot be condoned.”
Fire the lot of them.