Meier's graft continued as governor, as he "diligently went after corruption and graft everywhere his political enemies were practicing it". For instance, his Republican gubernatorial competitor, Phil Metschan, Jr., was on the Port of Portland board. Meier sent an aggressive forensic accountant, Frank Akin, to determine what fraud was occurring there. Akin clearly discovered problems but was murdered the day before he was slated to present it to the Oregon state legislature, and had also begun an investigation of the Portland Water Bureau. The evidence against the Port's James H. Polhemus was already public and his resignation was demanded. Many rumors swirled around Akin's death. Polhemus was eventually cleared of charges of graft.