AG's office asks state auditor to investigate Oklahoma Tourism Dept

<br>OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ The Oklahoma Attorney General's office has asked for an investigative audit of the state Department of Tourism and Recreation. <br><br>Edmondson's office concluded that

Friday, October 4th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ The Oklahoma Attorney General's office has asked for an investigative audit of the state Department of Tourism and Recreation.

Edmondson's office concluded that an investigative audit for criminal and other misconduct was needed after reviewing a complaint and conducting a subsequent interview, a letter sent Wednesday to Auditor Clifton Scott said.

``Because this involves an investigation which could result in criminal charges being filed, this audit and its results are to be kept confidential until the investigation is complete,'' Assistant Attorney General Tom Gruber wrote.

The letter did not cite a specific area for the audit to cover. Scott said he has not yet spoken with the office about what the audit's focus should be.

But Scott told the Tulsa World that he suspected it involved an advertising contract with Oklahoma City-based Ackerman McQueen, a marketing, advertising and public relations agency.

Scott said his office had not previously done an audit of the contract.

``Ackerman McQueen has served the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department for 16 of the past 20 years,'' said Barbara Johnston, Ackerman McQueen senior vice president and management supervisor.

``As we have in the past, Ackerman McQueen welcomes and enthusiastically cooperates in any aspect of an audit that relates to its stewardship of the tourism contract.

``Frankly, we believe state purchasing regulations, as they are applied and interpreted in our current contract, have been so contradictory and confusing that probably the audit process can serve everyone's interest.''

Johnston would not explain what she meant by contradictory and confusing terms of the contract.

The Oklahoma Department of Tourism and Recreation has not received official notification regarding the audit, said Ron Stahl, department spokesman.

``It would be inappropriate to speculate or comment on such a possibility,'' Stahl said.

If there is an audit, the agency's records are open and officials will work with investigators, Stahl said.

The fiscal year 2002 contract with Ackerman McQueen was for $4,434,000, Stahl said. The present contract for fiscal year 2003 ranges from $4 million to $4.5 million and is dependent on tourism tax collections, he said.