On Friday, December 2, 2011, the Oklahoma State Board of Veterinary Examiners approved the appointment of a new Executive Director for
the Oklahoma Board of Commercial Pet Breeders, Phillip K. Kraft, former Director of the Oklahoma Employee Benefits Council. Mr. Kraft beat out 44 other applicants for the position, with Chairman Angel Soriano recommending Mr. Kraft for the position.

Mr. Soriano states “He's going to bring management experience that we need very strongly. He's a team-focused person. He's going to be able to bring some of these pet breeders that are resisting into our program. He has a different approach altogether as opposed to hard enforcement.” Would this be the same Mr. Soriano that has recently taken a “hard enforcement” in the illegal inspection process of what he considered “eligibly licensable breeders?”

In September of 2011, Mr. Kraft resigned his position of 14 years, which was eliminated when the Oklahoma Employee Benefits Council and
three other state agencies were merged into the State Finance Office. Mr. Kraft, in March of 2011, was accused by Oklahoma Public Employees Association Executive Director Sterling Zearley of unethical business practices when he awarded a contract for a private lobbying firm to pursue the agencies agenda at the State Capitol. Mr. Zearley stated “Using state funds to hire a lobbyist is unethical. In addition, state contracts should be subject to the bidding process. OPEA would like to know how the firm was chosen and how much this contract is costing Oklahoma taxpayers.” The contract purchase order reveals it was for a one-year term, at $44,000.00. Mr. Zearley went further to state
“Oklahoma state agencies are facing serious funding challenges this year. If Mr. (EBC Director Phil) Kraft has funds to hire a lobbyist, then he should lower the fees he is charging state agencies.”

In January of 2011, Mr. Kraft was appointed to the state’s Compensation and Unclassified Positions Review Board by then-Gov. Brad Henry. The Compensation and Unclassified Positions Review Board includes members appointed by the governor, the President Pro Tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

In light of the fact that Mr. Kraft has no apparent animal husbandry expertise, time will tell how he will handle his new position and responsibilities.

During the Tuesday, December 7, 2011 meeting of the Oklahoma Commercial Pet Breeders Board, the Board addressed potential changes
to its administrative rules. Among the changes discussed were violations of the Oklahoma Commercial Pet Breeders Act and the renewal period for licensees after the three month grace period granted earlier this year. These rule amendments will be placed for public comment and review in accordance with the Administrative Procedures Act.