Editor’s Notebook: Webb and Hiett back in public policy posts
Published: September 14th, 2013
From an editor’s notebook, two familiar names and faces are back in the news. Gov. Mary Fallin has named Roger Webb to the OSBI Commission; and appointed Todd Hiett to the CareerTech Board.
Both positions require confirmation from the state Sente.
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Webb, who serves as president of the University of Central Oklahoma (UCO) in Edmond from 1997-2011, has been appointed to the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation’s governing commission. Webb will serve through July 2017, replacing Anne Holzberlein (who resigned).
In a statement sent to CapitolBeatOK, Gov. Fallin noted Webb’s experience in the law enforcement arena, saying that in his new post he will “help keep Oklahomans safe.”
Webb served as the state Commissioner of Public Safety from 1974-78, and was a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police. Among other duties, he was chairman of a task force studying terrorism, focused on the protection of large sports arenas and energy pipelines.
Before his tenure at UCO, he was president of Northeastern Oklahoma State University 1978-9y.
Along with the late Oklahoma County District Attorney Bob Macy, Webb was a member of the inaugural class of the Oklahoma Law Enforcement Hall of Fame. UCO’s forensic science institution is named in his honor. His wife, Jeanie, is president of Rose State College in Midwest City.
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A few days ago, Fallin recalled former Speaker of the House Todd Hiett to public service, appointing him to the state Board of Career and Technology Education. The Kellyville Republican was the first Republican speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives since the 1920s, capping his 12 years at the Capitol in the top post.
Hiett will replace Harold Anglin, and serve on the Career-Tech governing body until presumed Senate confirmation. If that is forthcoming, his term will run until April 1, 2015.
Fallin said she was confident Hiett “strive to ensure that our technology centers give students, including adult students, the skills they need to find and keep the high-skill jobs that are coming more often to Oklahoma.”
The C-T Board governs a system with programs and services in about 400 public school districts and 29 technology centers; and 57 campuses. The system also works in 15 of the Sooner Stae’s correctional facilities.
You may contact McGuigan at Patrick@capitolbeatok.com.