The rocky road of the Kirby affairs have presented some good lessons in Oklahoma civics. Many laws and remedies seem sensible and comprehensive, until they are put into motion. Such is the case with our options for removing elected officials from office. In December, Dan Kirby was exposed for his connection to a sexual harassment complaint. He immediately 'resigned'... or so we thought. It seems there is a specific protocol for resigning. If not followed, the declaration is meaningless. So when Kirby told the Speaker-designate, Charles McCall, that he quit, the letter was discarded, since the House was not yet in session and there technically was not yet a Speaker selected. He was supposed to notify the Governor during that interim. Having a change of heart, and discovering the error, Kirby declared 2 days later that he really didn't mean it and he's still determined to stay. In early January, the House gathered for a 1-day swearing in, and selection of leadership. The leaders decided to swear in Kirby and another colleague, Will Fourkiller, who also had come under scrutiny for inappropriate behavior. The leadership even appointed Kirby to a chairmanship of the Commerce Committee. But the Speaker's Special Investigative Committee, led by Rep Josh Cockroft, went right to work on a 'dicey' process of investigating Kirby and a Democrat, Will Fourkiller; who both were reported for sexual harassment of females assigned to the work of the House. |
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Sooner Politics
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