OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) - The Oklahoma Corporation Commission (OCC) on Wednesday, voted to replace commissioner Todd Hiett as chairman of the Commission on the heels of sexual misconduct allegations made public.
According to Commissioner Bob Anthony, the Commission voted to replace commissioner Todd Hiett as chairman of the Commission, giving the position immediately to Commissioner Kim David. Hiett faces allegations of sexual assault against the employee of a regulated company while in Minnesota in June at a conference on official commission business. Hiett did not step down from the commission.
Anthony previously called for Hiett to resign and Hiett refused. Corp. Commissioner Todd Heitt although voted out as chairman, remains on the commission.
Anthony issued the following statement after Wednesday’s OCC meeting:
"My position has not changed. Commissioner Hiett’s alleged sexual assault against the attorney of a company that appears before this commission is also an assault on this commission.
The only possible remedy to our compromised constitutional legitimacy and judicial integrity is for Commissioner Hiett to resign. It is completely unethical and unacceptable for him
to continue to vote on cases impacting the employer of his victim and/or witnesses, as he did last week. Frankly, it is completely unacceptable for him to continue to occupy a seat on this Commission period. As long as he refuses to resign, the Corporation Commission has an obligation to do everything in its power to limit the further damage Hiett is able to inflict on this agency. Removing him as chairman was an important and necessary first step. Replacing him as the OCC’s representative to the Southwest Power Pool (involving regular travel to out-of-state meetings) was another. As OCC chairman, Hiett’s office controlled the commission calendar and was partially responsible for prematurely posting an order to approve a multi-million-dollar rate increase for a regulated utility that may have direct knowledge of Hiett’s improper behavior in June. Had a vote been taken on that order today, in my opinion, every party to the case would have grounds to appeal based solely on Hiett’s participation. Business at the state’s most economically powerful state agency cannot be brought to a standstill while Hiett is investigated or gets “treatment” that cannot solve the integrity and credibility problem at this agency that Hiett has created. That said, as long as Hiett refuses to do what is in the best interests of this State and this agency, I will do everything in my power to assure a speedy, thorough, and transparent investigation. It was my hope it would also be independent, professionally led and properly resourced, but if I have to conduct it myself to ensure openness and transparency, I will."
On Wednesday, Anthony filed a "Notice of Inquiry/Examination/Inspection“ of past corruption and improper conduct involving the Oklahoma Corporation Commission, its staff and individual commissioners."
The Oklahoma House Democratic Leader Cyndi Munson issued a statement after the change in leadership.
“I am pleased to see Commissioner Todd Hiett stepped down as chairman of the Oklahoma Corporation Commision. This is a step in the right direction. There is still time for him to remove himself entirely and take full accountability for his actions and the harm and danger they have caused others," said Munson. "I once again ask the Governor to issue the call for Special Session and let us begin this work to seek justice and put this situation behind us. Oklahomans deserve answers and action. Oklahomans deserve to know the people in power are committed to keeping them safe and are held to the same standards as everyone else. Commissioner Hiett maintains his work is too important for him to step down entirely. I agree his work is important, which is why he should have thought about that before his harmful behavior.”
Cyndi Munson, D-Oklahoma City
