Ryan Walters' Sticky Fingers

Oklahoma State Superintendent Ryan Walters is at it again.

Using taxpayer funds, Walters has hired a PR firm to guarantee him national media exposure. Ironically, his misuse of state funds for this purpose may end up giving him well-deserved negative attention.

According to media reports, Walter’s contract with Vought Strategies has specific guarantees. Under terms of the contract, Vought will land Walters spots on national television at least 10 times monthly. Vought has also agreed to ghost-write opinion pieces and get them into national publications and write speeches for Walters’ personal appearances.

Some state officials have been less than thrilled by these shenanigans. Even Gov. Kevin Stitt weighed in – albeit vaguely – seeming to endorse public inquiry. Republican House Speaker Charles McCall told reporters, “You should not be spending state funds, taxpayer dollars, for personal promotion ... I’m certainly very surprised to hear that money is being used for that anywhere in state government.”

Walters’ exploiting his office for political ambitions is well known. He has been using his position as a springboard for higher office since day one. His attention-seeking typically consists of promoting a Christian nationalist agenda that is dangerous for the integrity of our public schools. His widely reported rhetoric is toxic and hyperbolic.

Apparently, Walters is as addicted to taxpayer money as he is to media attention. Perhaps [but not likely] the media backlash will briefly rein in Walters’ race to thrust himself into the spotlight at taxpayer expense. More importantly, perhaps Oklahoma lawmakers will finally see fit, in light of this egregiously corrupt act, to open a formal impeachment investigation.

I'm not holding my breath.