The Ohio Senate on Tuesday voted 18-15 against confirming a high-level official whoserole in a called-off sting at the governor's residence has been called into question.
The Senate denied the confirmation of Public Safety Director Cathy Collins-Taylor, anappointee of Democratic Gov. Ted Strickland, 10 Investigates' Paul Aker reported.
Collins-Taylor released this statement following Tuesday's vote: "I would like to thank thededicated employees of the Ohio Department of Public Safety. They are part of what makes thisagency so special and are one of the reasons why I wanted to come to work each day. I loved my jobat Public Safety and am honored to have called the Department home for more than five years.
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As Director, I worked to move the agency forward and we accomplished many things in just a fewshort months. I am saddened that I will not continue to work with this agency and continue the pathI started. But most of all, I am saddened that recent events have overshadowed the work being doneat the Department each and every day.
While today's confirmation vote is a turning point for this agency, I know the Department willcontinue to carry out its work in the professional, dedicated fashion I have come to know andexpect."
Strickland said Tuesday that he was disappointed by the vote. "The Ohio Senate Republicanmajority was unwilling to set aside partisan political considerations in order to arrive at a fairand just conclusion. Instead, they misused a deeply flawed Inspector General's report forpolitical purposes," he said.
Last week, the Republican-controlled Senate Criminal Justice Committee voted 5-4 againstconfirmation.
The state's inspector general concluded that a sting of inmate workers at the governor'sresidence was scrapped to save Strickland from embarrassment, and the watchdog accusedCollins-Taylor of lying about the operation. She has insisted she gave truthful statements toinvestigators.
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Previous Stories:
May 25, 2010: Ohio Senate Committee Votes Against Public Safety Director's Confirmation
May 20, 2010: Collins-Taylor Says She Had No Motive To Lie About Sting
May 19, 2010: Public Safety Director 'Offended' By Report Into Canceled Sting
May 14, 2010: Subpoenas Out, Confirmation Hearings Will Focus On Whether Public Safety DirectorLied
May 13, 2010: Bill Introduced To Review Prisoner Work Program
May 11, 2010: Safety Director Denied Aborting Sting, Recordings Show
May 5, 2010: Strickland Asked To Suspend Inmate Program Where He Lives
April 29, 2010: Report: 'Political Embarrassment' Key Factor In Canceled Sting
April 28, 2010: 'No Holds Barred' Report Expected About Gov. Residence Incident
March 24, 2010: Senate Hearings Continue On Canceled Drug Sting At Gov's Residence
March 22, 2010: Canceled Hearings On Drug Sting Will Continue
March 17, 2010: E-Mails Show Drug Sting May Have Been Stopped For Political Reasons
February 24, 2010: Cover Up Allegations Follow Canceled Drug Sting
February 23, 2010: Concerns Linger About Alcohol, Inmates Inside Governor's Residence
February 17, 2010: 10 Investigates' Probe Prompts Senate Hearing
February 2, 2010: Patrol Changes Investigation Involving Major
February 1, 2010: Ex-Colonel Wants Investigation Into Alleged Gov. Residence Plot
January 29, 2010: Ohio Highway Patrol Official Ousted Over Alleged Gov. Residence Plot
January 28, 2010: Strickland Confident How Patrol Handled Sting Outside His Mansion
January 27, 2010: Woman At Center Of Alleged Drug Deal Governor's Mansion Explains Ordeal
January 26, 2010: Patrol Tips Off Woman Suspected In Drug Deal At Governor's Mansion
