Hide Article Text (OCR)
hhe problems at the embattled Equal Opportunity Center (EOC) have shown a bright light on one of state government’s most important agencies for Black Ohioans. Allegations of mismanagement and questionable activities arose around the time that the agency's former head, Booker Tall, was stepping down for health reasons. Now, several agencies -- including the State Auditor; the Inspector General, and the State Highway Patrol -- are looking into the operations of this office. In the wake of its problems, the office has new leadership: Carolyn Harper, who had served for 18 months as Governor George Voinovich's executive assistant for economic development, will run the EOC. We are hopeful that this fresh leadership will be suc cessful in raising the cloud from this critical office. There is much that commends Harper for the task. She was requested by Governor Voinovich personally to take the post, and she has said that she has the governor's full and strong support. She will continue to sit in on the governor's cabinet meetings, and have access to the governor on issues relating to equal opportunity for minorities and women. Historically, Harper is the first woman to hold this key post, which for the past two decades has been respon sible for coordinating state affirmative action and minority business programs. Harper views her first responsibility as restoring “credibility and accountability” to the office, and we agree. Whether or not the allegations of questionable practices are true, the mere hint of wrongdoing has damaged an office whose clout and authority depend, at least in part, on the integrity and strength of purpose it promotes. Harper faces a number of challenges. Not only must she strengthen the EOC's minority business certifica tion procedures, which have come under question, but she must also ensure that the office is aggressive in monitoring the state’s minority hiring practices, and protect the state's program to guarantee the hiring of minorities and women in the construction trades. It is clear,liskeydlished espenkeipie tactly what she has been promised -- the governor's support. For, sadly, there remain forces which seek to under mine or even destroy the state's affirmative action and minority business programs. We need only look to Republican Senator Eugene Watts, who is pushing a measure to add women and veterans to the state's minority business set-aside program and limit the tenure of those participating in the program, to show that even among the governor's supporters and allies there are those who would destroy what the governor publicly supports. We are confident that Harper will serve as a advocate on behalf of the interests of minorities and women within the Voinovich administration. We are confident that her leadership in the EOC will ensure that State government lives up to its statutory and moral responsibility to provide all Ohioans what the EOC stands for -- equal opportunity
Newspaper Details
Cincinnati Call and Post
Cincinnati, Ohio, US
Thu, Jul 01, 1993
Page 3
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
