Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds says “proper action” has been taken over allegations the former head of the Iowa Communications Network was misspending the agency’s money. Whistleblowers came forward this summer. The network’s executive director was fired January 4th.
Ric Lombard became the network’s executive director in September of 2014. Auditors discovered equipment purchased with state money was sent to his home in Marion and used for a non-profit Christian ministry he headed. Lombard and his state secretary also billed the state for a trip to Belize where the ministry was headquartered. Members of the state board paid to oversee the network’s operations say there were unaware of the improper spending and travel. Reynolds says the board fired the individual who was “primarily responsible.”
The former executive director and his secretary were both fired, as was another person the executive director had hired. That person had worked for the Christian ministry, too, and was not qualified for the state post. The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation has searched the I-C-N’s staff offices as well as Lombard’s home with warrants that made reference to first degree theft and felonious misconduct in office.
