SODA head decides to resign after meeting

<br>ARDMORE, Okla. (AP) _ Concern over a possible Senate candidacy and a sexual harassment allegation prompted a heated, closed-door meeting that ended with the head of the Southern Oklahoma Development

Friday, March 29th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

ARDMORE, Okla. (AP) _ Concern over a possible Senate candidacy and a sexual harassment allegation prompted a heated, closed-door meeting that ended with the head of the Southern Oklahoma Development Association agreeing to resign in June.

Roy Boatner's predecessor faced criminal charges and SODA was nearly bankrupt when Boatner took over the group in 1998. Boatner has been credited with cleaning up wrongdoings over the years and helping the association recover.

The former state senator is planning to run for the Senate again, and some board members thought he may not have time for both his job and his campaign.

A former employee also has filed a sexual harassment complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission against Boatner. The complaint still is under review.

Board President Paul Buntz said the ex-worker accused Boatner of making a few ``improper invitations,'' which she declined. At some point she was terminated.

Boatner had already suggested ending his term in June, but the board debated over whether to end it sooner. In the end, 13 voted to keep Boatner, while 10 either abstained or voted to dismiss him, Buntz said.

Boatner was unavailable for comment after the meeting.

SODA's board also voted Thursday to appoint Buntz, who is Durant's city manager, and Atoka County Commissioner Gilbert Wilson to mediate the sexual harassment claim. They were authorized to hire an attorney.

In another decision, board members voted not to change the outcome of several grants issued by the Rural Economic Action Plan, despite complaints by several groups that did not get any grant money. They did, however, decide to reconsider the grant evaluation process in the future, Buntz said.

The grants are designed to help communities with populations of fewer than 7,000 to make improvements to water and communications systems, roadways and economic development.

``Not everyone agrees with the results,'' Buntz said. ``And when grants are awarded, there's winners and losers.''