Insurance Commissioner Doak is a frequent flier
BY World's Editorials Writers
Tuesday, January 08, 2013
1/08/13 at 3:14 AM
State Insurance Commissioner John Doak has been a busy fellow since he was elected to the job two years ago. Busy doing what and why are legitimate questions.
Right off the bat after taking office, Doak gave jobs to a few out-of-work Republican politicians, including former state Sen. Randy Brogden, who had no particular experience in insurance. Then a few weeks ago he outfitted his anti-fraud squad with guns, gear and vehicles that would make an inner-city SWAT team envious.
Now it turns out that he trails only the governor in the use of state-owned aircraft. He's used state airplanes to visit the site of a tornado and he brags that he's the only insurance commissioner in history to visit all 77 counties each year. (His predecessor, Kim Holland, never used a state-owned airplane.)
The question is, why? The state constitution and statutes essentially authorize him to make sure that companies and individuals involved in the insurance business in Oklahoma follow the state's laws. What does making personal appearances at disaster sites have to do with that?
His fellow Republican state Sen. Harry Coates of Seminole said it appears that Doak is trying to promote himself rather than serve as a regulator.
We think Coates might be on to something.
Original Print Headline: Frequent flier
