Lawmakers call for Regier's removal

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Two state senators on Friday called for the Oklahoma Construction Industries Board to remove Jerry Regier, who they recently hired as administrator.
Sens. Debbie Leftwich, D-Oklahoma City, and Harry Coates, R-Seminole, said they believe the board gave Regier a job to qualify him for drawing a $1,236 monthly retirement check.
Tom Spencer, executive director of the Oklahoma Public Employees Retirement System, confirmed that Regier did not qualify for retirement benefits before his hiring in late June.
Spencer said it normally takes eight years to be vested in the system, but someone working for the state at age 62 can retire with monthly benefits with six years of service. He said Regier, 63, had less than seven years with the state when he was hired.
Leftwich said she and Coates believe there is no logical reason to hire an interim director at the agency.
“We believe the board made an interim position to help Regier, a former CIB director, start drawing state retirement,” Leftwich said. “That’s unfair to the other applicants and it wasn’t a responsible move by the board.”
“As a taxpayer, I’m sick and tired of unscrupulous actions of state officials who do things such as this to help their friends,” Coates said.
According to records at the retirement system, Regier requested a retirement calculation on June 25, five days before he was hired.
Larry Shea, chairman of the board that oversees the Oklahoma Construction Industries Board, said he did not know about Regier’s retirement situation before the hiring.
Shea later issued a statement defending Regier. He said Regier is “entitled to his retirement at the appropriate time like as any person who works for the state of Oklahoma.”
He said Regier is a man of integrity who was cleared of ethical charges made in Florida before he resigned as secretary of the Department of Children & Families under former Gov. Jeb Bush.
In Oklahoma, Regier was a cabinet secretary under former Gov. Frank Keating. He was chosen by Keating to be acting director of the Oklahoma Department of Health to deal with a scandal that erupted involving ghost employees and bribery of a deputy commissioner.
Shea said Regier spearheaded the cleanup of ethical problems at the health agency in Oklahoma.
“I have read the dismissal order from the Florida Ethics Commission and he was cleared of all charges,” Shea said. Regier was accused of accepting favors from a contractor who did business with his agency.
Shea said Regier’s hiring was proper and “this is not a made-up job.” He said several complex reports and administrative duties “need attention immediately.”