Oklahoma
AG opinion prompts Tim Gatz resignation as transportation secretary, turnpike authority boss
New Turner Turnpike ramp could bring travelers to Davenport community
Plans for a new on and off ramp along the Turner Turnpike has excited Davenport newspaper owner Don Sporleder, who’s hopeful for an economic boom.
Addison Kliewer, Oklahoman
Tim Gatz on Wednesday resigned as Transportation secretary and director of the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority in response to an opinion issued by Attorney General Gentner Drummond that no one person serve in the two positions in addition to leading the Oklahoma Department of Transportation.
Gatz held all three titles before Wednesday.
The opinion was one of two issued by Drummond that went against the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority. A second opinion upheld the constitutionality of a 2013 law that diluted the governor’s exclusive appointment powers to the turnpike authority’s board of commissioners.
Gatz was named executive director of the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority in 2016 and then was appointed secretary of transportation and director of the Oklahoma Department of Transportation in 2019.
Gatz’s resignation on Wednesday was effective immediately. Gov. Kevin Stitt quickly reappointed Gatz to his post at the Transportation Department. Stitt’s spokeswoman said the reappointment won’t require Senate confirmation because it was previously confirmed in 2019. The reappointment to the Transportation Department position was necessary because Gatz’s most recent appointment was as secretary of transportation, essentially voiding his appointments to the OTA and ODOT.
More: Oklahoma needs $25 billion to fix crumbling infrastructure. But the focus is on tax cuts
Stitt disagreed with both the challenge to the leadership of state transportation agencies and the bill that split his appointment power to the turnpike board. The bill gave appointment powers to the House speaker and Senate president pro tempore.
Gatz did not comment on the opinions on Wednesday. Drummond said in a news release his opinion operates as an effective resignation of Gatz’s role as the executive director of OTA.
Challenges faced at the OTA amid the push for ACCESS Oklahoma
Stitt and Gatz saw challenges to leadership at the OTA as they pushed for ACCESS Oklahoma, a five-year, $15 billion turnpike expansion plan that includes construction of new toll roads in and around Norman that will require acquisition of dozens if not hundreds of homes.
“Tim Gatz has dedicated his career to serving the state of Oklahoma for 34 years,” Stitt said Wednesday. “He is highly sought after by businesses and governments all over the country but has chosen to stay here and serve his state. I am disappointed that he is the victim of pointless politics.”
Before House Bill 2263, the governor made all six appointments to the turnpike authority. The legislation reduced that to two appointments, with the speaker of the House and Senate president pro tempore appointing two members apiece.
Turnpike commissioners last month unanimously voted to challenge the law, which also requires that they file annual financial reports disclosing potential conflicts of interest.
Commission Chair John Jones said the law, left unchallenged, could put at risk any actions taken including ACCESS Oklahoma implementation.
Drummond’s opinion explains that HB 2263 does not violate the state Constitution’s separation of powers provision for three key reasons:
- Legislative acts are strongly presumed to be constitutional “unless it is clearly, palpably and plainly inconsistent with fundamental law”.
- The Legislature can provide for the appointment of executive offices by a person or entity other than the Governor.
- The bill in question is consistent with the balancing factor test used to determine the constitutionality of legislative appointments to state boards and commissions.
More: ACCESS Oklahoma construction starts next week with Turner Turnpike widening
In his opinion over Gatz holding three positions, Drummond wrote a person cannot hold multiple positions without a legislative exemption.
“As of the time of writing, the Legislature has enumerated thirty exceptions to this prohibition,” Drummond wrote in his opinion “However, none of these exceptions apply to the Secretary of Transportation, Executive Director of the Oklahoma Department of Transportation, or Executive Director of the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority.”
![](https://newspub.live/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/np-logo.png)
Oklahoma
Oklahoma State men’s basketball adds former Putnam City North standout C.J. Smith
![Oklahoma State men’s basketball adds former Putnam City North standout C.J. Smith](https://www.gannett-cdn.com/presto/2023/02/11/NOKL/4531f22a-09ec-47fa-a2ee-b623632c9919-AZ6I0577.jpg?auto=webp&crop=3859,2171,x0,y0&format=pjpg&width=1200)
Oklahoma State basketball coach Steve Lutz talks about reviving Cowboys’ program
Oklahoma State basketball coach Steve Lutz talks about reviving Cowboys’ program
OSU ATHLETICS
The first non-transfer portal addition for new Oklahoma State men’s basketball coach Steve Lutz came with in-state ties.
OSU added junior-college transfer C.J. Smith, a 6-foot-7, 195-pound swingman from Coffeyville (Kansas) Community College on Saturday.
Smith is originally from Oklahoma City and concluded his high school career at Putnam City North, where he led the Panthers to a 24-3 record averaging 17.2 points and 6.0 rebounds in 2022-23. He was a first-team selection on The Oklahoman’s Big All-City squad.
In his lone season at Coffeyville, Smith played 23.4 minutes per game, averaging 8.3 points and 4.6 rebounds.
He will be a sophomore next season, as he joins a veteran-heavy Cowboy roster thanks to the depth of veteran additions Lutz made through the transfer portal.
More: Oklahoma State basketball schedule: 2024-25 Big 12 opponents set for Cowboys, Cowgirls
Oklahoma
Thunder Unveil 2024 Draft Class
![Thunder Unveil 2024 Draft Class](https://kfor.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2022/07/thunder-logo-big.jpg?w=1280)
Oklahoma City, OK – A new era of Thunder basketball was officially introduced Saturday. Nikola Topić, Dillon Jones, and Ajay Mitchell all met the media to discuss making it to the next level and being members of the Thunder.
Topić will miss the upcoming season with a knee injury. Many draft boards had him listed as a top four talent in the draft, but the knee injury did scare some teams off.
As for Jones, he said his time at Weber State as “the guy” prepared him for what he needs to do to help OKC win with their current talent.
Ajay Mitchell joins the fold as a second round choice and knows his role could be impromptu and less consistent than usual, but that’s something he says he’s prepared for.
Hear from all three Thunder rookies in the video above.
Oklahoma
Report: Oklahoma Baseball Coach Skip Johnson to Leave for Texas A&M
![Report: Oklahoma Baseball Coach Skip Johnson to Leave for Texas A&M](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_4028,h_2265,x_0,y_67/c_fill,w_1440,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/all_sooners/01j1gdadgkdz6dmz12tx.jpg)
Oklahoma baseball fans can breathe a sigh of relief.
OU head coach Skip Johnson is set to stay in Norman despite interest from Texas A&M, D1Baseball managing editor Kendall Rogers reported on Saturday.
SCOOP: Texas A&M is narrowing down its candidates, and @OU_Baseball head coach Skip Johnson will stay put in Norman as he is expected to sign a new deal with the #Sooners sometime today. Skip was most definitely in the mix, but #Aggies appear to be zeroing in on three guys.
— Kendall Rogers (@KendallRogers) June 29, 2024
Johnson had a pair of high-level meetings yesterday with Oklahoma’s administration, a source close to the situation confirmed with Sooners on SI, helping both sides reach the conclusion that Johnson will continue to lead the program into the Southeastern Conference.
Rogers also reported Johnson is expected to ink a new contract with the Sooners.
Keeping Johnson in place is crucial as Oklahoma takes on the rigor of the SEC, as his last season in the Big 12 went as well as anyone could have hoped for.
The Sooners won the Big 12 Regular Season Title for the first time in program history, and hosted an NCAA Regional at L. Dale Mitchell Park for the first time in over a decade.
Though the Sooners were ousted by UConn in the regional final, OU finished the year 40-21 overall.
In seven seasons at Oklahoma, Johnson is now 229-153 overall including four trips to the NCAA Tournament which is headlined by the Sooners’ magical run to the College World Series Championship Series in 2022.
Johnson also had his team 14-4 in 2020 before the season was canceled due to the pandemic, which would have likely resulted in another trip to the postseason.
-
News1 week ago
Tracking a Single Day at the National Domestic Violence Hotline
-
Fitness1 week ago
What's the Least Amount of Exercise I Can Get Away With?
-
News1 week ago
Supreme Court upholds law barring domestic abusers from owning guns in major Second Amendment ruling | CNN Politics
-
World6 days ago
Israel accepts bilateral meeting with EU, but with conditions
-
Politics1 week ago
Trump classified docs judge to weigh alleged 'unlawful' appointment of Special Counsel Jack Smith
-
Politics1 week ago
Supreme Court upholds federal gun ban for those under domestic violence restraining orders
-
World1 week ago
New Caledonia independence activists sent to France for detention
-
World1 week ago
Is Israel’s Smotrich fulfilling his dream of annexing the West Bank?