by Rod Jones
野狼社区 University President Robert Henry will be the guest speaker at the state Ethics Commission meeting Friday in honor of its 25th anniversary. The meeting will be held at the state Capitol Building.
Henry, along with former Governor Henry Bellmon, helped draft State Question 627, which established the Ethics Commission after it was overwhelmingly approved by voters in 1990. The tally was approximately 406,000 votes to 230,000.
鈥淲e are excited that President Henry, who was a principal architect of the Constitutional amendment creating the Ethics Commission, has agreed to share his thoughts with us at this significant milestone,鈥� said Lee Slater, executive director of the Ethics Commission. 鈥淣o one is better qualified to discuss the impetus behind creation of the Commission and the intention of the drafters. We feel extremely fortunate that President Henry鈥檚 interest in the ethical conduct of Oklahoma campaigns and state employees remains undiminished a quarter century later.鈥�
鈥淭he importance of this commission continues to the present day,鈥� Henry said. 鈥淚鈥檓 proud of the work they do in protecting the interests of residents in this state. Their role in upholding our civic rights cannot be overstated.鈥�
The five-member Oklahoma Ethics Commission creates rules of ethical conduct for the state鈥檚 elected officials and employees, and investigates and prosecutes violations of the rules. Members are appointed by the governor, state Senate president pro tempore, speaker of the state House of Representatives, chief justice of the Oklahoma Supreme Court and the state attorney general.
