Oklahoma is one of a few states where the office of Insurance Commissioner is elective rather than appointive.

The Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner is the head of the agency which regulates insurance companies, their agents, and adjusters. The agency also regulates bail bondsmen, real estate appraisers and motor vehicle service clubs.

Carroll Fisher was elected to the office of Insurance Commissioner in 1998. His 1998 campaign for the office centered on allegations of wrong-doing, lack of integrity and questionable practices on the part of his predecessor.

Currently Commissioner Fisher and his top assistant, Opal Ellis, are facing felony criminal charges alleging the embezzlement of state funds and operating a charity illegally.

In February, 2003 the Oklahoma Ethics Commission reprimanded Fisher for using his position as Insurance Commissioner to obtain confidential employment documents on his 2002 election opponent, Doug Barry. Fisher obtained the documents from Barry's employer, an insurance company which Fisher regulated. Fisher then faxed the documents to news media outlets.

The Ethics Commission also reprimanded Fisher for soliciting lavish office furnishings from various insurance companies he regulated. The value of those "donations" exceeded $30,000. Fisher ultimately returned the furnishings after Governor Henry refused to accept them as state property.

In October, 2003 Fisher pleaded no contest in Oklahoma City Municipal Court to "drunk driving" and other related charges. At the time of his arrest on DUI, open container and improper turn charges, Fisher was driving a state-owned vehicle.

As of the date of this writing and in spite of pending felony charges, Carroll Fisher remains Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner and an announced Democratic candidate for the US Senate seat currently held by retiring Senator Don Nickles.

Currently a movement is underway in the Oklahoma Legislature to initiate an investigation and if justified to impeach Commissioner Fisher. House Resolution 1040 calls for the appointment of a committee to investigate Fisher. If the committee recommends impeachment, a vote by the full House is required to issue Articles of Impeachment. The Senate would then vote on the impeachment. A two-thirds majority vote of the Senate is required to oust the Commissioner. Commissioner Fisher has publicly indicated that he will fight any impeachment attempt.

Relevant links (will open new browser window):

Criminal felony charges pertaining to The Charitable Organization

Criminal felony charges pertaining to Embezzlement

Daily Oklahoman special coverage on Insurance Commissioner Fisher

Tulsa World report (in PDF format) Official arrested as DUI suspect

Tulsa World report (in PDF format) Insurance chief gets probation for DUI

Tulsa World editorial (in PDF format) Out

Tulsa World report (in PDF format) Fisher invokes Fifth before grand jury

In the opinion of this writer, twice elected Insurance Commissioner Gordon Carroll Fisher is a prime example of what can and sometimes does "go wrong" when the office of Insurance Commissioner is elective.

It is also the opinion of this writer, that wrong-doing, lack of integrity and questionable practices are the hallmark of Comissioner Fisher's terms in office. Scandal after scandal involving Commissioner Fisher has surfaced during his time as Insurance Commissioner and yet he steadfastly refuses to do "what's right" and resign.

Commissioner Fisher, it's time.
Do the right thing for once.

Update: 9/01/04:

On 9/01/04, The Oklahoma Ethics Commission publicly reprimanded State Insurance Commissioner Carroll Fisher for the third time for misuse of office. The latest reprimand focused on office furniture Fisher solicited from various insurance companies his office regulates.

News media reports quoted Fisher as stating:

I'm not really impressed with their reprimands so far.
They've not really been fair or meaningful in any way.
They have their own perceptions of things.
I'm not going to worry with it.

Update: 9/09/04:

On 9/09/04, the Oklahoma House by a vote of 95-0 voted to impeach Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner Carroll Fisher on the basis of corruption, neglect of duty and incompetency.

Prior to the impeachment vote, Rep. John Trebilcock, R-Broken Arrow urged Fisher to resign and save the taxpayers the expense of a Senate trial. Representative Trebilcock told Fisher who attended the impeachment hearing:

Commmissioner Fisher, have you no shame.
Commissioner Fisher, the time for you to go has come.
Please do the right thing.

Commissioner Fisher remained steadfast in his refusal to resign stating:

I will not surrender.

Fisher now faces a trial in the Oklahoma Senate. He also faces five felony charges including embezzlement.

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