Senate votes to remove ODMHSAS Commissioner Allie Friesen, will now go through the House

UPDATE @ 10:30 P.M.

The Senate Resolution to remove Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services Commissioner Allie Friesen passed by a vote of 43-1 late Thursday night. The resolution will now go to the House, where it must pass before Friesen is removed.

ORIGINAL STORY

OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) - Oklahoma lawmakers in the Senate began the process of removing the head of an agency plagued by budget issues.

An initial financial report called for by Oklahoma’s governor says the state’s mental health agency faces numerous errors and a nearly $30 million budget shortfall.

In early May, Governor Kevin Stitt announced a series of steps to stabilize the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (ODMHSAS) amid ongoing issues with public confidence, transparency and financial and operational mismanagement.

Governor Stitt shared the first step would be bringing in an independent financial expert to “take temporary control of the department’s finances.” A news release said that individual would assess the agency’s financial shortfall to give the legislature an accurate and credible supplemental budget request.

The head of that agency is Commissioner Allie Friesen.

She defended her ODMHSAS tenure to legislators earlier in the month, alleging the payroll problems stem from former department officials.

NonDoc first reported, ODMHSAS's project manager Michael Rupke confirming the agency needed $23 million in supplemental funding to make payroll for the rest of the fiscal year.

Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond openly expressed that she should be removed from the job.

“Commissioner Friesen offered no satisfactory answers for the agency’s ability or inability to meet payroll obligations. The commissioner is simply not equipped for the job – and she never was,” Drummond said. “Gov. Stitt hired a counselor who doesn’t have a license to run our Mental Health Department, nor does she have the leadership experience. Is it any wonder the department is in financial meltdown?”

Drummond is running for Governor.

“Since joining ODMHSAS, I’ve been clear that I want to ensure this department is in the best position possible to care for those who need our services most. I’m grateful to Governor Sitt, David Greenwell, and the team at OMES for their assistance in this matter. We are going to come out stronger on the other side.”

Commissioner Allie Frisen

Drummond said in a statement Thursday evening:

While I cannot begin to understand why Gov. Stitt has chosen to protect Allie Friesen instead of our tax dollars, I applaud the legislative resolution to remove this failed bureaucrat from office. The House and Senate have the legal authority to hold Friesen accountable for her ineptitude and mismanagement, and I urge every legislator to vote in favor of her removal.

Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond

Gov. Stitt said in a statement Thursday evening:

From the start, this was nothing more than a politically motivated witch hunt. I tasked Allie Friesen with bringing accountability and transparency to the agency. She disturbed the status quo and questioned long held practices at the agency. An agency rife with sweetheart deals and criminal elements was disrupted, and now, elected officials are quickly working to set the apple cart right for those who seek to get rich off of Oklahoma taxpayers. Josh West and Paul Rosino need to first answer what they stand to gain from Allie Friesen being removed. What are they trying to keep covered up? What conflicts of interest are they trying to hide? Is Senator Rosino trying to help his wife avoid responsibility for her role in the finance department there? Oklahomans deserve answers.

Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt