The Daily Oklahoman is reporting the sudden resignation of Rep Dan Kirby, of Tulsa. Nolan Clay writes: OKLAHOMA CITY — State Rep. Dan Kirby resigned Friday night after three days of public outrage over the secretive settlement paid to a fired legislative assistant who had accused him of sexual harassment. The resignation is effective Dec. 31. Kirby, R-Tulsa, wrote Speaker-elect Charles McCall:
The recent revelations of the legal settlement became a potential distraction on the next legislature and the new leadership team that Speaker-designate, charles McCall has been organizing. McCall hoped to have Kirby's experience and insights as chairman of the Business, Commerce, and Tourism Committee. |
But it became clear that unless Kirby's issues from the last legislature was resolved, it would undermine the credibility of the committee's work. McCall has included training seminars for the new legislature, addressing workplace conduct and expectations. That issue takes on particular importance in the wake of this matter. Joe Dorman, the Democrat nominee for governor, in 2014; said that in his past 20 years around trhe capitol, he saw members of both parties, men and women, who behaved "like it was a frat party.. a 4-month spring Break". One Republican leader said; "This ought to serve as a wake up call. We await governor Fallin's call for a special election. The Democrat Party has not rescinded their call for a complete investigation into the matter of how the former speaker, Jeff Hickman,
|