Ohio Gov. Bob Taft has named a career employee as the interimadministrator of the troubled Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensationas the fallout from its controversial decision to invest in $50million in rare coins continues.

Gov. Taft also created a management review team of stateemployees to help the new administrator as well as "evaluate" theagency's investment portfolio.

The actions were prompted by the decision of the agency's formerCEO to step down following disclosure by lawyers for a coin dealerand political activist in the state that $12 million of theagency's $50 million investment in rare coins was missing.

A joint federal/state investigative team centered in Columbus,the state capital, has also been created to probe the missingcoins. The Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation is the state'sexclusive provider of comp insurance.

The new administrator is Tina Kielmeyer. Ms. Kielmeyer is a23-year veteran of the BWC. She has been serving as the Bureau'sassistant administrator and chief operating officer since April2004.

She succeeds James Conrad, who stepped down after it wasdisclosed by lawyers for Tom Noe, a Republican fundraiser andpartner in a rare coin business and heavy Republican contributor,that some of the rare coins were missing. Mr. Noe served as one ofthe BCW's investment managers. Mr. Noe's Vintage Coins &Collectibles is located in Maumee, Ohio, just outside Toledo.

Mr. Noe's disclosure that the coins were unaccounted for hascreated nationwide political fallout. First, President Bush'scampaign decided to return $6,000 of Mr. Noe and his wifeBernadette's contributions to the 2004 Bush/Cheney reelection fundas well as to the Republican National Committee.

The RNC and the White House have defended not refunding most ofthe money Mr. Noe raised for the president's reelection campaign.Mr. Noe achieved status as a Bush "pioneer" for raising from$100,000 to $250,000 for the President's re-election campaign lastyear.

At the same time, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger decidednot to return $10,000 that Mr. Noe contributed to his campaign.

The management review team created by Gov. Taft in response tointense criticism by Democrats of the decision to invest in rarecoins was ordered to conduct a comprehensive study of the agencyand make an initial report back to him within 45 days.

Specifically, the team will conduct "a systematic review" of theBWC investment portfolio, including a review of internal audit andcontrol systems. The task force was given permission to hireoutside help, if necessary, to assess BWC investment management andaudit staffing.