Norman — The man appointed to be state auditor after the last one was sent to prison told Cleveland County Democrats on Friday that he’s got both money and qualifications to mount a race for his own full four-year term.
Auditor and Inspector Steve Burrage, a Democrat, said if a Republican decides to run against him in fall elections, the challenger “had better be qualified and able to finance a campaign because I can do both.”
Burrage was appointed in July 2008 to fill the term of auditor Jeff McMahan, who was sent to a federal prison where he remains.
Burrage, the first certified public accountant to serve as state auditor in decades, said he thinks the CPA license should be required by law.
The auditor said he has spent most of his career in the banking business. His family owns a bank in Antlers. In 2005, Burrage turned over day-to-day operations of the bank to his brother.
When the auditor’s post came vacant, his nephew Sen. Sean Burrage, D-Claremore, urged Burrage to seek the post, and Gov. Brad Henry named him to succeed McMahan.
Burrage talked about a handful of cases his office has investigated since he became auditor.
Greed is the key reason most people steal from government, he asserted.
Cases cited by the auditor included:
· Deputy Court Clerk Jackie Louise Borovetz in Muskogee County accused of stealing $595,000 in 11 months. Burrage said the “grandmotherly type” individual lost all of the money in a casino.
· Roger Q. Melson Jr., director of some internal audits for the state School Land Commission, “just started opening up envelopes and taking the checks out.” Melson is accused of stealing $1.2 million over five years. “It was gambling addiction,” Burrage said.
· Anna Naukum, executive director of court-appointed special advocates for children in Oklahoma County, “admitted that she ‘cooked the books’ and had no fear doing it,” Burrage said.
The money was spent for hot tubs, granite counter tops and remodeling of her home, he said.
The woman is now “in the pen,” said Burrage, for stealing $650,000 over seven years.
Burrage talked about a case where Dr. Gary Johnson of the Skiatook Public Schools had authorized payment of $543 for three mop heads.” He has been suspended by the school board.
Burrage said he has been asked by members of a school board whether they have a right to financial information provided by a superintendent.
Burrage replied that the members “must” seek that kind of data. He said that perhaps the word will get out to various boards if some of the members end up getting sued for failure to perform their fiduciary duty.
“Every time I go into a situation, I go in with my eyes open,” Burrage said. “I don’t care where it’s at or who it is, because I am not going to subordinate … and my staff is not going to subordinate their judgment or integrity to anyone.”
