Tell Him Goodbye
A spokesman for Governor Brad Henry this week indicated that in the Governor’s view a guilty plea to a driving while intoxicated charge should not affect the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority Chairman’s serving on that authority.
Oklahoma Turnpike Authority Chairman Douglas Riebel was arrested on the DWI complaint in Texas last November. This past week he pleaded guilty to that offense and was placed on probation for fifteen months, fined $500 and ordered to pay court costs of $332.
Turnpike Authority members are appointed to eight year terms, serve the state without pay and at the pleasure of the Governor. They may be removed from the authority at any time by the Governor and with or without cause.
Governor Henry needs to understand the message it sends when our state’s turnpike authority chairman is an admitted ‘drunk driver’. This is not the message we wish to send to either individuals or businesses contemplating moving to Oklahoma and it’s certainly not the message we wish to send to those that drive Oklahoma’s turnpikes ‘after having a few’.
Come on Governor Henry, it’s time to thank Mr. Riebel for his service and tell him goodbye…
