Secretary of Okla. Land Office to Step Down
Published: 08/05/10 - 12:43pm Written by Dick Pryor
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - The secretary of the Commissioners of the Land Office in Oklahoma is stepping down to pursue a business opportunity in Washington, D.C. Secretary Mike Hunter said Thursday he'll remain with the agency until Sept. 1. Hunter was recommended for the post in August 2009 by Gov. Brad Henry, who chairs the commission. Hunter's appointment came just months after a longtime Land Office employee was indicted on 174 counts of embezzling more than $1.16 million in royalty payments. Hunter says the agency underwent an extensive audit and has upgraded its technology and tightened financial controls. The School Land Office makes money from surface and mineral leases on trust land and distributes the funds among public schools in the state.


