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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Driver charged in deadly high-speed crash ... Pair charged in rural drug raid outside Jacksonville ... Rogue Disposal wants to increase garbage rates by 12 percent ... Driver charged in deadly high-speed crash ... Pair charged in rural drug raid outside Jacksonville ... Rogue Disposal wants to increase garbage rates by 12 percent ... ODOT Consultant hired for ODOT audit wanted to be its director Comment By Taylor W. Anderson The Bulletin MailTribune.com By Taylor W. Anderson The Bulletin Posted Aug. 10, 2016 at 5:59 PM By Taylor W. Anderson The Bulletin Posted Aug. 10, 2016 at 5:59 PM » Social News BEND — The consultant who landed a $350,000 contract to audit the Oregon Department of Transportation before the state backed out over conflict-of-interest worries had something more elaborate in mind than an audit: He wanted to become director of the agency. A four-page document John Craig sent to Oregon Transportation Commission Chairwoman Tammy Baney in January outlines Craig's short- and long-term plans for ODOT and himself. Among them, replacing ODOT Director Matthew Garrett as head of the agency should he step down. Craig sent the document five months before the Department of Administrative Services picked him to conduct the audit lawmakers say is crucial to the effort to generate money from drivers and invest it in Oregon's roads, bridges and transit systems. Government ethics experts say Craig stating his long-term personal goal before being picked to conduct what's been set up as an independent and transparent audit looks dubious. "For him to be conducting the audit under circumstances of desiring to become the director would I think be disqualifying and would raise serious conflict of interest issues," said Andrew Stark, professor of management at the University of Toronto. "Generally when you conduct an audit you should have no interest at all, financial or otherwise, in the agency you're auditing." Gov. Kate Brown called for a thorough review of ODOT in November ahead of the politically challenging work of writing and passing a bill that would likely send hundreds of millions of dollars through the agency for roads, bridges, transit and other infrastructure. She and the Oregon Transportation Commission set up a committee to oversee the work on the audit. Craig's outline to Baney provides deeper insight into what was viewed as a conflict of interest severe enough for transportation officials to pull Craig's contract on the day the state was set to unveil him as the auditor, the second time the state pulled out of the ODOT auditing contract. Craig is the former director of Nebraska's transportation department. He spent six years overseeing a bridge replacement project that was funded through an Oregon transportation investment in 2003. He finished that work in 2015. He hasn't responded to The Bulletin's requests for comment. Richard Mudge, who was listed as the No. 2 worker on Craig's proposal, told The Bulletin on Friday the state asked the team not to talk with the media. Craig outlined for Baney, who is also a Deschutes County commissioner, his past experience working in Oregon on a project with a $1.3 billion budget. He also gave her what he called a "good practices outline" for transportation departments, including creating a long-range transportation plan, more outsourcing and annual reporting. He finished with what Baney saw as a statement of Craig's interest in working in Oregon, offering a list of "potential roles for John Craig," which included working on the management study as an adviser or member of the management team and becoming "Director of ODOT when (agency director) Matt Garrett steps down." Garrett, head of the agency since December 2005, is the longest-serving director since the State Highway Department became ODOT in 1969. Baney released the document late Monday after a request for records from The Bulletin. She said she met Craig through her work as chairwoman of the transportation commission and Craig sought to set up a meeting that never occurred. She said she didn't read the full document until after the Department of Administrative Services picked Craig for the contract, and eventually asked that the state back away from Craig over the potential appearance that the audit wouldn't be viewed as independent. "For this particular management review, neutrality and independence is one of the top priorities," Baney said. "I think for this particular body of work it absolutely does not meet the priority of an independent third-party review." By Taylor W. Anderson The Bulletin MailTribune.com By Taylor W. Anderson The Bulletin Posted Aug. 10, 2016 at 5:59 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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