Tag: Keith Gaddie

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Scott Pruitt's tenure as the head of the Environmental Protection Agency ended with his resignation, but political experts in his home state of Oklahoma say he could continue his career in public office. The path could lead him back to Washington. But even with the bad publicity, Pruitt, 50, has widely been considered a potential candidate for either governor or U.S. Senate. Ethical charges aside, many Republicans in oil- and gas-dependent Oklahoma are focused more on what they consider his accomplishments at the EPA, said Oklahoma Republican Party Chairman Pam Pollard. As attorney general, Pruitt filed more than a dozen lawsuits against the agency President Donald Trump would later pick him to lead. Inhofe praised Pruitt in a statement Thursday for doing "great work" leading the agency. "I don't think that whatever things he may be accused of are things that most Oklahomans are going to hold against him if he decides to run for office in the future," Worthen said. Keith Gaddie, a professor of political science at the University of Oklahoma, disagreed. "His policy actions as administrator don't cost him in this state. ——— ——— This story has been corrected to show that university professor is not department chairman.