Commissioner just says no to leader's job
Vaughn declines Rinehart's nomination of him as chairman.
By John Estus
Published: January 3, 2007
It's not often elected officials act against themselves, but Ray Vaughn did just that with his first action as Oklahoma County's District 3 commissioner.
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Early plans
Vaughn told a standing-room-only crowd at the swearing-in ceremony for the county's recently elected officials that he plans to quickly fulfill his two campaign promises: bringing back the county budget board and restoring credibility in elected officials.
His predecessor, Stan Inman, and Rinehart voted to do away with the budget board in 2005 in a move that frustrated the county's other elected officials because it took them out of the process of drafting the county budget.
County commissioners now prepare the budget — the current fiscal year's was $69 million — and the excise board approves it.
"I believe government by inclusion is far superior to government by exclusion,” Vaughn said.
Inman and Rinehart touted the new budgeting process as more efficient when they implemented it last year, though Vaughn and Roth both have said they will take action to restore the budget board soon, possibly by the end of January.
Last year, Vaughn represented the other elected officials at no cost when they sued the Board of County Commissioners after Inman and Rinehart voted to end the budget board system.
"The public deserves better and, frankly, this board will have to regain the public's trust if we are to be effective in our leadership,” Vaughn said.
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