PHOENIX β Doug Ducey's hand-picked chief of the Arizona Lottery has been forced out of office.
Tony Bouie submitted his verbal resignation late Wednesday following published reports he had assigned himself a state vehicle and was using it for personal errands. That is in violation of state policy.
Gubernatorial spokesman Daniel Scarpinato said he could not comment on the reasons behind Bouie's sudden departure. But the reports in the Phoenix New Times clearly hit a nerve in an administration which has crowed about its fiscal responsibility.
"In discussing these recent issues with Director Bouie, the director and the administration agreed this would be a distraction,'' Scarpinato said in a prepared statement. "In the best interests of the state, Director Bouie has stepped down.''
The issue of use of state vehicles has become a high-profile issue this year following the admission by House Speaker David Gowan he has traveled thousands of miles at taxpayer expense, complete with a driver paid for by the state.
Gowan contends all the trips were on official business, even those outside of his southeast Arizona legislative district, with aides saying he is the speaker of the entire state. But the timing of the trips has coincided with fundraising and campaign efforts in his bid for Congress.
Bouie, whose resignation was effective immediately, could not be reached for comment.
The New Times reported that Bouie admitted he used the state vehicle to drive one or more of his four children. But he told the paper that it is "absolutely not true I'm using it for personal use.''
State policy specifically bars employees from using state vehicles for personal convenience. It also forbids "transportation of family members of friends, or any person not essential to accomplishing the purpose for which the vehicle is dispatched.''
