A report was released on Wednesday that detailed former Ohio Department of TransportationDirector Gordon Proctor's relationship with the woman he picked to run the department'sinformation-technology office.
Inspector General Thomas P. Charles found Proctor's tenure was marked with potholes ofpreferential treatment for Shobna Varma, 10TV's John Fortney reported.
According to the 18-page report, evidence is "overwhelming that Proctor consistently displayedfavoritism toward Varma, a longtime friend with whom he still works today."
Varma received her promotion and a 39 percent pay raise to $41.28 an hour, Fortney reported.
Charles concluded a "clear pattern of protective conduct" occurred but found there was no cause"to believe a wrongful act or omission occurred."
Varma was fired in January after working for the department since 1992, Fortney reported.
According to the report, her firing was celebrated throughout the agency with the former chiefof staffing call it "the fall of communism."
The report went on to say that a party was held that celebrated Varma's dismissal.
Charles said that although it was regrettable, the bad feelings toward her were "nurtured bywhat was widely perceived at ODOT as Proctor's unwavering loyalty to Varma."
Fortney attempted to contact Proctor on Wednesday night but did not receive a response.
The Inspector General's report made no further recommendations on the matter since Proctor andVarma are no longer employed at ODOT.
Charles forwarded his findings to the state Ethics Commission and the Columbus city prosecutor'soffice because Proctor testified on Varma's behalf when she appealed her firing, Fortneyreported.
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