Yet Another Ghost Story
Could it be that we have yet another ghost story in Oklahoma?
The Oklahoman in a copyrighted report published today indicates we might.
The alleged ‘ghost’ is none other than longtime state Senate Sergeant At Arms Bob Craig.
The Oklahoman report reveals that according to Donna Woods Bauer, executive director of the Oklahoma Citizen Advocates for Recovery and Treatment Association, she was pressured into hiring Craig as an independent contractor by none other than former state senator and now deputy commissioner for substance abuse services at the Department of Mental Health Bob Brown.
Bauer indicated she gave in to Brown’s pressure since her association relies on the Department of Mental Health for most of its funding and could be forced to close if that funding is withheld, funding under control of Bob Brown. Allegedly as part of the deal to hire Craig, the association received a $10,000 boost in its funding from the Department of Mental Health, to help defray the costs of Craig’s maximum $28,000 per year salary.
According to Bauer, Craig was paid $2,800 a month during the first half of the contract and $1,867 a month during the second half, when he didn’t need as much because he was also being paid by the state for his work with the Senate. Also according to Bauer, Craig never did any real work but showed up from time to time and attended board meetings.
Craig has denied being a ghost employee, which isn’t surprising.
What is somewhat surprising is that Ben Brown has refused comment.
Rumor has it that the Attorney General’s office is investigating and if so odds are we will see another ‘ghost employee’ indictment from the multi-county grand jury.
Additional report available at KTUL.COM.
