OKLAHOMA CITY – A longtime prosecutor was rebuked by the state District Attorney’s Council last week for his conduct and a lack of “candor and honesty.”
Paul Smith, the outgoing district attorney for Seminole, Hughes and Pontotoc counties, was condemned on a 4-0 vote by the DA’s council after stories surfaced that Smith had taken a second full-time job teaching government at Holdenville High School.
Smith, who serves as DA until January, told The Oklahoman newspaper that he agreed to be at the school from 8:05 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. daily.
“I didn’t think that there was anything inappropriate about it,” he said. “I love teaching. I love impacting those kids. I think I did during the seven days I was in the classroom.”
Smith said he was capable of both teaching and serving as DA. He was elected in 2018. However, by serving as both a state prosecutor and a public school teacher, Smith’s salary could have reached close to $200,000 and given him a double qualification for state pensions, some experts said.
Holdenville school officials told the media outlet NonDoc that Smith was hired under rules authorized by Senate Bill 1119, which passed the Oklahoma Legislature this year. That bill made it easier to hire public non-certified teachers.
Smith said he discussed the issue with the state DA’s council in August and the council “cleared” him. He blamed his political enemies for the controversy. He said he had taught adjunct classes at Seminole State College for 13 years, and his high school teaching position was similar to that.
Last week, Oklahoma County District Attorney David Prater called for the condemnation. Prater said Smith was dishonest with the public and other entities, and he said Smith had the responsibility to be in office or “at least be available” when the office was open.
A spokesman for state Attorney General John O’Connor said initially that Smith had not violated state law. But he added that new facts had come to light that made the AG’s office “change our conclusion and we are working with DA Smith to reconcile that.”
Smith was appointed to the DA post in 2017. In 2018, he was elected to a full term, capturing almost 59% of the vote.