COLUMBUS - Gino Zomparelli, the executive director of the Ohio Turnpike Commission who was criticized for accepting numerous gifts from businesses, resigned Thursday after Gov. Bob Taft demanded he quit or be fired.

        In a letter to the commission chairman, Mr. Zomparelli said top state officials had “unfairly portrayed” his job.

        Statements and allegations “were made and continue to be made without my ever having been given the opportunity to respond and have made it impossible for me to continue in my position as Executive Director,” Mr. Zomparelli said in the letter to chairman Tim Greenwood.

        He resigned with “great regret and with continuing respect” for turnpike employees, the letter said.

        A report released by the inspector general Tuesday described a “culture” of turnpike employees, including Mr. Zomparelli and other top officials, accepting gifts from companies doing business with the commission.

        Gifts ranged from golf outings to meals to tickets and luxury seating at several professional sports events, including several Cleveland Browns, Indians, Cavaliers and Rockers games.

        Earlier Thursday, Mr. Taft urged the seven-member commission to “immediately seek” Mr. Zomparelli's resignation and to fire him if he didn't resign.

        “I would not tolerate these actions by a person reporting directly to me; nor do I believe you should tolerate the reported actions” of Mr. Zomparelli, Mr. Taft said.

        Mr. Taft also urged the commission to review the conduct of other commission officials and to consider discipline against them, including firing.

        Commission officials have refused to comment on the report, released Tuesday.

        A message was left with Mr. Greenwood Thursday seeking comment. There was no answer at Mr. Zomparelli's house Thursday night.

        Inspector General Tom Charles found more than 170 instances of employees accepting meals, golf outings, sports tickets and luxury seats from contractors doing business with the commission.

        The “free flow of gratuities” to commission employees “is something that has been an acceptable practice for an extended period of time,” the report said.

        For example, engineering firm HNTB Corp. of Kansas City, Mo., treated Mr. Zomparelli and other commission officials to meals, golf outings and other entertainment at least 21 times between January 1999 and Dec. 31, 2001, according to the report.

        HNTB Corp. did $2.8 million in business with the commission during that time, the report said.

        HNTB spokesman Jim Riley would not comment except to say the company cooperated fully with the investigation.

        The commission is “one of our major clients and always will be,” Mr. Riley said.

        The report also said commission lobbyist Patrick Patton worked more than 150 days for the Ohio Police and Fire Pension Fund (UPF) Board while on commission time. He also billed the OPF more than $8,000 for mileage expenses he incurred while driving a turnpike commission car to OPF meetings, the report said.

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