Fallin Appoints Two To Oklahoma Department Of Human Services

Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin has appointed a police chief and a university administrator to fill two vacancies on the governing board of the Department of Human Services.

Fallin late Thursday named Midwest City Police Chief Brandon Clabes and University of Central Oklahoma administrator Myron Pope to the nine-member panel that oversees the agency that provides services to vulnerable children, the elderly and disabled Oklahomans.

Clabes and Pope replace Steven Dow and Anne Roberts, respectively. Dow and Roberts resigned earlier this year after concerns were raised about the appearance of a conflict of interest since both worked for agencies that receive some DHS funding.

Lawmakers are seeking a statewide vote in November to abolish the commission and replace it with four separate governor-appointed committees.