Senate committee advances Mark Wood’s nomination to full Senate after unanimous committee vote

Mark Wood’s nomination was advanced to the full Senate after the Oklahoma Senate Committee on Retirement and Governmental Affairs voted 9–0 to give the nomination a "due pass." Senator Hines introduced Wood, describing his more than 37 years in public accounting and prior leadership at national firms and the state tax commission.

Wood told the committee he had served on the tax commission for four years, three years as chair, and said he agreed to take the Office of Management and Enterprise Services (OMES) director role subject to confirmation. "OMES has had its challenges. My commitment is to try to create stability in this organization and help it be efficient and effective going forward," Wood said.

Committee members questioned Wood about OMES priorities, with Senator Kurt asking how the agency would balance accountability and speed in areas such as central purchasing. Wood answered that communication across agencies and a focus on core consolidated services would help manage the tension between compliance and efficient service delivery.

Senator Bergstrom asked whether functions had been centralized in OMES that might be better handled within individual agencies; Wood said he had been on the job just four months and would review mandated items and work with legislators to identify candidates for reconsideration during the interim.

After brief closing remarks from Senator Hines endorsing the nomination, the clerk called the roll and the committee recorded nine ayes and zero nays. Chair Bullard declared the nomination to have passed out of committee to the full Senate for consideration.

The committee did not take final floor action; the nomination now awaits a vote by the full Senate.